diff --git a/src/if_py_both.h b/src/if_py_both.h
index 4905bed..2fef1e4 100644
--- a/src/if_py_both.h
+++ b/src/if_py_both.h
@@ -1298,7 +1298,14 @@
 	}
     }
 
+    Py_BEGIN_ALLOW_THREADS
+    Python_Lock_Vim();
+
     error = func_call(name, &args, selfdict, &rettv);
+
+    Python_Release_Vim();
+    Py_END_ALLOW_THREADS
+
     if (error != OK)
     {
 	result = NULL;
diff --git a/src/if_python.c b/src/if_python.c
index 1c19245..134e7f9 100644
--- a/src/if_python.c
+++ b/src/if_python.c
@@ -676,11 +676,8 @@
 typedef PyObject PyThreadState;
 #endif
 
-#ifdef PY_CAN_RECURSE
-static PyGILState_STATE pygilstate = PyGILState_UNLOCKED;
-#else
+#ifndef PY_CAN_RECURSE
 static PyThreadState *saved_python_thread = NULL;
-#endif
 
 /*
  * Suspend a thread of the Python interpreter, other threads are allowed to
@@ -689,11 +686,7 @@
     static void
 Python_SaveThread(void)
 {
-#ifdef PY_CAN_RECURSE
-    PyGILState_Release(pygilstate);
-#else
     saved_python_thread = PyEval_SaveThread();
-#endif
 }
 
 /*
@@ -703,13 +696,10 @@
     static void
 Python_RestoreThread(void)
 {
-#ifdef PY_CAN_RECURSE
-    pygilstate = PyGILState_Ensure();
-#else
     PyEval_RestoreThread(saved_python_thread);
     saved_python_thread = NULL;
-#endif
 }
+#endif
 
     void
 python_end()
@@ -725,14 +715,22 @@
 #ifdef DYNAMIC_PYTHON
     if (hinstPython && Py_IsInitialized())
     {
+# ifdef PY_CAN_RECURSE
+	PyGILState_Ensure();
+# else
 	Python_RestoreThread();	    /* enter python */
+# endif
 	Py_Finalize();
     }
     end_dynamic_python();
 #else
     if (Py_IsInitialized())
     {
+# ifdef PY_CAN_RECURSE
+	PyGILState_Ensure();
+# else
 	Python_RestoreThread();	    /* enter python */
+# endif
 	Py_Finalize();
     }
 #endif
@@ -837,6 +835,9 @@
 #if defined(HAVE_LOCALE_H) || defined(X_LOCALE)
     char		*saved_locale;
 #endif
+#ifdef PY_CAN_RECURSE
+    PyGILState_STATE	pygilstate;
+#endif
 
 #ifndef PY_CAN_RECURSE
     if (recursive)
@@ -881,7 +882,11 @@
     }
 #endif
 
+#ifdef PY_CAN_RECURSE
+    pygilstate = PyGILState_Ensure();
+#else
     Python_RestoreThread();	    /* enter python */
+#endif
 
     if (rettv == NULL)
 	PyRun_SimpleString((char *)(cmd));
@@ -905,7 +910,11 @@
 	PyErr_Clear();
     }
 
+#ifdef PY_CAN_RECURSE
+    PyGILState_Release(pygilstate);
+#else
     Python_SaveThread();	    /* leave python */
+#endif
 
 #if defined(HAVE_LOCALE_H) || defined(X_LOCALE)
     if (saved_locale != NULL)
diff --git a/src/if_python3.c b/src/if_python3.c
index 2f98a04..daf517f 100644
--- a/src/if_python3.c
+++ b/src/if_python3.c
@@ -699,8 +699,6 @@
  * 1. Python interpreter main program.
  */
 
-static PyGILState_STATE pygilstate = PyGILState_UNLOCKED;
-
     void
 python3_end()
 {
@@ -718,7 +716,7 @@
     if (Py_IsInitialized())
     {
 	// acquire lock before finalizing
-	pygilstate = PyGILState_Ensure();
+	PyGILState_Ensure();
 
 	Py_Finalize();
     }
@@ -826,6 +824,7 @@
 #endif
     PyObject		*cmdstr;
     PyObject		*cmdbytes;
+    PyGILState_STATE	pygilstate;
 
 #if defined(MACOS) && !defined(MACOS_X_UNIX)
     GetPort(&oldPort);
diff --git a/src/version.c b/src/version.c
index b99117b..c7cb1fa 100644
--- a/src/version.c
+++ b/src/version.c
@@ -729,6 +729,8 @@
 static int included_patches[] =
 {   /* Add new patch number below this line */
 /**/
+    956,
+/**/
     955,
 /**/
     954,