diff --git a/example_ScriptTester/bin/data/mytest.py b/example_ScriptTester/bin/data/mytest.py
index 469b0e3..ca92e74 100644
--- a/example_ScriptTester/bin/data/mytest.py
+++ b/example_ScriptTester/bin/data/mytest.py
@@ -4,6 +4,9 @@
 
 print "-"*30
 
+from threading import Thread
+from time import sleep
+
 class myApp(object):
 	def __init__(self):
 		self.x = 50.0
@@ -44,4 +47,17 @@ def keyReleased(self, key):
 		pass
 
 	def windowResized(self, width, height):
-		pass
\ No newline at end of file
+		pass
+
+
+#Testing threading capabilities
+
+def athread():
+	n = 0
+	while True:
+		print n
+		n += 1
+		sleep(1)
+
+t = Thread(target=athread)
+t.start()
diff --git a/example_ScriptTester/src/ofApp.cpp b/example_ScriptTester/src/ofApp.cpp
index 691044b..8375e73 100644
--- a/example_ScriptTester/src/ofApp.cpp
+++ b/example_ScriptTester/src/ofApp.cpp
@@ -3,10 +3,10 @@
 //--------------------------------------------------------------
 void ofApp::setup(){
 	python.init();
-	python.executeScript("mytest.py");
-	ofxPythonObject klass = python.getObject("myApp");
-	if(klass)
-		script = klass();
+    python.executeScript("mytest.py");
+    ofxPythonObject klass = python.getObject("myApp");
+    if(klass)
+        script = klass();
 }
 
 //--------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/src/ofxPython.cpp b/src/ofxPython.cpp
index eb53511..c5821f5 100644
--- a/src/ofxPython.cpp
+++ b/src/ofxPython.cpp
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ ofxPythonObject make_object_owned(PyObject * obj, bool errcheck);
 
 void PythonErrorCheck()
 {
+	ofxPythonOperation op;
 	PyObject * ptype, * pvalue, * ptraceback;
 	PyErr_Fetch(&ptype, &pvalue, &ptraceback);
 	if(ptype)
@@ -40,6 +41,7 @@ void PythonErrorCheck()
 
 ofxPythonObject make_object_owned(PyObject * obj, bool errcheck= true)
 {
+	ofxPythonOperation op;
 	if (obj==NULL)
 		ofLog()<< "WARNING! make_object_owned: creating ofxPythonObject with NULL"; 
 	if(errcheck)
@@ -51,6 +53,7 @@ ofxPythonObject make_object_owned(PyObject * obj, bool errcheck= true)
 
 ofxPythonObject make_object_borrowed(PyObject * obj, bool errcheck= true)
 {
+	ofxPythonOperation op;
 	if (obj==NULL)
 		ofLog()<< "WARNING! make_object_borrowed: creating ofxPythonObject with NULL"; 
 	if(errcheck)
@@ -85,6 +88,22 @@ ofxPython::~ofxPython()
 		instances--;
 		if(instances == 0)
 		{
+            {
+                ofxPythonOperation op;
+                long main_thread_id = ofxPythonOperation::pstate->thread_id;
+                for (ofxPythonObject t : ofxPython::getObject("enumerate", "threading")().asVector()){
+                    long t_id = t.attr("ident").asInt();
+                    if( t_id != main_thread_id){
+                        ofxPythonObject exc = locals["__builtins__"]["SystemExit"];
+                        int r = PyThreadState_SetAsyncExc(t_id,exc->obj);
+                        if (r != 1){
+                            ofLog() << "Failed attewmpt to shut down thread " << t_id;
+                        }
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+            PyEval_RestoreThread(ofxPythonOperation::pstate);
+            
 			Py_Finalize();
 		}
 	}
@@ -97,6 +116,7 @@ int ofxPython::init()
 		initialized = true;
 		if(instances == 0)
 		{
+            PyEval_InitThreads();
 			Py_Initialize();
 			init_openframeworks();
 			init_openframeworks_extra();
@@ -131,7 +151,8 @@ int ofxPython::init()
 				"catcher = StdoutCatcher()\n"
 				"sys.stdout = catcher\n"
 				);
-			PythonErrorCheck();
+            ofxPythonOperation::pstate = PyEval_SaveThread();
+            PythonErrorCheck();
 		}
 		instances++;
 	}
@@ -141,6 +162,7 @@ int ofxPython::init()
 
