Description

assignee = None
closed_at = None
created_at = <Date 2019-05-27.00:02:41.529>
labels = ['ctypes', '3.7']
title = 'import ctypes fails with a statically linked interpreter due to dlopen() failure'
updated_at = <Date 2019-05-27.00:02:41.529>
user = 'https://github.com/indygreg'

activity = <Date 2019-05-27.00:02:41.529>
actor = 'indygreg'
assignee = 'none'
closed = False
closed_date = None
closer = None
components = ['ctypes']
creation = <Date 2019-05-27.00:02:41.529>
creator = 'indygreg'
dependencies = []
files = []
hgrepos = []
issue_num = 37060
keywords = []
message_count = 1.0
messages = ['343588']
nosy_count = 1.0
nosy_names = ['indygreg']
pr_nums = []
priority = 'normal'
resolution = None
stage = None
status = 'open'
superseder = None
type = None
url = 'https://bugs.python.org/issue37060'
versions = ['Python 3.7']

Activity

1. indygreg commented on May 27, 2019

   

   indygregmannequin

   on May 27, 2019

   MannequinAuthor

   More actions

   ctypes/__init__.py calls _ctypes.dlopen(None) on Linux as part of code execution during module import. Unfortunately, dlopen() doesn't work if the current executable isn't a dynamic executable.

   Using a fully statically linked Python executable:

   $ ldd python3.7
           not a dynamic executable

   $ python3.7
   >>> import _ctypes
   
   >>> _ctypes.dlopen(None)
   Traceback (most recent call last):
     File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>
   OSError: Dynamic loading not supported
   
   >>> import ctypes
   Traceback (most recent call last):
     File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>
     File "/home/gps/src/python-build-standalone.git/build/python/install/lib/python3.7/ctypes/__init__.py", line 444, in <module>
       pythonapi = PyDLL(None)
     File "/home/gps/src/python-build-standalone.git/build/python/install/lib/python3.7/ctypes/__init__.py", line 356, in __init__
       self._handle = _dlopen(self._name, mode)
   OSError: Dynamic loading not supported

   I think it is a bug that import ctypes raises OSError at import time in this environment. I can make a compelling argument that this error should either be suppressed or converted to an ImportError.

   Producing a fully statically linked Python executable is a bit of work and isn't easily accomplished with the existing build system. My "python-build-standalone" project automates the process. A fully statically linked Python executable is available in the zstd compressed archive at https://github.com/indygreg/python-build-standalone/releases/download/20190505/cpython-3.7.3-linux64-musl-20190526T0219.tar.zst under the python/install/bin/python3.7 path. Simply extract that archive and run that binary to reproduce.
2. indygreg

   added

   3.7 (EOL)end of lifeend of life

   topic-ctypes

   on May 27, 2019
3. ezio-melotti

   transferred this issue fromon Apr 10, 2022
4. voltagex commented on May 27, 2023

   

   voltagex

   on May 27, 2023

   More actions

   @indygreg did you work out a way around this? I note your https://github.com/indygreg/python-build-standalone/blob/main/cpython-unix/patch-ctypes-static-binary.patch, but this does not seem to fix a static build of Python on its own.
5. serhiy-storchaka

   added this to Ctypes issueson Jan 1, 2024
6. zanieb

   removed

   3.7 (EOL)end of lifeend of life

   on Nov 26, 2025
7. zanieb commented on Nov 26, 2025

   

   zanieb

   on Nov 26, 2025

   Contributor

   More actions

   I think this issue is still relevant on 3.15+

   cpython/Lib/ctypes/__init__.py

   Line 559 in 7f371ed

   pythonapi = PyDLL(None)
8. picnixz

   added

   type-bugAn unexpected behavior, bug, or errorAn unexpected behavior, bug, or error

   stdlibStandard Library Python modules in the Lib/ directoryStandard Library Python modules in the Lib/ directory

   on Jan 24, 2026
9. ZeroIntensity

   added a commit that references this issue on Sep 28, 2026

   gh-81241: Fix importing `ctypes` from statically linked interpreters (G…

   5637f4e
10. ZeroIntensity commented on Sep 28, 2026

    

    ZeroIntensity

    on Sep 28, 2026

    Member

    More actions

    Backports are on auto-merge, and the 3.15 backport will be merged separately.
11. ZeroIntensity

    closed this as completedon Sep 28, 2026
12. github-project-automation

    moved this to Done in Ctypes issueson Sep 28, 2026
13. ZeroIntensity

    added 2 commits that reference this issue on Sep 28, 2026

    [3.13] gh-81241: Fix importing `ctypes` from statically linked interp…

    e3d8d3b

    [3.14] gh-81241: Fix importing `ctypes` from statically linked interp…

    24ddd48
14. serhiy-storchaka

    added a commit that references this issue on Oct 10, 2026

    [3.15] gh-81241: Fix importing `ctypes` from statically linked interp…

    3440ff9

Issue actions