diff --git a/modules/packages/Python.chpl b/modules/packages/Python.chpl
index df8857fb407d..703208d54eb3 100644
--- a/modules/packages/Python.chpl
+++ b/modules/packages/Python.chpl
@@ -222,7 +222,7 @@ module Python {
   private import List;
   private import Map;
 
-  private use CPythonInterface;
+  private use CPythonInterface except PyObject;
   private use CWChar;
   private use OS.POSIX only getenv;
 
@@ -1188,6 +1188,22 @@ module Python {
       return interpreter.fromPython(value, this.obj);
     }
 
+    proc type release(in self: owned PyObject): PyObjectPtr {
+      var selfUn: unmanaged PyObject = owned.release(self);
+      selfUn.isOwned = false;
+      var ptr: PyObjectPtr = selfUn.obj;
+      delete selfUn;
+      return ptr;
+    }
+    proc type release(in self: owned ClassObject): PyObjectPtr {
+      var pyObj: unmanaged ClassObject = owned.release(self);
+      pyObj.obj!.isOwned = false;
+      var ptr: PyObjectPtr = pyObj.obj!.get();
+      delete pyObj;
+      return ptr;
+    }
+
+
     /*
       Returns the string representation of the object.
       This is the same as casting to a string.
diff --git a/test/library/packages/Python/customType.chpl b/test/library/packages/Python/customType.chpl
index 4cd3561f7e2a..17c3e14e4776 100644
--- a/test/library/packages/Python/customType.chpl
+++ b/test/library/packages/Python/customType.chpl
@@ -15,11 +15,7 @@ class myRecConverter: TypeConverter {
   override proc toPython(interpreter: borrowed Interpreter,
                          type T, const value: T): Python.CPythonInterface.PyObjectPtr throws {
     if T != myRec then halt("Expected myRec");
-    var pyObj = owned.release(pyClsType(value.x, value.y));
-    pyObj.obj!.isOwned = false;
-    var ptr = pyObj.obj!.get();
-    delete pyObj;
-    return ptr;
+    return PyObject.release(pyClsType(value.x, value.y));
   }
   override proc fromPython(interpreter: borrowed Interpreter,
                            type T, obj: Python.CPythonInterface.PyObjectPtr): T throws {