diff --git a/README b/README
index 28db6c584..0b207a345 100644
--- a/README
+++ b/README
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ To build language bindings:
 
 - Perl if you want to build the perl bindings (optional)
 
-- Python if you want to build the python bindings (optional)
+- Python >= 2.2 if you want to build the python bindings (optional)
 
 - Ruby, rake if you want to build the ruby bindings (optional)
 
diff --git a/generator/python.ml b/generator/python.ml
index 8752fd3c9..0b0a79cbe 100644
--- a/generator/python.ml
+++ b/generator/python.ml
@@ -662,7 +662,7 @@ import libguestfsmod
 class ClosedHandle(ValueError):
     pass
 
-class GuestFS:
+class GuestFS(object):
     \"\"\"Instances of this class are libguestfs API handles.\"\"\"
 
     def __init__ (self, environment=True, close_on_exit=True):