diff --git a/gramps/grampsapp.py b/gramps/grampsapp.py
index 782a406b0..ef06b0490 100644
--- a/gramps/grampsapp.py
+++ b/gramps/grampsapp.py
@@ -259,6 +259,8 @@ def show_settings():
         from gi import Repository
         repository = Repository.get_default()
         if repository.enumerate_versions("GExiv2"):
+            import gi
+            gi.require_version('GExiv2', '0.10')
             from gi.repository import GExiv2
             try:
                 gexiv2_str = GExiv2._version
diff --git a/gramps/gui/spell.py b/gramps/gui/spell.py
index 404eb96ea..bf8d1e5a9 100644
--- a/gramps/gui/spell.py
+++ b/gramps/gui/spell.py
@@ -58,12 +58,16 @@ HAVE_GTKSPELL = False
 repository = Repository.get_default()
 if repository.enumerate_versions("GtkSpell"):
     try:
+        import gi
+        gi.require_version('GtkSpell', '3.0')
         from gi.repository import GtkSpell as Gtkspell
         HAVE_GTKSPELL = True
     except:
         pass
 elif repository.enumerate_versions("Gtkspell"):
     try:
+        import gi
+        gi.require_version('GtkSpell', '3.0')
         from gi.repository import Gtkspell
         HAVE_GTKSPELL = True
     except: