diff --git a/pathos/__main__.py b/pathos/__main__.py
index 8aab9a6..9d6830a 100644
--- a/pathos/__main__.py
+++ b/pathos/__main__.py
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@
     sys.exit(0)
   try:
     myinp = sys.argv[1]
-  except: myinp = None
+  except IndexError: myinp = None
   if myinp:
     rhost = myinp #XXX: should test rhost validity here... (how ?)
   else: pass # use default
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@
   # get server to run from user
   try:
     myinp = sys.argv[2]
-  except: myinp = None
+  except IndexError: myinp = None
   if myinp:
     server = myinp #XXX: should test validity here... (filename)
   else: pass # use default
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@
   # get remote port to run server on from user
   try:
     myinp = sys.argv[3]
-  except: myinp = None
+  except IndexError: myinp = None
   if myinp:
     if tunnel: # tunnel doesn't take more inputs
       msg = "port '%s' not valid for 'tunnel'" % myinp
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@
   # get remote profile (this should go away soon)
   try:
     myinp = sys.argv[4]
-  except: myinp = None
+  except IndexError: myinp = None
   if myinp:
     rprof = myinp #XXX: should test validity here... (filename)
     profiles = {rhost:rprof}
diff --git a/pathos/abstract_launcher.py b/pathos/abstract_launcher.py
index 5c95af4..8ad291d 100644
--- a/pathos/abstract_launcher.py
+++ b/pathos/abstract_launcher.py
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@ def __pipe(self, f, *args, **kwds):  #FIXME: need to think about this...
               raise TypeError("%s() takes at most %s arguments (%s given)" % (f.__name__(), str(vars), str(arglen)))
             elif arglen < (vars - defs):
               raise TypeError("%s() takes at least %s arguments (%s given)" % (f.__name__(), str(vars - defs), str(arglen)))
-        except:
+        except Exception:
             pass
         return
     def _serve(self, *args, **kwds):
diff --git a/pathos/connection.py b/pathos/connection.py
index 97e5c18..26a41f3 100644
--- a/pathos/connection.py
+++ b/pathos/connection.py
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ def _execute(self):
                 p = Popen(self.message, shell=True,
                           stdin=self.stdin, stdout=PIPE,
                           stderr=STDOUT, close_fds=True)
-            except:
+            except Exception:
                 raise PipeException('failure to pipe: %s' % self.message)
             self._pid = p.pid #get fileobject pid
             self._stdout = p.stdout #save fileobject
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ def _execute(self):
             try:
                 p = Popen(self.message, shell=True,
                           stdin=self.stdin, stdout=PIPE)
-            except:
+            except Exception:
                 raise PipeException('failure to pipe: %s' % self.message)
             self._stdout = p.stdout
             self._pid = 0 #XXX: MMM --> or -1 ?
diff --git a/pathos/core.py b/pathos/core.py
index 1b09499..ddb076a 100644
--- a/pathos/core.py
+++ b/pathos/core.py
@@ -262,7 +262,7 @@ def randomport(host=None):
   launcher.launch()
   try:
     rport = int(launcher.response())
-  except:
+  except Exception:
     from pathos.secure import TunnelException
     raise TunnelException("failure to pick remote port")
   # return remote port number