diff --git a/openedx/core/djangoapps/django_comment_common/comment_client/user.py b/openedx/core/djangoapps/django_comment_common/comment_client/user.py
index 5a6bb6f2cb6f..469158e2fb73 100644
--- a/openedx/core/djangoapps/django_comment_common/comment_client/user.py
+++ b/openedx/core/djangoapps/django_comment_common/comment_client/user.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 from forum import api as forum_api
 from forum.utils import ForumV2RequestError
 
+
 class User(models.Model):
 
     accessible_fields = [
@@ -152,7 +153,7 @@ def _retrieve(self, *args, **kwargs):
         try:
             response = forum_api.retrieve_user(self.attributes["id"], retrieve_params)
         except ForumV2RequestError as e:
-                raise str(e)
+            raise str(e) from e
         self._update_from_response(response)
 
     def retire(self, retired_username):
diff --git a/openedx/core/djangoapps/django_comment_common/comment_client/utils.py b/openedx/core/djangoapps/django_comment_common/comment_client/utils.py
index 6477267a982d..bab94c9a8caa 100644
--- a/openedx/core/djangoapps/django_comment_common/comment_client/utils.py
+++ b/openedx/core/djangoapps/django_comment_common/comment_client/utils.py
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ def perform_request(method, url, data_or_params=None, raw=False,
     log.info(
         """
         ======> FORUM <======
-        
+
         method: {method}
         url: {url}
         params: {params}
@@ -90,13 +90,7 @@ def perform_request(method, url, data_or_params=None, raw=False,
         response: {response}
 
         ======> END <======
-        """.format(
-            method=method,
-            url=url,
-            params=params,
-            data=data,
-            response=response_to_log_and_compare,
-        )
+        """.format(method=method, url=url, params=params, data=data, response=response_to_log_and_compare)
     )
 
     if method == "get":