diff --git a/src/buffer.rs b/src/buffer.rs
index d165a9e4..46601bf0 100644
--- a/src/buffer.rs
+++ b/src/buffer.rs
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ use libc;
 use ffi;
 use exc;
 use err::{self, PyResult};
-use pyptr::{Py};
+use pointers::{Py};
 use python::{Python, ToPythonPointer};
 use objects::PyObject;
 
diff --git a/src/callback.rs b/src/callback.rs
index 7b5a2a5e..e3a39946 100644
--- a/src/callback.rs
+++ b/src/callback.rs
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ use std::os::raw::c_int;
 use std::{any, mem, ptr, isize, io, panic};
 use libc;
 
-use pyptr::Py;
+use pointers::Py;
 use python::{Python, IntoPythonPointer};
 use objects::exc;
 use conversion::IntoPyObject;
diff --git a/src/class/async.rs b/src/class/async.rs
index 90983ed2..0cd5f4b6 100644
--- a/src/class/async.rs
+++ b/src/class/async.rs
@@ -39,22 +39,22 @@ pub trait PyAsyncProtocol<'p>: PyTypeInfo + Sized + 'static {
 
 
 pub trait PyAsyncAwaitProtocol<'p>: PyAsyncProtocol<'p> {
-    type Success: ::ToPyObject;
+    type Success: ::IntoPyObject;
     type Result: Into<PyResult<Self::Success>>;
 }
 
 pub trait PyAsyncAiterProtocol<'p>: PyAsyncProtocol<'p> {
-    type Success: ::ToPyObject;
+    type Success: ::IntoPyObject;
     type Result: Into<PyResult<Self::Success>>;
 }
 
 pub trait PyAsyncAnextProtocol<'p>: PyAsyncProtocol<'p> {
-    type Success: ::ToPyObject;
+    type Success: ::IntoPyObject;
     type Result: Into<PyResult<Self::Success>>;
 }
 
 pub trait PyAsyncAenterProtocol<'p>: PyAsyncProtocol<'p> {
-    type Success: ::ToPyObject;
+    type Success: ::IntoPyObject;
     type Result: Into<PyResult<Self::Success>>;
 }
 
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ pub trait PyAsyncAexitProtocol<'p>: PyAsyncProtocol<'p> {
     type ExcType: ::FromPyObject<'p>;
     type ExcValue: ::FromPyObject<'p>;
     type Traceback: ::FromPyObject<'p>;
-    type Success: ::ToPyObject;
+    type Success: ::IntoPyObject;
     type Result: Into<PyResult<Self::Success>>;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/class/basic.rs b/src/class/basic.rs
index 85a1b5c6..9d22e3cb 100644
--- a/src/class/basic.rs
+++ b/src/class/basic.rs
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ use python::{Python, IntoPythonPointer};
 use objects::PyObject;
 use objects::exc;
 use typeob::PyTypeInfo;
-use conversion::{ToPyObject, FromPyObject, IntoPyObject};
+use conversion::{FromPyObject, IntoPyObject};
 use callback::{PyObjectCallbackConverter, HashConverter, BoolCallbackConverter};
 use class::methods::PyMethodDef;
 
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ pub trait PyObjectProtocol<'p>: PyTypeInfo + Sized + 'static {
 
