Just an info, addendum. >>> sys.version '3.2rc1 (r32rc1:88035, Jan 15 2011, 21:05:51) [MSC v.1500 32 bit (Intel)]' >>> compile('if True:\r\n print(999)\r\n', '<in>', 'exec') <code object <module> at 0x023CA610, file "<in>", line 2> >>> exec(compile('if True:\r\n print(999)\r\n', '<in>', 'exec')) 999 >>>