diff --git a/src/py_item.cc b/src/py_item.cc
index 0e95f24f..e37228fe 100644
--- a/src/py_item.cc
+++ b/src/py_item.cc
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ void export_item()
 #if 0
   class_< item_t, bases<scope_t> > ("JournalItem", init<uint_least8_t>())
 #else
-  class_< item_t > ("JournalItem", init<uint_least8_t>())
+  class_< item_t, noncopyable > ("JournalItem", no_init)
 #endif
 #if 1
     .add_property("flags", &supports_flags<>::flags,
diff --git a/src/py_xact.cc b/src/py_xact.cc
index 5ab0d90d..b7582854 100644
--- a/src/py_xact.cc
+++ b/src/py_xact.cc
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ using namespace boost::python;
 
 void export_xact()
 {
-  class_< xact_base_t, bases<item_t> > ("TransactionBase")
+  class_< xact_base_t, bases<item_t>, noncopyable > ("TransactionBase", no_init)
     .add_property("journal",
                   make_getter(&xact_base_t::journal,
                               return_internal_reference<>()),