 pub trait PyObjectGetAttrProtocol<'p>: PyObjectProtocol<'p> {
     type Name: FromPyObject<'p>;
-    type Success: ToPyObject;
+    type Success: IntoPyObject;
     type Result: Into<PyResult<Self::Success>>;
 }
 pub trait PyObjectSetAttrProtocol<'p>: PyObjectProtocol<'p> {
@@ -76,16 +76,16 @@ pub trait PyObjectDelAttrProtocol<'p>: PyObjectProtocol<'p> {
     type Result: Into<PyResult<()>>;
 }
 pub trait PyObjectStrProtocol<'p>: PyObjectProtocol<'p> {
-    type Success: ToPyObject;
+    type Success: IntoPyObject;
     type Result: Into<PyResult<Self::Success>>;
 }
 pub trait PyObjectReprProtocol<'p>: PyObjectProtocol<'p> {
-    type Success: ToPyObject;
+    type Success: IntoPyObject;
     type Result: Into<PyResult<Self::Success>>;
 }
 pub trait PyObjectFormatProtocol<'p>: PyObjectProtocol<'p> {
     type Format: FromPyObject<'p>;
-    type Success: ToPyObject;
+    type Success: IntoPyObject;
     type Result: Into<PyResult<Self::Success>>;
 }
 pub trait PyObjectHashProtocol<'p>: PyObjectProtocol<'p> {
@@ -95,12 +95,12 @@ pub trait PyObjectBoolProtocol<'p>: PyObjectProtocol<'p> {
     type Result: Into<PyResult<bool>>;
 }
 pub trait PyObjectBytesProtocol<'p>: PyObjectProtocol<'p> {
-    type Success: ToPyObject;
+    type Success: IntoPyObject;
     type Result: Into<PyResult<Self::Success>>;
 }
 pub trait PyObjectRichcmpProtocol<'p>: PyObjectProtocol<'p> {
     type Other: FromPyObject<'p>;
-    type Success: ToPyObject;
+    type Success: IntoPyObject;
     type Result: Into<PyResult<Self::Success>>;
 }
 
@@ -396,7 +396,6 @@ fn extract_op(py: Python, op: c_int) -> PyResult<CompareOp> {
         ffi::Py_GE => Ok(CompareOp::Ge),
         _ => Err(PyErr::new_lazy_init(
             py.get_type::<exc::ValueError>(),
-            Some("tp_richcompare called with invalid comparison operator"
-                 .to_object(py))))
+            Some("tp_richcompare called with invalid comparison operator".into_object(py))))
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/class/context.rs b/src/class/context.rs
index 8e281400..ebae03c8 100644
--- a/src/class/context.rs
+++ b/src/class/context.rs
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ pub trait PyContextProtocol<'p>: PyTypeInfo {
 }
 
 pub trait PyContextEnterProtocol<'p>: PyContextProtocol<'p> {
-    type Success: ::ToPyObject;
+    type Success: ::IntoPyObject;
     type Result: Into<PyResult<Self::Success>>;
 }
 
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ pub trait PyContextExitProtocol<'p>: PyContextProtocol<'p> {
     type ExcType: ::FromPyObject<'p>;
     type ExcValue: ::FromPyObject<'p>;
     type Traceback: ::FromPyObject<'p>;
-    type Success: ::ToPyObject;
+    type Success: ::IntoPyObject;
     type Result: Into<PyResult<Self::Success>>;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/class/descr.rs b/src/class/descr.rs
index 49323612..f7965ab2 100644
--- a/src/class/descr.rs
+++ b/src/class/descr.rs
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ use objects::{PyType, PyObject};
 use callback::{PyObjectCallbackConverter, UnitCallbackConverter};
 use typeob::PyTypeInfo;
 use class::methods::PyMethodDef;
-use conversion::{ToPyObject, FromPyObject};
+use conversion::{IntoPyObject, FromPyObject};
 
 
 /// Descriptor interface
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ pub trait PyDescrProtocol<'p>: PyTypeInfo {
 pub trait PyDescrGetProtocol<'p>: PyDescrProtocol<'p> {
     type Inst: FromPyObject<'p>;
     type Owner: FromPyObject<'p>;
-    type Success: ToPyObject;
+    type Success: IntoPyObject;
     type Result: Into<PyResult<Self::Success>>;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/class/gc.rs b/src/class/gc.rs
index 272e05fd..bb901fae 100644
--- a/src/class/gc.rs
+++ b/src/class/gc.rs
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ use std::mem;
 use std::os::raw::{c_int, c_void};
 
 use ffi;
-use pyptr::Py;
+use pointers::Py;
 use python::{Python, ToPythonPointer};
 use callback::AbortOnDrop;
 use typeob::PyTypeInfo;
diff --git a/src/class/iter.rs b/src/class/iter.rs
index 67727594..04db61e8 100644
--- a/src/class/iter.rs
+++ b/src/class/iter.rs
@@ -25,12 +25,12 @@ pub trait PyIterProtocol<'p> : PyTypeInfo {
 }
 
