diff --git a/src/python/SConscript b/src/python/SConscript
index 9f1cddbedd..1fab974180 100644
--- a/src/python/SConscript
+++ b/src/python/SConscript
@@ -253,6 +253,10 @@ PySource('m5.ext.pystats', 'm5/ext/pystats/timeconversion.py')
 PySource('m5.ext.pystats', 'm5/ext/pystats/jsonloader.py')
 PySource('m5.stats', 'm5/stats/gem5stats.py')
 
+Source('importer.cc', add_tags='python')
+cc, hh = env.Blob('m5ImporterCode', 'importer.py')
+Source(cc, add_tags='python')
+
 Source('pybind11/core.cc', add_tags='python')
 Source('pybind11/debug.cc', add_tags='python')
 Source('pybind11/event.cc', add_tags='python')
diff --git a/src/python/importer.cc b/src/python/importer.cc
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c7beb6243e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/python/importer.cc
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2021 Google, Inc.
+ *
+ * Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+ * modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are
+ * met: redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
+ * notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer;
+ * redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
+ * notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
+ * documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution;
+ * neither the name of the copyright holders nor the names of its
+ * contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived from
+ * this software without specific prior written permission.
+ *
+ * THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS
+ * "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT
+ * LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR
+ * A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT
+ * OWNER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL,
+ * SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT
+ * LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE,
+ * DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY
+ * THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT
+ * (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE
+ * OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+ */
+
+#include "pybind11/embed.h"
+#include "pybind11/pybind11.h"
+#include "python/m5ImporterCode.hh"
+
+namespace py = pybind11;
+
+PYBIND11_EMBEDDED_MODULE(importer, m)
+{
+    py::str importer_code(
+            reinterpret_cast<const char *>(gem5::Blobs::m5ImporterCode),
+            gem5::Blobs::m5ImporterCode_len);
+    py::exec(std::move(importer_code), m.attr("__dict__"));
+}
diff --git a/src/sim/init.cc b/src/sim/init.cc
index ed54742855..ce72b04e3f 100644
--- a/src/sim/init.cc
+++ b/src/sim/init.cc
@@ -73,18 +73,11 @@ namespace gem5
 // so make a simple macro to make life a little easier
 #define PyCC(x) (const_cast<char *>(x))
 
-EmbeddedPython *EmbeddedPython::importer = NULL;
-PyObject *EmbeddedPython::importerModule = NULL;
 EmbeddedPython::EmbeddedPython(const char *abspath, const char *modpath,
         const unsigned char *code, int zlen, int len)
     : abspath(abspath), modpath(modpath), code(code), zlen(zlen), len(len)
 {
-    // if we've added the importer keep track of it because we need it
-    // to bootstrap.
-    if (std::string(modpath) == std::string("importer"))
-        importer = this;
-    else
-        getList().push_back(this);
+    getList().push_back(this);
 }
 
 std::list<EmbeddedPython *> &
@@ -114,15 +107,11 @@ EmbeddedPython::getCode() const
 bool
 EmbeddedPython::addModule() const
 {
-    PyObject *code = getCode();
-    PyObject *result = PyObject_CallMethod(importerModule, PyCC("add_module"),
-        PyCC("ssO"), abspath, modpath, code);
-    if (!result) {
-        PyErr_Print();
-        return false;
-    }
-
-    Py_DECREF(result);
+    auto code = py::reinterpret_borrow<py::object>(getCode());
+    // Ensure that "code" is not garbage collected.
+    code.inc_ref();
+    auto importer = py::module_::import("importer");
+    importer.attr("add_module")(abspath, modpath, code);
     return true;
 }
 
@@ -132,16 +121,7 @@ EmbeddedPython::addModule() const
 int
 EmbeddedPython::initAll()
 {
-    // Load the importer module
-    PyObject *code = importer->getCode();
-    importerModule = PyImport_ExecCodeModule(PyCC("importer"), code);
-    if (!importerModule) {
-        PyErr_Print();
-        return 1;
-    }
-
-    // Load the rest of the embedded python files into the embedded
-    // python importer
+    // Load the embedded python files into the embedded python importer.
     for (auto *embedded: getList()) {
         if (!embedded->addModule())
             return 1;
diff --git a/src/sim/init.hh b/src/sim/init.hh
index c2f4cf2f58..9d73015ffd 100644
--- a/src/sim/init.hh
+++ b/src/sim/init.hh
@@ -74,8 +74,6 @@ struct EmbeddedPython
     PyObject *getCode() const;
     bool addModule() const;
 
-    static EmbeddedPython *importer;
-    static PyObject *importerModule;
     static std::list<EmbeddedPython *> &getList();
     static int initAll();
 };