diff --git a/apps/ivr/Ivr.cpp b/apps/ivr/Ivr.cpp
index 401e1d49..52ecdcf6 100644
--- a/apps/ivr/Ivr.cpp
+++ b/apps/ivr/Ivr.cpp
@@ -292,7 +292,7 @@ void IvrFactory::init_python_interpreter(const string& script_path)
   PyEval_InitThreads();
   set_sys_path(script_path);
   import_ivr_builtins();
-  PyEval_ReleaseLock();
+  PyEval_SaveThread();
 }
 
 void IvrFactory::set_sys_path(const string& script_path)