 void ofxPython::reset()
 {
+    ofxPythonOperation op;
 	// globals = make_object_owned(PyDict_New());
 	locals = make_object_owned(PyDict_New());
     //deal with cyclic references
@@ -151,28 +173,33 @@ void ofxPython::reset()
 
 void ofxPython::executeScript(const string& path)
 {
+	ofxPythonOperation op;
 	executeString(ofBufferFromFile(path).getText());
 	PythonErrorCheck();
 }
 
 void ofxPython::executeString(const string& script)
 {
+	ofxPythonOperation op;
 	make_object_owned(PyRun_String(script.c_str(),Py_file_input,locals->obj,locals->obj));
 	PythonErrorCheck();
 }
 
 ofxPythonObject ofxPython::executeStatement(const string& script)
 {
+	ofxPythonOperation op;
     return make_object_owned(PyRun_String(script.c_str(),Py_single_input,locals->obj,locals->obj));
 }
 
 ofxPythonObject ofxPython::evalString(const string& expression)
 {
+	ofxPythonOperation op;
 	return  make_object_owned(PyRun_String(expression.c_str(),Py_eval_input,locals->obj,locals->obj));
 }
 
 ofxPythonObject ofxPython::getObject(const string& name, const string& module)
 {
+	ofxPythonOperation op;
 
 	ofxPythonObject pmodule = make_object_owned(
 		PyImport_Import(ofxPythonObject::fromString(module)->obj));
@@ -183,16 +210,19 @@ ofxPythonObject ofxPython::getObject(const string& name, const string& module)
 
 ofxPythonObject ofxPython::getObject(const string& name)
 {
+	ofxPythonOperation op;
 	return locals[name];
 }
 
 ofxPythonObject ofxPython::getObjectOrNone(const string& name)
 {
+	ofxPythonOperation op;
 	return locals.attr("get")(ofxPythonObject::fromString(name));
 }
 
 void ofxPython::setObject(const string& name, ofxPythonObject o)
 {
+	ofxPythonOperation op;
 	locals[name]=o;
 }
 
@@ -207,38 +237,46 @@ void ofxPythonObject::insert_owned(PyObject * obj)
 
 void ofxPythonObject::insert_borrowed(PyObject * obj)
 {
+	ofxPythonOperation op;
 	Py_XINCREF(obj);
 	reset(new ofxPythonObjectManaged(obj));
 }
 
 ofxPythonObjectManaged::ofxPythonObjectManaged(PyObject * o):obj(o)
 {
+	ofxPythonOperation op;
 }
 ofxPythonObjectManaged::~ofxPythonObjectManaged()
 {
-	if(ofxPython::instances > 0)
-		Py_XDECREF(obj);
+    if(ofxPython::instances > 0){
+        ofxPythonOperation op;
+        Py_XDECREF(obj);
+    }
 }
 
 ofxPythonObject ofxPythonObject::method(const string &method_name)
 {
+	ofxPythonOperation op;
 	return make_object_owned(
 		PyObject_CallMethod(get()->obj,noconststring(method_name),NULL));
 }
 
 ofxPythonObject ofxPythonObject::operator ()()
 {
+	ofxPythonOperation op;
 	return make_object_owned(PyObject_CallObject(get()->obj,NULL));
 }
 
 ofxPythonObject ofxPythonObject::operator ()(ofxPythonObject o1)
 {
+	ofxPythonOperation op;
 	if(o1->obj == NULL) o1=ofxPythonObject::_None();
 	return make_object_owned(PyObject_CallFunctionObjArgs(get()->obj,o1->obj,NULL));
 }
 
 ofxPythonObject ofxPythonObject::operator ()(ofxPythonObject o1, ofxPythonObject o2)
 {
+	ofxPythonOperation op;
 	if(o1->obj == NULL) o1=ofxPythonObject::_None();
 	if(o2->obj == NULL) o2=ofxPythonObject::_None();
 	return make_object_owned(PyObject_CallFunctionObjArgs(get()->obj,o1->obj,o2->obj,NULL));
@@ -246,6 +284,7 @@ ofxPythonObject ofxPythonObject::operator ()(ofxPythonObject o1, ofxPythonObject
 
