diff --git a/awx/api/views/__init__.py b/awx/api/views/__init__.py
index c7967f3d70..703358be51 100644
--- a/awx/api/views/__init__.py
+++ b/awx/api/views/__init__.py
@@ -1622,8 +1622,8 @@ class CredentialExternalTest(SubDetailAPIView):
             return Response({'inputs': message}, status=status.HTTP_400_BAD_REQUEST)
         except Exception as exc:
             message = exc.__class__.__name__
-            args = getattr(exc, 'args', [])
-            for a in args:
+            exc_args = getattr(exc, 'args', [])
+            for a in exc_args:
                 if isinstance(getattr(a, 'reason', None), ConnectTimeoutError):
                     message = str(a.reason)
             return Response({'inputs': message}, status=status.HTTP_400_BAD_REQUEST)