diff --git a/python/example/read_profile.py b/python/example/read_profile.py
index 602802f4..d7c859b8 100755
--- a/python/example/read_profile.py
+++ b/python/example/read_profile.py
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ import sys
 #import logging
 #logging.basicConfig(level = logging.DEBUG)
 
+import gi
+gi.require_version('Vips', '8.0')
 from gi.repository import Vips
 
 #Vips.cache_set_trace(True)
diff --git a/python/example/try.py b/python/example/try.py
index a20da095..4ccfe3f0 100755
--- a/python/example/try.py
+++ b/python/example/try.py
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@ import sys
 
 # you might need this in your .bashrc
 # export GI_TYPELIB_PATH=$VIPSHOME/lib/girepository-1.0
+import gi
+gi.require_version('Vips', '8.0')
 from gi.repository import Vips
 
 print 'long way around:'
diff --git a/python/example/try10.py b/python/example/try10.py
index cf483426..1e0a9b8d 100755
--- a/python/example/try10.py
+++ b/python/example/try10.py
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ import sys
 import logging
 #logging.basicConfig(level = logging.DEBUG)
 
+import gi
+gi.require_version('Vips', '8.0')
 from gi.repository import Vips 
 
 a = Vips.Image.black(100, 100)
diff --git a/python/example/try11.py b/python/example/try11.py
index 721b78dd..76ff609e 100755
--- a/python/example/try11.py
+++ b/python/example/try11.py
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ import sys
 #import logging
 #logging.basicConfig(level = logging.DEBUG)
 
+import gi
+gi.require_version('Vips', '8.0')
 from gi.repository import Vips 
 
 a = Vips.Image.new_from_file(sys.argv[1])
diff --git a/python/example/try12.py b/python/example/try12.py
index 9f5c58f7..38bec857 100755
--- a/python/example/try12.py
+++ b/python/example/try12.py
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
 
 import sys
 
+import gi
+gi.require_version('Vips', '8.0')
 from gi.repository import Vips 
 
 im = Vips.Image.new_from_file(sys.argv[1], access = Vips.Access.SEQUENTIAL)
diff --git a/python/example/try13.py b/python/example/try13.py
index ccd03c70..3349c966 100755
--- a/python/example/try13.py
+++ b/python/example/try13.py
@@ -5,4 +5,6 @@ import sys
 import logging
 logging.basicConfig(level = logging.DEBUG)
 
+import gi
+gi.require_version('Vips', '8.0')
 from gi.repository import Vips 
diff --git a/python/example/try14.py b/python/example/try14.py
index 287d2fd5..cd2b4ee4 100755
--- a/python/example/try14.py
+++ b/python/example/try14.py
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ import sys
 import logging
 #logging.basicConfig(level = logging.DEBUG)
 
+import gi
+gi.require_version('Vips', '8.0')
 from gi.repository import Vips 
 
 a = Vips.Image.black(100, 100)
diff --git a/python/example/try15.py b/python/example/try15.py
index 5b0b6c63..62ae8df2 100755
--- a/python/example/try15.py
+++ b/python/example/try15.py
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
 
 import sys
 
+import gi
+gi.require_version('Vips', '8.0')
 from gi.repository import GLib, Vips 
 
 context = GLib.OptionContext(" - test python stuff")
diff --git a/python/example/try16.py b/python/example/try16.py
index b86343d3..852fa091 100755
--- a/python/example/try16.py
+++ b/python/example/try16.py
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ import sys
 import logging
 logging.basicConfig(level = logging.DEBUG)
 
+import gi
+gi.require_version('Vips', '8.0')
 from gi.repository import Vips
 
 #Vips.cache_set_trace(True)
diff --git a/python/example/try17.py b/python/example/try17.py
index bc5eaf8f..d8078b4d 100755
--- a/python/example/try17.py
+++ b/python/example/try17.py
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ import sys
 import logging
 #logging.basicConfig(level = logging.DEBUG)
 
+import gi
+gi.require_version('Vips', '8.0')
 from gi.repository import Vips
 
 #Vips.cache_set_trace(True)
diff --git a/python/example/try2.py b/python/example/try2.py
index 0c9f8272..cb3b39c4 100755
--- a/python/example/try2.py
+++ b/python/example/try2.py
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@
 import logging
 logging.basicConfig(level = logging.DEBUG)
 
+import gi
+gi.require_version('Vips', '8.0')
 from gi.repository import Vips
 Vips.cache_set_trace(True)
 
diff --git a/python/example/try3.py b/python/example/try3.py
index 2f944f2b..b39e776d 100755
--- a/python/example/try3.py
+++ b/python/example/try3.py
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ import sys
 #import logging
 #logging.basicConfig(level = logging.DEBUG)
 
+import gi
+gi.require_version('Vips', '8.0')
 from gi.repository import Vips
 
 Vips.cache_set_trace(True)
diff --git a/python/example/try4.py b/python/example/try4.py
index 5a1c7105..bbe7db55 100755
--- a/python/example/try4.py
+++ b/python/example/try4.py
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ import sys
 #import logging
 #logging.basicConfig(level = logging.DEBUG)
 
+import gi
+gi.require_version('Vips', '8.0')
 from gi.repository import Vips 
 
 a = Vips.Image.new_from_file(sys.argv[1])
diff --git a/python/example/try5.py b/python/example/try5.py
index bc535fac..104c98f1 100755
--- a/python/example/try5.py
+++ b/python/example/try5.py
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ import sys
 #import logging
 #logging.basicConfig(level = logging.DEBUG)
 
