diff --git a/django/core/mail/backends/console.py b/django/core/mail/backends/console.py
index 705497520a..fa71f3816f 100644
--- a/django/core/mail/backends/console.py
+++ b/django/core/mail/backends/console.py
@@ -18,17 +18,20 @@ class EmailBackend(BaseEmailBackend):
             return
         self._lock.acquire()
         try:
-            stream_created = self.open()
-            for message in email_messages:
-                self.stream.write('%s\n' % message.message().as_string())
-                self.stream.write('-'*79)
-                self.stream.write('\n')
-                self.stream.flush()  # flush after each message
-            if stream_created:
-                self.close()
-        except:
-            if not self.fail_silently:
-                raise
+            # The try-except is nested to allow for
+            # Python 2.4 support (Refs #12147)
+            try:
+                stream_created = self.open()
+                for message in email_messages:
+                    self.stream.write('%s\n' % message.message().as_string())
+                    self.stream.write('-'*79)
+                    self.stream.write('\n')
+                    self.stream.flush()  # flush after each message
+                if stream_created:
+                    self.close()
+            except:
+                if not self.fail_silently:
+                    raise
         finally:
             self._lock.release()
         return len(email_messages)