diff --git a/debian/changelog b/debian/changelog
index 57690beacf26e1a9654069132dc4548ce65b6135..fab6cfb85b87fa36c43df37b3bd655edb132988f 100644
--- a/debian/changelog
+++ b/debian/changelog
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ python-defaults (2.6.6-11) UNRELEASED; urgency=low
     - replace a file with a symlink also if there's a matching one in
       pyshared directory already
     - add support for DH_OPTIONS env. variable
+  * pycompile: --exclude now works with private dirs
 
  -- Piotr Ożarowski <piotr@debian.org>  Sat, 15 Jan 2011 21:14:38 +0100
 
diff --git a/pycompile b/pycompile
index de28868a20e043d1dd6a24e7ae6e62f83920920b..3e1b5a1bcb6f6c790b6324f39af458177617ca5d 100755
--- a/pycompile
+++ b/pycompile
@@ -128,6 +128,8 @@ def get_exclude_patterns(directory='/', patterns=None, versions=None):
     if patterns:
         if versions is None:
             versions = set(SUPPORTED)
+        else:
+            versions = set(versions)
         patterns = [('re', versions, directory, i) for i in patterns]
     else:
         patterns = []