diff --git a/bindings/python/Jamfile b/bindings/python/Jamfile
index 8488e82f3..f030ec337 100755
--- a/bindings/python/Jamfile
+++ b/bindings/python/Jamfile
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ python-extension libtorrent
     src/session.cpp
     src/entry.cpp
     src/torrent_info.cpp
+    src/string.cpp
     src/torrent_handle.cpp
     src/torrent_status.cpp
     src/session_settings.cpp
diff --git a/bindings/python/Makefile.am b/bindings/python/Makefile.am
index 668bb5892..e4b2dd847 100644
--- a/bindings/python/Makefile.am
+++ b/bindings/python/Makefile.am
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ EXTRA_DIST = \
   src/peer_info.cpp         \
   src/session.cpp           \
   src/session_settings.cpp  \
+  src/string.cpp            \
   src/torrent.cpp           \
   src/torrent_handle.cpp    \
   src/torrent_info.cpp      \
diff --git a/bindings/python/src/module.cpp b/bindings/python/src/module.cpp
index 61fcf769e..47576889d 100644
--- a/bindings/python/src/module.cpp
+++ b/bindings/python/src/module.cpp
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ void bind_big_number();
 void bind_session();
 void bind_entry();
 void bind_torrent_info();
+void bind_unicode_string_conversion();
 void bind_torrent_handle();
 void bind_torrent_status();
 void bind_session_settings();
@@ -40,6 +41,7 @@ BOOST_PYTHON_MODULE(libtorrent)
     bind_entry();
     bind_session();
     bind_torrent_info();
+    bind_unicode_string_conversion();
     bind_torrent_handle();
     bind_torrent_status();
     bind_session_settings();
diff --git a/bindings/python/src/session.cpp b/bindings/python/src/session.cpp
index 5ddd64294..d14547395 100644
--- a/bindings/python/src/session.cpp
+++ b/bindings/python/src/session.cpp
@@ -666,7 +666,9 @@ void bind_session()
     ;
 
     enum_<session::listen_on_flags_t>("listen_on_flags_t")
+#ifndef TORRENT_NO_DEPRECATE
         .value("listen_reuse_address", session::listen_reuse_address)
+#endif
         .value("listen_no_system_port", session::listen_no_system_port)
     ;
 
diff --git a/bindings/python/src/string.cpp b/bindings/python/src/string.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..bb133bfd0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bindings/python/src/string.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,71 @@
+// Copyright Daniel Wallin 2006. Use, modification and distribution is
+// subject to the Boost Software License, Version 1.0. (See accompanying
+// file LICENSE_1_0.txt or copy at http://www.boost.org/LICENSE_1_0.txt)
+
+#include <boost/python.hpp>
+#include "libtorrent/utf8.hpp"
+#include <string>
+
+using namespace boost::python;
+
+struct unicode_from_python
+{
+    unicode_from_python()
+    {
+        converter::registry::push_back(
+            &convertible, &construct, type_id<std::string>()
+        );
+    }
+
+    static void* convertible(PyObject* x)
+    {
+#if PY_VERSION_HEX >= 0x03020000
+        return PyBytes_Check(x) ? x : PyUnicode_Check(x) ? x : 0;
+#else
+        return PyString_Check(x) ? x : PyUnicode_Check(x) ? x : 0;
+#endif
+    }
+
+    static void construct(PyObject* x, converter::rvalue_from_python_stage1_data* data)
+    {
+        using libtorrent::wchar_utf8;
+        void* storage = ((converter::rvalue_from_python_storage<
+            std::string>*)data)->storage.bytes;
+
+        if (PyUnicode_Check(x))
+        {
+            std::wstring str;
+            str.resize(PyUnicode_GetSize(x) + 1, 0);
+#if PY_VERSION_HEX >= 0x03020000
+            int len = PyUnicode_AsWideChar(x, &str[0], str.size());
+#else
+            int len = PyUnicode_AsWideChar((PyUnicodeObject*)x, &str[0], str.size());
+#endif
+            if (len > -1)
+            {
+               assert(len < str.size());
+               str[len] = 0;
+            }
+            else str[str.size()-1] = 0;
+
+            std::string utf8;
+            int ret = wchar_utf8(str, utf8);
+            new (storage) std::string(utf8);
+        }
+        else
+        {
+#if PY_VERSION_HEX >= 0x03000000
+            new (storage) std::string(PyBytes_AsString(x));
+#else
+            new (storage) std::string(PyString_AsString(x));
+#endif
+        }
+        data->convertible = storage;
+    }
+};
+
+void bind_unicode_string_conversion()
+{
+    unicode_from_python();
+}
+
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index cdcbf6b5c..e23e4a018 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -97,10 +97,24 @@ AS_ECHO "Checking for posix thread support:"
 AX_PTHREAD()
 
 LIBS="$PTHREAD_LIBS $LIBS"
-CFLAGS="$PTHREAD_CFLAGS $CFLAGS -fvisibility=hidden"
-CXXFLAGS="$CXXFLAGS -fvisibility-inlines-hidden"
+CFLAGS="$PTHREAD_CFLAGS $CFLAGS"
 CC="$PTHREAD_CC"
 
+AS_ECHO "Checking for visibility support:"
+AC_CACHE_CHECK([for __attribute__((visibility("hidden")))],
+    ac_cv_hidden_visibility_attribute, [
+    echo 'int __attribute__ ((visibility ("hidden"))) foo (void) { return 1; }' > visibility_conftest.c
+    ac_cv_hidden_visibility_attribute=no
+    if AC_TRY_COMMAND(${CC-cc} -fvisibility=hidden -S visibility_conftest.c -o visibility_conftest.s 1>&AS_MESSAGE_LOG_FD);
+    then
+        AS_ECHO "found"
+        ac_cv_hidden_visibility_attribute=yes
+        CXXFLAGS="$CXXFLAGS -fvisibility-inlines-hidden"
+        CFLAGS="$CFLAGS -fvisibility=hidden"
+    fi
+    rm -f visibility_conftest.*
+])
+
 AS_ECHO
 AS_ECHO "Checking for boost libraries:"