diff --git a/swig/python/OpenIPMI_lang.i b/swig/python/OpenIPMI_lang.i
index 67221fd..d150d81 100644
--- a/swig/python/OpenIPMI_lang.i
+++ b/swig/python/OpenIPMI_lang.i
@@ -541,7 +541,7 @@ static void OI_put_py_state(int current)
 #else
 static void init_lang(void)
 {
-    PyEval_InitThreads();
+    /* nothing */
 }
 #define OI_PY_STATE PyGILState_STATE
 #define OI_PY_STATE_GET() PyGILState_Ensure()