diff --git a/neutron/hacking/checks.py b/neutron/hacking/checks.py
index a8eee49d0b4..5661b080c64 100644
--- a/neutron/hacking/checks.py
+++ b/neutron/hacking/checks.py
@@ -30,6 +30,9 @@ import six
 #    neutron/tests/unit/hacking/test_checks.py
 
 _all_log_levels = {
+    'reserved': '_',  # this should never be used with a log unless
+                      # it is a variable used for a log message and
+                      # a exception
     'error': '_LE',
     'info': '_LI',
     'warn': '_LW',
diff --git a/neutron/pecan_wsgi/hooks/translation.py b/neutron/pecan_wsgi/hooks/translation.py
index d3c5f15fb3c..85d8d65c8d4 100644
--- a/neutron/pecan_wsgi/hooks/translation.py
+++ b/neutron/pecan_wsgi/hooks/translation.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ from pecan import hooks
 import webob.exc
 
 from neutron.api.v2 import base as v2base
+from neutron.i18n import _LE
 
 
 LOG = logging.getLogger(__name__)
@@ -33,6 +34,6 @@ class ExceptionTranslationHook(hooks.PecanHook):
                 raise to_class(getattr(e, 'msg', e.message))
         # leaked unexpected exception, convert to boring old 500 error and
         # hide message from user in case it contained sensitive details
-        LOG.exception(_("An unexpected exception was caught: %s") % e)
+        LOG.exception(_LE("An unexpected exception was caught: %s"), e)
         raise webob.exc.HTTPInternalServerError(
             _("An unexpected internal error occurred."))
diff --git a/neutron/tests/unit/hacking/test_checks.py b/neutron/tests/unit/hacking/test_checks.py
index 2853fc08267..d7295d34b2f 100644
--- a/neutron/tests/unit/hacking/test_checks.py
+++ b/neutron/tests/unit/hacking/test_checks.py
@@ -39,6 +39,9 @@ class HackingTestCase(base.BaseTestCase):
         self.assertEqual(
             0, len(list(checks.validate_log_translations(debug, debug, 'f'))))
         for log in logs:
+            bad = 'LOG.%s(_("Bad"))' % log
+            self.assertEqual(
+                1, len(list(checks.validate_log_translations(bad, bad, 'f'))))
             bad = 'LOG.%s("Bad")' % log
             self.assertEqual(
                 1, len(list(checks.validate_log_translations(bad, bad, 'f'))))