diff --git a/news/5147.bugfix b/news/5147.bugfix
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..59f3846e9dc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/news/5147.bugfix
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Invalid requirement no longer causes stack trace to be printed.
diff --git a/src/pip/_internal/req/constructors.py b/src/pip/_internal/req/constructors.py
index 4c4641dc883..ad1c9109617 100644
--- a/src/pip/_internal/req/constructors.py
+++ b/src/pip/_internal/req/constructors.py
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@
 import logging
 import os
 import re
-import traceback
 
 from pip._vendor.packaging.markers import Marker
 from pip._vendor.packaging.requirements import InvalidRequirement, Requirement
@@ -258,7 +257,7 @@ def install_req_from_line(
             elif '=' in req and not any(op in req for op in operators):
                 add_msg = "= is not a valid operator. Did you mean == ?"
             else:
-                add_msg = traceback.format_exc()
+                add_msg = ""
             raise InstallationError(
                 "Invalid requirement: '%s'\n%s" % (req, add_msg)
             )
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_req.py b/tests/unit/test_req.py
index 10a20b7ac50..47b96c400f7 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_req.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_req.py
@@ -542,12 +542,12 @@ def test_single_equal_sign(self):
         assert "Invalid requirement" in err_msg
         assert "= is not a valid operator. Did you mean == ?" in err_msg
 
-    def test_traceback(self):
+    def test_unidentifiable_name(self):
+        test_name = '-'
         with pytest.raises(InstallationError) as e:
-            install_req_from_line('toto 42')
+            install_req_from_line(test_name)
         err_msg = e.value.args[0]
-        assert "Invalid requirement" in err_msg
-        assert "\nTraceback " in err_msg
+        assert ("Invalid requirement: '%s'\n" % test_name) == err_msg
 
     def test_requirement_file(self):
         req_file_path = os.path.join(self.tempdir, 'test.txt')