 ofxPythonObject ofxPythonObject::operator ()(ofxPythonObject o1, ofxPythonObject o2, ofxPythonObject o3)
 {
+	ofxPythonOperation op;
 	if(o1->obj == NULL) o1=ofxPythonObject::_None();
 	if(o2->obj == NULL) o2=ofxPythonObject::_None();
 	if(o3->obj == NULL) o3=ofxPythonObject::_None();
@@ -269,6 +308,7 @@ ofxPythonAttrValue ofxPythonObject::attr(const string& attribute)
 
 const string ofxPythonObject::repr()
 {
+	ofxPythonOperation op;
 	ofxPythonObject objectsRepresentation = make_object_owned(
 		PyObject_Repr(get()->obj));
 	string s = string(PyString_AsString(objectsRepresentation->obj));
@@ -278,6 +318,7 @@ const string ofxPythonObject::repr()
 
 const string ofxPythonObject::str()
 {
+	ofxPythonOperation op;
 	ofxPythonObject objectsRepresentation = make_object_owned(
 		PyObject_Str(get()->obj));
 	string s = string(PyString_AsString(objectsRepresentation->obj));
@@ -287,51 +328,61 @@ const string ofxPythonObject::str()
 
 ofxPythonObject::operator bool() const
 {
+	ofxPythonOperation op;
 	return get() && get()->obj && !isNone(); //TODO: check if evaluates to false (0,(,),[])
 }
 
 bool ofxPythonObject::isNone() const
 {
+	ofxPythonOperation op;
 	return get() && get()->obj == Py_None;
 }
 
 bool ofxPythonObject::isBool() const
 {
+	ofxPythonOperation op;
 	return get() && PyBool_Check(get()->obj);
 }
 
 bool ofxPythonObject::isInt() const
 {
+	ofxPythonOperation op;
 	return get() && PyInt_Check(get()->obj);
 }
 
 bool ofxPythonObject::isFloat() const
 {
+	ofxPythonOperation op;
 	return get() && PyFloat_Check(get()->obj);
 }
 
 bool ofxPythonObject::isString() const
 {
+	ofxPythonOperation op;
 	return get() && PyString_Check(get()->obj);
 }
 
 bool ofxPythonObject::isList() const
 {
+	ofxPythonOperation op;
 	return get() && PyList_Check(get()->obj);
 }
 
 bool ofxPythonObject::isTuple() const
 {
+	ofxPythonOperation op;
 	return get() && PyTuple_Check(get()->obj);
 }
 
 bool ofxPythonObject::isDict() const
 {
+	ofxPythonOperation op;
 	return get() && PyDict_Check(get()->obj);
 }
 
 long int ofxPythonObject::asInt() const
 {
+	ofxPythonOperation op;
 	if (isInt())
 		return PyInt_AsLong(get()->obj);
 	return 0;
@@ -339,6 +390,7 @@ long int ofxPythonObject::asInt() const
 
 bool ofxPythonObject::asBool() const
 {
+	ofxPythonOperation op;
 	if (isBool())
 		return get()->obj == Py_True;
 	return false;
@@ -346,6 +398,7 @@ bool ofxPythonObject::asBool() const
 
 double ofxPythonObject::asFloat() const
 {
+	ofxPythonOperation op;
 	if (isFloat())
 		return PyFloat_AsDouble(get()->obj);
 	return 0.0;
@@ -353,6 +406,7 @@ double ofxPythonObject::asFloat() const
 
 string ofxPythonObject::asString() const
 {
+	ofxPythonOperation op;
 	if(isString())
 		return string(PyString_AsString(get()->obj));
 	return string();
@@ -360,6 +414,7 @@ string ofxPythonObject::asString() const
 
 vector<ofxPythonObject> ofxPythonObject::asVector() const
 {
+	ofxPythonOperation op;
 	std::vector<ofxPythonObject> v;
 	if(isList())
 	{
@@ -382,6 +437,7 @@ vector<ofxPythonObject> ofxPythonObject::asVector() const
 
 std::map<ofxPythonObject,ofxPythonObject> ofxPythonObject::asMap() const
 {
+	ofxPythonOperation op;
 	std::map<ofxPythonObject,ofxPythonObject> m;
 	if(isDict())
 	{
@@ -398,11 +454,13 @@ std::map<ofxPythonObject,ofxPythonObject> ofxPythonObject::asMap() const
 
 ofxPythonObject ofxPythonObject::fromInt(long int i)
 {
+	ofxPythonOperation op;
 	return make_object_owned(PyInt_FromLong(i));
 }
 
