diff --git a/platformio/exception.py b/platformio/exception.py
index bba8955a..6f1dd4cf 100644
--- a/platformio/exception.py
+++ b/platformio/exception.py
@@ -19,7 +19,9 @@ class PlatformioException(Exception):
 
     def __str__(self):  # pragma: no cover
         if self.MESSAGE:
-            return self.MESSAGE.format(*self.args)
+            return self.MESSAGE.format(
+                *self.args  # pylint: disable=not-an-iterable
+            )
         return super(PlatformioException, self).__str__()