diff --git a/otk/Makefile.am b/otk/Makefile.am
index 2ef58ef0..0ba90ade 100644
--- a/otk/Makefile.am
+++ b/otk/Makefile.am
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ otk.i: $(wildcard *.hh)
 	touch $@
 
 otk_wrap.cc: otk.i
-	swig $(filter -I%,$(CXXFLAGS)) -python -c++ -o $@ $<
+	swig $(filter -I%,$(CXXFLAGS)) -python -shadow -c++ -o $@ $<
 
 # local dependencies
 application.o: application.cc application.hh eventdispatcher.hh \
diff --git a/src/Makefile.am b/src/Makefile.am
index 10c93be6..fab23110 100644
--- a/src/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/Makefile.am
@@ -31,6 +31,6 @@ openbox.i: openbox.hh screen.hh client.hh
 	touch $@
 
 openbox_wrap.cc: openbox.i
-	swig $(filter -I%,$(CXXFLAGS)) -python -c++ -nodefault -o $@ $<
+	swig $(filter -I%,$(CXXFLAGS)) -python -shadow -c++ -nodefault -o $@ $<
 
 # local dependencies