This is my test case: ------------------------------------------ #!/usr/bin/python import libvirt def get_dom(): conn = libvirt.open ("xen"); dom = conn.lookupByName ("debian32fv"); return dom dom = get_dom() print "name = %s\n" % dom.name() ------------------------------------------ I modified src/hash.c to add a little bit of debug of the state of conn->uses in virGetConnect, virFreeConnect, virGetDomain, virFreeDomain. When running the program I see: ------------------------------------------ libvirt: virInitialize () libvirt: virInitialize () libvirt: virInitialize () libvirt: virInitialize () libvirt: virInitialize () libvirt: virInitialize () libvirt: virInitialize () libvirt: virInitialize () libvirt: virConnectOpen (name=xen) conn(0x6748c0) uses = 1 libvirt: do_open: proceeding with name=xen:/// libvirt: do_open: trying driver 0 (Test) ... libvirt: do_open: driver 0 returned DECLINED libvirt: do_open: trying driver 1 (QEMU) ... libvirt: do_open: driver 1 returned DECLINED libvirt: do_open: trying driver 2 (Xen) ... libvirt: do_open: driver 2 returned SUCCESS libvir: Remote error : Connection refused libvir: warning : Failed to find the network: Is the daemon running ? libvirt: virDomainLookupByName (conn=0x6748c0, name=debian32fv) new domain: conn(0x6748c0) uses = 2 libvirt: virConnectClose (conn=0x6748c0) conn(0x6748c0) uses = 1 libvirt: virDomainGetName (domain=0x679e20) name = debian32fv libvirt: virDomainFree (domain=0x679e20) free domain: conn(0x6748c0) uses = 0 ------------------------------------------ I would say that it's working as intended. Rich.