Could we use and add this macro to object.h? It could be a much cleaner and safer way of dealing with new references you want to clean up in the same scope. The first one will make sure to decref your new reference when you are done with it. The second one will make sure to set a borrowed reference to NULL afterward, so you can't access it after you are done with it. The second might be useless, but it seems like it might be useful for debugging and being sure you stopped using a reference when you thought you did. Anyone, please let me know if this is a dumb idea. /* Obtain a New Reference and clean it up at the end of the scope. */ #define Py_CLEANREF(_refname, _newref, _scopecode)\ (PyObject *) _refname = _newref;\ _scopecode;\ Py_XDECREF(_refname); /* Obtain a Borrowed Reference and forget about it at the end of the scope. */ #define Py_FORGETREF(_refname, _newref, _scopecode)\ (PyObject *) _refname = _newref; _scopecode;\ _refname = NULL; -- Read my blog! I depend on your acceptance of my opinion! I am interesting! http://ironfroggy-code.blogspot.com/