@@ -908,7 +908,7 @@ def close(fig=None):
         _pylab_helpers.Gcf.destroy_fig(fig)
     else:
         raise TypeError("close() argument must be a Figure, an int, a string, "
-                        "or None, not '%s'")
+                        "or None, not %s" % type(fig))
 
 
 def clf():
 
@@ -153,3 +153,11 @@ def test_nested_ion_ioff():
     with plt.ioff():
         plt.ion()
     assert not mpl.is_interactive()
+
+
+def test_close():
+    try:
+        plt.close(1.1)
+    except TypeError as e:
+        assert str(e) == "close() argument must be a Figure, an int, " \
+                         "a string, or None, not <class 'float'>"