diff --git a/lang/python/pyme/core.py b/lang/python/pyme/core.py
index 8deeb90e..71c6828a 100644
--- a/lang/python/pyme/core.py
+++ b/lang/python/pyme/core.py
@@ -572,6 +572,12 @@ def get_protocol_name(proto):
 def check_version(version=None):
     return pygpgme.gpgme_check_version(version)
 
+# check_version also makes sure that several subsystems are properly
+# initialized, and it must be run at least once before invoking any
+# other function.  We do it here so that the user does not have to do
+# it unless she really wants to check for a certain version.
+check_version()
+
 def engine_check_version (proto):
     try:
         errorcheck(pygpgme.gpgme_engine_check_version(proto))
diff --git a/lang/python/tests/support.py b/lang/python/tests/support.py
index 99d96cf6..8bafea8b 100644
--- a/lang/python/tests/support.py
+++ b/lang/python/tests/support.py
@@ -23,7 +23,6 @@ def make_filename(name):
     return os.path.join(os.environ['top_srcdir'], 'tests', 'gpg', name)
 
 def init_gpgme(proto):
-    core.check_version()
     core.engine_check_version(proto)
 
 verbose = int(os.environ.get('verbose', 0)) > 1