+import gi
+gi.require_version('Vips', '8.0')
 from gi.repository import Vips 
 
 a = Vips.Image.new_from_file(sys.argv[1])
diff --git a/python/example/try6.py b/python/example/try6.py
index d0884915..f3201fa0 100755
--- a/python/example/try6.py
+++ b/python/example/try6.py
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ import sys
 #import logging
 #logging.basicConfig(level = logging.DEBUG)
 
+import gi
+gi.require_version('Vips', '8.0')
 from gi.repository import Vips 
 
 a = Vips.Image.new_from_file(sys.argv[1])
diff --git a/python/example/try7.py b/python/example/try7.py
index 0971e3b8..e82219b1 100755
--- a/python/example/try7.py
+++ b/python/example/try7.py
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ import sys
 #import logging
 #logging.basicConfig(level = logging.DEBUG)
 
+import gi
+gi.require_version('Vips', '8.0')
 from gi.repository import Vips 
 
 a = Vips.Image.new_from_file(sys.argv[1])
diff --git a/python/example/try8.py b/python/example/try8.py
index 90ccb72c..fc381565 100755
--- a/python/example/try8.py
+++ b/python/example/try8.py
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ import sys
 #import logging
 #logging.basicConfig(level = logging.DEBUG)
 
+import gi
+gi.require_version('Vips', '8.0')
 from gi.repository import Vips 
 
 a = Vips.Image.new_from_array([[1, 2, 3], [4, 5, 6], [7, 8, 9]], 8, 128)
diff --git a/python/example/try9.py b/python/example/try9.py
index 969a388b..56f0149d 100755
--- a/python/example/try9.py
+++ b/python/example/try9.py
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ import sys
 import logging
 logging.basicConfig(level = logging.DEBUG)
 
+import gi
+gi.require_version('Vips', '8.0')
 from gi.repository import Vips 
 
 a = Vips.Image.black(100, 100)
diff --git a/test/test_arithmetic.py b/test/test_arithmetic.py
index 9eb0379c..8279a677 100755
--- a/test/test_arithmetic.py
+++ b/test/test_arithmetic.py
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@ import math
 #import logging
 #logging.basicConfig(level = logging.DEBUG)
 
+import gi
+gi.require_version('Vips', '8.0')
 from gi.repository import Vips 
 
 Vips.leak_set(True)
diff --git a/test/test_colour.py b/test/test_colour.py
index 30803b23..e73e685b 100755
--- a/test/test_colour.py
+++ b/test/test_colour.py
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ import math
 #import logging
 #logging.basicConfig(level = logging.DEBUG)
 
+import gi
+gi.require_version('Vips', '8.0')
 from gi.repository import Vips 
 
 Vips.leak_set(True)
diff --git a/test/test_conversion.py b/test/test_conversion.py
index b7d095a7..837e3e9a 100755
--- a/test/test_conversion.py
+++ b/test/test_conversion.py
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@ import math
 #import logging
 #logging.basicConfig(level = logging.DEBUG)
 
+import gi
+gi.require_version('Vips', '8.0')
 from gi.repository import Vips 
 from functools import reduce
 
diff --git a/test/test_convolution.py b/test/test_convolution.py
index 8f1f9d40..03e62651 100755
--- a/test/test_convolution.py
+++ b/test/test_convolution.py
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@ import math
 #import logging
 #logging.basicConfig(level = logging.DEBUG)
 
+import gi
+gi.require_version('Vips', '8.0')
 from gi.repository import Vips 
 
 Vips.leak_set(True)
diff --git a/test/test_create.py b/test/test_create.py
index 70454b42..d0048625 100755
--- a/test/test_create.py
+++ b/test/test_create.py
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ import math
 #import logging
 #logging.basicConfig(level = logging.DEBUG)
 
+import gi
+gi.require_version('Vips', '8.0')
 from gi.repository import Vips 
 
 Vips.leak_set(True)
diff --git a/test/test_draw.py b/test/test_draw.py
index 0a830983..23e1c563 100755
--- a/test/test_draw.py
+++ b/test/test_draw.py
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ import math
 #import logging
 #logging.basicConfig(level = logging.DEBUG)
 
+import gi
+gi.require_version('Vips', '8.0')
 from gi.repository import Vips 
 
 Vips.leak_set(True)
diff --git a/test/test_histogram.py b/test/test_histogram.py
index 20716e65..84563574 100755
--- a/test/test_histogram.py
+++ b/test/test_histogram.py
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ import math
 #import logging
 #logging.basicConfig(level = logging.DEBUG)
 
+import gi
+gi.require_version('Vips', '8.0')
 from gi.repository import Vips 
 
 Vips.leak_set(True)
diff --git a/test/test_iofuncs.py b/test/test_iofuncs.py
index 2182cf9d..0cfd8f55 100755
--- a/test/test_iofuncs.py
+++ b/test/test_iofuncs.py
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@ import math
 #import logging
 #logging.basicConfig(level = logging.DEBUG)
 
+import gi
+gi.require_version('Vips', '8.0')
 from gi.repository import Vips 
 
 Vips.leak_set(True)
diff --git a/test/test_morphology.py b/test/test_morphology.py
index dca65f8d..66285aa2 100755
--- a/test/test_morphology.py
+++ b/test/test_morphology.py
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ import math
 #import logging
 #logging.basicConfig(level = logging.DEBUG)
 
+import gi
+gi.require_version('Vips', '8.0')
 from gi.repository import Vips 
 
 Vips.leak_set(True)
diff --git a/test/test_resample.py b/test/test_resample.py
index b77ca957..903a7aaa 100755
--- a/test/test_resample.py
+++ b/test/test_resample.py
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ import math
 #import logging
 #logging.basicConfig(level = logging.DEBUG)
 
+import gi
+gi.require_version('Vips', '8.0')
 from gi.repository import Vips 
 
 Vips.leak_set(True)