diff --git a/pandas/core/dtypes/common.py b/pandas/core/dtypes/common.py
index 37f99bd344e6c..2962c05e1b4fd 100644
--- a/pandas/core/dtypes/common.py
+++ b/pandas/core/dtypes/common.py
@@ -1158,7 +1158,9 @@ def _is_unorderable_exception(e):
     """
 
     if PY36:
-        return "'>' not supported between instances of" in str(e)
+        str_e = str(e)
+        return ("'>' not supported between instances of" in str_e or
+                "'<' not supported between instances of" in str_e)
 
     elif PY3:
         return 'unorderable' in str(e)