 ofxPythonObject ofxPythonObject::fromBool(bool b)
 {
+	ofxPythonOperation op;
 	if(b)
 		return make_object_borrowed(Py_True);
 	return make_object_borrowed(Py_False);
@@ -410,16 +468,19 @@ ofxPythonObject ofxPythonObject::fromBool(bool b)
 
 ofxPythonObject ofxPythonObject::_None()
 {
+	ofxPythonOperation op;
 	return make_object_borrowed(Py_None);
 }
 
 ofxPythonObject ofxPythonObject::fromFloat(double d)
 {
+	ofxPythonOperation op;
 	return make_object_owned(PyFloat_FromDouble(d));
 }
 
 ofxPythonObject ofxPythonObject::fromString(const string& s)
 {
+	ofxPythonOperation op;
 	return make_object_owned(PyString_FromString(s.c_str()));
 }
 
@@ -434,12 +495,14 @@ ofxPythonMappingValue::ofxPythonMappingValue(ofxPythonObject o, const string& k)
 
 ofxPythonMappingValue::operator ofxPythonObject()
 {
+	ofxPythonOperation op;
 	return make_object_owned(
 		PyMapping_GetItemString(object->obj, noconststring(key)));
 }
 
 ofxPythonMappingValue& ofxPythonMappingValue::operator =(ofxPythonObject o)
 {
+	ofxPythonOperation op;
 	PyMapping_SetItemString(object->obj, noconststring(key) , o->obj);
 	PythonErrorCheck();
 	return *this;
@@ -450,12 +513,14 @@ ofxPythonAttrValue::ofxPythonAttrValue(ofxPythonObject o, const string& attr)
 
 ofxPythonAttrValue::operator ofxPythonObject()
 {
+	ofxPythonOperation op;
 	return make_object_owned(
 		PyObject_GetAttrString(object->obj,attribute.c_str()));
 }
 
 ofxPythonAttrValue & ofxPythonAttrValue::operator =(ofxPythonObject o)
 {
+	ofxPythonOperation op;
 	PyObject_SetAttrString(object->obj, attribute.c_str(), o->obj);
 	PythonErrorCheck();
 	return *this;
@@ -473,129 +538,154 @@ ofxPythonAttrValue & ofxPythonAttrValue::operator =(ofxPythonAttrValue & o)
 
