diff --git a/examples/play.py b/examples/play.py
index a7522b482d..4045dfffc0 100644
--- a/examples/play.py
+++ b/examples/play.py
@@ -8,12 +8,14 @@ pygtk.require('2.0')
 import sys
 
 import gobject
+gobject.threads_init()
 
 import pygst
 pygst.require('0.10')
 import gst
 import gst.interfaces
 import gtk
+gtk.gdk.threads_init()
 
 class GstPlayer:
     def __init__(self, videowidget):
@@ -33,9 +35,11 @@ class GstPlayer:
             return
         if message.structure.get_name() == 'prepare-xwindow-id':
             # Sync with the X server before giving the X-id to the sink
+            gtk.gdk.threads_enter()
             gtk.gdk.display_get_default().sync()
             self.videowidget.set_sink(message.src)
             message.src.set_property('force-aspect-ratio', True)
+            gtk.gdk.threads_leave()
             
     def on_message(self, bus, message):
         t = message.type
diff --git a/examples/remuxer.py b/examples/remuxer.py
index 039e38c6e7..fa321340b6 100644
--- a/examples/remuxer.py
+++ b/examples/remuxer.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ pygst.require('0.10')
 import gst
 import gst.interfaces
 import gtk
+gtk.gdk.threads_init()
 
 class GstPlayer:
     def __init__(self, videowidget):
@@ -33,9 +34,11 @@ class GstPlayer:
             return
         if message.structure.get_name() == 'prepare-xwindow-id':
             # Sync with the X server before giving the X-id to the sink
+            gtk.gdk.threads_enter()
             gtk.gdk.display_get_default().sync()
             self.videowidget.set_sink(message.src)
             message.src.set_property('force-aspect-ratio', True)
+            gtk.gdk.threads_leave()
             
     def on_message(self, bus, message):
         t = message.type
diff --git a/examples/switch.py b/examples/switch.py
index 7117843fdb..3428571a0e 100755
--- a/examples/switch.py
+++ b/examples/switch.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ pygst.require('0.10')
 import gst
 import gst.interfaces
 import gtk
+gtk.gdk.threads_init()
 
 class SwitchTest:
     def __init__(self, videowidget):
@@ -36,9 +37,11 @@ class SwitchTest:
             return
         if message.structure.get_name() == 'prepare-xwindow-id':
             # Sync with the X server before giving the X-id to the sink
+            gtk.gdk.threads_enter()
             gtk.gdk.display_get_default().sync()
             self.videowidget.set_sink(message.src)
             message.src.set_property('force-aspect-ratio', True)
+            gtk.gdk.threads_leave()
             
     def on_message(self, bus, message):
         t = message.type
diff --git a/examples/synchronizer.py b/examples/synchronizer.py
index f5eff5013f..656e332492 100755
--- a/examples/synchronizer.py
+++ b/examples/synchronizer.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ pygst.require('0.10')
 import gst
 import gst.interfaces
 import gtk
+gtk.gdk.threads_init()
 
 class GstPlayer:
     def __init__(self, videowidget):
@@ -33,9 +34,11 @@ class GstPlayer:
             return
         if message.structure.get_name() == 'prepare-xwindow-id':
             # Sync with the X server before giving the X-id to the sink
+            gtk.gdk.threads_enter()
             gtk.gdk.display_get_default().sync()
             self.videowidget.set_sink(message.src)
             message.src.set_property('force-aspect-ratio', True)
+            gtk.gdk.threads_leave()
             
     def on_message(self, bus, message):
         t = message.type