diff --git a/plugins/pyloader/python_policy.cc b/plugins/pyloader/python_policy.cc
index dd30dd2..b4fc82e 100644
--- a/plugins/pyloader/python_policy.cc
+++ b/plugins/pyloader/python_policy.cc
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ using namespace std;
 // *strong* exception checking / handling!
 
 PythonPolicy::PythonPolicy(const char* name)
-  : _adapter(NULL), _adapter_dict(NULL), _name(name)
+  : _upolicy_dict(NULL), _adapter(NULL), _name(name)
 {
   PyObject* pLoadmeStr = PyString_FromString(name);
   PyObject* pUserPolicyModule = PyImport_Import(pLoadmeStr);
@@ -45,26 +45,24 @@ PythonPolicy::PythonPolicy(const char* name)
   }
   
   // Dictionary with defined ``symbols'' for .pyc file
-  PyObject* pUserPolicyDict = PyModule_GetDict(pUserPolicyModule);
-  assert(pUserPolicyDict);
+  _upolicy_dict = PyModule_GetDict(pUserPolicyModule);
+  assert(_upolicy_dict);
 
   // Loads ScriptAdapter module and get its dictionary
   pLoadmeStr = PyString_FromString("ScriptAdapter");
   PyObject* pScriptAdapterModule = PyImport_Import(pLoadmeStr);
   Py_DECREF(pLoadmeStr);
   assert(pScriptAdapterModule);
-  _adapter_dict = PyModule_GetDict(pScriptAdapterModule);
-  assert(_adapter_dict);
-  // We want to keep a reference to it
-  Py_INCREF(_adapter_dict);
+  PyObject* pAdapterDict = PyModule_GetDict(pScriptAdapterModule);
+  assert(pAdapterDict);
   
   // Now takes the user-defined policy class from pUserPolicyDict
-  PyObject* pPolicyClass = PyDict_GetItemString(pUserPolicyDict, name);
+  PyObject* pPolicyClass = PyDict_GetItemString(_upolicy_dict, name);
   assert(pPolicyClass); // FIXME needs stricter checking and exception throwing
     
   // Creates a new object of type ScriptAdapter :
   // takes init function from ScriptAdapter class
-  PyObject* pAdapterClass = PyDict_GetItemString(_adapter_dict, "ScriptAdapter");
+  PyObject* pAdapterClass = PyDict_GetItemString(pAdapterDict, "ScriptAdapter");
   PyObject* pAdapterCtorParam = PyTuple_New(1);
   Py_INCREF(pPolicyClass); // PyTuple_SetItem steals a reference
   PyTuple_SetItem(pAdapterCtorParam, 0, pPolicyClass);
@@ -72,7 +70,6 @@ PythonPolicy::PythonPolicy(const char* name)
   Py_DECREF(pAdapterCtorParam);
   assert(_adapter);
 
-  Py_DECREF(pUserPolicyModule);
   Py_DECREF(pScriptAdapterModule);
 
   // And now, who's your daddy, huh?
@@ -82,7 +79,11 @@ PythonPolicy::PythonPolicy(const char* name)
 PythonPolicy::~PythonPolicy()
 {
   if(_adapter)      Py_DECREF(_adapter);
-  if(_adapter_dict) Py_DECREF(_adapter_dict);
+
+	// We keep this alive until dtor time, because
+	// the user may have defined some static global-space
+	// variables and they make use of them.
+	if(_upolicy_dict) Py_DECREF(_upolicy_dict);
 }
 
 
diff --git a/plugins/pyloader/python_policy.hh b/plugins/pyloader/python_policy.hh
index 9d6aaa1..217b811 100644
--- a/plugins/pyloader/python_policy.hh
+++ b/plugins/pyloader/python_policy.hh
@@ -80,8 +80,8 @@ namespace sgpem
 
     void wait_unlock() const throw(UserInterruptException);
 
+    PyObject* _upolicy_dict;
     PyObject* _adapter;
-    PyObject* _adapter_dict;
 
     Glib::ustring _name;
   };