diff --git a/src/core/object.h b/src/core/object.h
index cb9dc5884..c28c3d6c8 100644
--- a/src/core/object.h
+++ b/src/core/object.h
@@ -198,6 +198,10 @@ private:
   friend Ptr<T> CopyObject (Ptr<T> object);
   template <typename T>
   friend Ptr<T> CopyObject (Ptr<const T> object);
+  // The following friend method declaration is used only
+  // by our python bindings to call the protected ObjectBase::Construct
+  // method.
+  friend void PythonCompleteConstruct (Ptr<Object> object, TypeId typeId, const AttributeList &attributes);
 
   friend class ObjectFactory;
   friend class AggregateIterator;