diff --git a/shell/main.c b/shell/main.c

index 71dde32..5d478fa 100644

--- a/shell/main.c

+++ b/shell/main.c

@@ -73,6 +73,10 @@

 #include "rb-playlist-manager.h"

 #include "rb-playlist-manager-glue.h"

+#ifdef ENABLE_PYTHON

+#include "rb-python-module.h"

+#endif

+

 #define HAVE_LIBGNOME_GOPTION defined(GNOME_PARAM_GOPTION_CONTEXT)

 static gboolean debug           = FALSE;

@@ -322,6 +326,15 @@ main (int argc, char **argv)

 		rb_profile_start ("mainloop");

 #ifdef ENABLE_PYTHON

+		{

+			/* force python etc. to be loaded.

+			 * otherwise, pyg_begin_allow_threads will crash,

+			 * and even if it didn't, we wouldn't be able to provide

+			 * thread safety for plugins loaded later on.

+			 */

+			GObject *z = g_object_new (RB_TYPE_PYTHON_MODULE, NULL);

+			g_object_unref (z);

+		}

 		pyg_begin_allow_threads;

 #endif

 		gtk_main ();