diff --git a/gnucash/python/gncmod-python.c b/gnucash/python/gncmod-python.c
index 5bec5a95e2..d360de96a7 100644
--- a/gnucash/python/gncmod-python.c
+++ b/gnucash/python/gncmod-python.c
@@ -73,8 +73,9 @@ libgncmod_python_gnc_module_init(int refcount)
     */
     FILE *fp;
     gchar *pkgdatadir, *init_filename;
-
+    char* argv = "";
     Py_Initialize();
+    PySys_SetArgv(0, &argv);
 #if PY_VERSION_HEX >= 0x03000000
     PyInit__sw_app_utils();
     PyInit__sw_core_utils();
diff --git a/gnucash/python/init.py b/gnucash/python/init.py
index e62e6b577b..85febecc26 100644
--- a/gnucash/python/init.py
+++ b/gnucash/python/init.py
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@ import sys
 import _sw_app_utils
 from gnucash import *
 from _sw_core_utils import gnc_prefs_is_extra_enabled
+from gi import require_version
+require_version('Gtk', '3.0')
 from gi.repository import Gtk
 import os
 sys.path.append(os.path.dirname(__file__))