diff --git a/Modules/pwdmodule.c b/Modules/pwdmodule.c
index 9e7b864..9e01f48 100644
--- a/Modules/pwdmodule.c
+++ b/Modules/pwdmodule.c
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@
 exception is raised if the entry asked for cannot be found.");
 
       
+static int initialized;
 static PyTypeObject StructPwdType;
 
 static void
@@ -186,9 +187,12 @@
 	if (m == NULL)
     		return;
 
-	PyStructSequence_InitType(&StructPwdType, &struct_pwd_type_desc);
+	if (!initialized)
+		PyStructSequence_InitType(&StructPwdType, 
+					  &struct_pwd_type_desc);
 	Py_INCREF((PyObject *) &StructPwdType);
 	PyModule_AddObject(m, "struct_passwd", (PyObject *) &StructPwdType);
 	/* And for b/w compatibility (this was defined by mistake): */
 	PyModule_AddObject(m, "struct_pwent", (PyObject *) &StructPwdType);
+	initialized = 1;
 }