diff --git a/ext/sst/gem5.cc b/ext/sst/gem5.cc
index 1d90bc5b38..286f5195ec 100644
--- a/ext/sst/gem5.cc
+++ b/ext/sst/gem5.cc
@@ -355,7 +355,8 @@ gem5Component::doSimLoop(gem5::EventQueue* eventq)
 int
 gem5Component::execPythonCommands(const std::vector<std::string>& commands)
 {
-    PyObject *dict = PyModule_GetDict(pythonMain);
+    static PyObject *dict =
+        py::module_::import("__main__").attr("__dict__").ptr();
 
     PyObject *result;
 
diff --git a/ext/sst/gem5.hh b/ext/sst/gem5.hh
index 27124114b1..447c68c3b2 100644
--- a/ext/sst/gem5.hh
+++ b/ext/sst/gem5.hh
@@ -104,7 +104,6 @@ class gem5Component: public SST::Component
 
   // stuff needed for gem5 sim
   public:
-    PyObject *pythonMain;
     int execPythonCommands(const std::vector<std::string>& commands);
 
   private: