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 ();