 ofxPythonObject ofxPythonObjectLike::method(const string &method_name)
 {
+	ofxPythonOperation op;
 	ofxPythonObject PO = *this;
 	return PO.method(method_name);
 }
 ofxPythonObject ofxPythonObjectLike::operator ()()
 {
+	ofxPythonOperation op;
 	ofxPythonObject PO = *this;
 	return PO();
 }
 ofxPythonObject ofxPythonObjectLike::operator ()(ofxPythonObject o)
 {
+	ofxPythonOperation op;
 	ofxPythonObject PO = *this;
 	return PO(o);
 }
 ofxPythonObject ofxPythonObjectLike::operator ()(ofxPythonObject o1, ofxPythonObject o2)
 {
+	ofxPythonOperation op;
 	ofxPythonObject PO = *this;
 	return PO(o1,o2);
 }
 ofxPythonObject ofxPythonObjectLike::operator ()(ofxPythonObject o1, ofxPythonObject o2, ofxPythonObject o3)
 {
+	ofxPythonOperation op;
 	ofxPythonObject PO = *this;
 	return PO(o1,o2,o3);
 }
 ofxPythonAttrValue ofxPythonObjectLike::attr(const string& attribute)
 {
+	ofxPythonOperation op;
 	ofxPythonObject PO = *this;
 	return PO.attr(attribute);
 }
 ofxPythonMappingValue ofxPythonObjectLike::operator [](const string& key)
 {
+	ofxPythonOperation op;
 	ofxPythonObject PO = *this;
 	return PO[key];
 }
 ofxPythonMappingValue ofxPythonObjectLike::operator [](const char * key)
 {
+	ofxPythonOperation op;
 	ofxPythonObject PO = *this;
 	return PO[key];
 }
 bool ofxPythonObjectLike::isNone()
 {
+	ofxPythonOperation op;
 	ofxPythonObject PO = *this;
 	return PO.isNone();
 }
 bool ofxPythonObjectLike::isBool()
 {
+	ofxPythonOperation op;
 	ofxPythonObject PO = *this;
 	return PO.isBool();
 }
 bool ofxPythonObjectLike::isInt()
 {
+	ofxPythonOperation op;
 	ofxPythonObject PO = *this;
 	return PO.isInt();
 }
 bool ofxPythonObjectLike::isFloat()
 {
+	ofxPythonOperation op;
 	ofxPythonObject PO = *this;
 	return PO.isFloat();
 }
 bool ofxPythonObjectLike::isString()
 {
+	ofxPythonOperation op;
 	ofxPythonObject PO = *this;
 	return PO.isString();
 }
 bool ofxPythonObjectLike::isList()
 {
+	ofxPythonOperation op;
 	ofxPythonObject PO = *this;
 	return PO.isList();
 }
 bool ofxPythonObjectLike::isDict()
 {
+	ofxPythonOperation op;
 	ofxPythonObject PO = *this;
 	return PO.isDict();
 }
 bool ofxPythonObjectLike::isTuple()
 {
+	ofxPythonOperation op;
 	ofxPythonObject PO = *this;
 	return PO.isTuple();
 }
 bool ofxPythonObjectLike::asBool()
 {
+	ofxPythonOperation op;
 	ofxPythonObject PO = *this;
 	return PO.asBool();
 }
 long int ofxPythonObjectLike::asInt()
 {
+	ofxPythonOperation op;
 	ofxPythonObject PO = *this;
 	return PO.asInt();
 }
 double ofxPythonObjectLike::asFloat()
 {
+	ofxPythonOperation op;
 	ofxPythonObject PO = *this;
 	return PO.asFloat();
 }
 string ofxPythonObjectLike::asString()
 {
+	ofxPythonOperation op;
 	ofxPythonObject PO = *this;
 	return PO.asString();
 }
 vector<ofxPythonObject> ofxPythonObjectLike::asVector()
 {
+	ofxPythonOperation op;
 	ofxPythonObject PO = *this;
 	return PO.asVector();
 }
 
 std::map<ofxPythonObject,ofxPythonObject> ofxPythonObjectLike::asMap()
 {
+	ofxPythonOperation op;
 	ofxPythonObject PO = *this;
 	return PO.asMap();
 }
 
 ofxPythonObjectLike::operator bool()
 {
+	ofxPythonOperation op;
 	ofxPythonObject PO = *this;
 	return (bool)PO;
 }
 const string ofxPythonObjectLike::repr()
 {
+	ofxPythonOperation op;
 	ofxPythonObject PO = *this;
 	return PO.repr();
 }
 
 const string ofxPythonObjectLike::str()
 {
+	ofxPythonOperation op;
 	ofxPythonObject PO = *this;
 	return PO.str();
 }
@@ -608,6 +698,7 @@ ofxPythonTupleMaker& ofxPythonTupleMaker::operator<<(ofxPythonObject o)
 
 ofxPythonTupleMaker::operator ofxPythonObject()
 {
+	ofxPythonOperation op;
 	ofxPythonObject tuple = make_object_owned(
 		PyTuple_New(contents.size()));
 	for (unsigned int i = 0; i < contents.size(); ++i)
@@ -617,4 +708,21 @@ ofxPythonTupleMaker::operator ofxPythonObject()
 	}
 	PythonErrorCheck();
 	return tuple;
+}
+
+PyThreadState * ofxPythonOperation::pstate = NULL;
+unsigned int ofxPythonOperation::instances = 0;
+
+ofxPythonOperation::ofxPythonOperation(){
+    if(instances == 0){
+        PyEval_RestoreThread(pstate);
+    }
+    instances++;
+}
+
+ofxPythonOperation::~ofxPythonOperation(){
+    instances--;
+    if(instances ==0){
+        pstate = PyEval_SaveThread();
+    }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/ofxPython.h b/src/ofxPython.h
index 855689a..6d8e5b7 100644
--- a/src/ofxPython.h
+++ b/src/ofxPython.h
@@ -81,7 +81,14 @@ class ofxPython
 	friend class ofxPythonObjectManaged;
 };
 
-
+class ofxPythonOperation
+{
+public:
+    static PyThreadState * pstate;
+    static unsigned int instances;
+    ofxPythonOperation();
+    ~ofxPythonOperation();
+};
 
 class ofxPythonObjectManaged
 {