diff --git a/src/cthulhu/plugin_system_manager.py b/src/cthulhu/plugin_system_manager.py
index a5555d1..a33c54b 100644
--- a/src/cthulhu/plugin_system_manager.py
+++ b/src/cthulhu/plugin_system_manager.py
@@ -33,16 +33,19 @@ else: # Python 3.5+, no support for python < 3.3.
     import importlib.util
 import gi
 
-# First try the newer version, then fall back to older version if needed
+# First handle GIRepository version
 try:
     gi.require_version('GIRepository', '3.0')
 except ValueError:
     gi.require_version('GIRepository', '2.0')
 
+# IMPORTANT: No gi.repository imports should happen before GIRepository version is set
 gi.require_version('Peas', '1.0')
+gi.require_version('Atspi', '2.0')
+
+# Now it's safe to import from gi.repository
 from gi.repository import GObject
 from gi.repository import Peas
-gi.require_version('Atspi', '2.0')
 from gi.repository import Atspi
 from cthulhu import resource_manager