 pub trait PyIterIterProtocol<'p>: PyIterProtocol<'p> {
-    type Success: ::ToPyObject;
+    type Success: ::IntoPyObject;
     type Result: Into<PyResult<Self::Success>>;
 }
 
 pub trait PyIterNextProtocol<'p>: PyIterProtocol<'p> {
-    type Success: ::ToPyObject;
+    type Success: ::IntoPyObject;
     type Result: Into<PyResult<Self::Success>>;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/class/mapping.rs b/src/class/mapping.rs
index 2a4dc44f..b462f5be 100644
--- a/src/class/mapping.rs
+++ b/src/class/mapping.rs
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ use python::Python;
 use objects::exc;
 use objects::PyObject;
 use callback::{PyObjectCallbackConverter, LenResultConverter};
-use conversion::{ToPyObject, FromPyObject};
+use conversion::{IntoPyObject, FromPyObject};
 use typeob::PyTypeInfo;
 use class::methods::PyMethodDef;
 
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ pub trait PyMappingLenProtocol<'p>: PyMappingProtocol<'p> {
 
 pub trait PyMappingGetItemProtocol<'p>: PyMappingProtocol<'p> {
     type Key: FromPyObject<'p>;
-    type Success: ToPyObject;
+    type Success: IntoPyObject;
     type Result: Into<PyResult<Self::Success>>;
 }
 
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ pub trait PyMappingDelItemProtocol<'p>: PyMappingProtocol<'p> {
 }
 
 pub trait PyMappingIterProtocol<'p>: PyMappingProtocol<'p> {
-    type Success: ToPyObject;
+    type Success: IntoPyObject;
     type Result: Into<PyResult<Self::Success>>;
 }
 
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ pub trait PyMappingContainsProtocol<'p>: PyMappingProtocol<'p> {
 }
 
 pub trait PyMappingReversedProtocol<'p>: PyMappingProtocol<'p> {
-    type Success: ToPyObject;
+    type Success: IntoPyObject;
     type Result: Into<PyResult<Self::Success>>;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/class/number.rs b/src/class/number.rs
index 8c807732..b3e9d507 100644
--- a/src/class/number.rs
+++ b/src/class/number.rs
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ use callback::PyObjectCallbackConverter;
 use typeob::PyTypeInfo;
 use class::methods::PyMethodDef;
 use class::basic::PyObjectProtocolImpl;
-use ::{c_void, ToPyObject, IntoPyObject, FromPyObject};
+use ::{c_void, IntoPyObject, FromPyObject};
 
 /// Number interface
 #[allow(unused_variables)]
@@ -125,12 +125,12 @@ pub trait PyNumberProtocol<'p>: PyTypeInfo {
 
 pub trait PyNumberAddProtocol<'p>: PyNumberProtocol<'p> {
     type Other: FromPyObject<'p>;
-    type Success: ToPyObject;
+    type Success: IntoPyObject;
     type Result: Into<PyResult<Self::Success>>;
 }
 pub trait PyNumberSubProtocol<'p>: PyNumberProtocol<'p> {
     type Other: FromPyObject<'p>;
-    type Success: ToPyObject;
+    type Success: IntoPyObject;
     type Result: Into<PyResult<Self::Success>>;
 }
 pub trait PyNumberMulProtocol<'p>: PyNumberProtocol<'p> {
@@ -140,131 +140,131 @@ pub trait PyNumberMulProtocol<'p>: PyNumberProtocol<'p> {
 }
 pub trait PyNumberMatmulProtocol<'p>: PyNumberProtocol<'p> {
     type Other: FromPyObject<'p>;
-    type Success: ToPyObject;
+    type Success: IntoPyObject;
     type Result: Into<PyResult<Self::Success>>;
 }
 pub trait PyNumberTruedivProtocol<'p>: PyNumberProtocol<'p> {
     type Other: FromPyObject<'p>;
-    type Success: ToPyObject;
+    type Success: IntoPyObject;
     type Result: Into<PyResult<Self::Success>>;
 }
 pub trait PyNumberFloordivProtocol<'p>: PyNumberProtocol<'p> {
     type Other: FromPyObject<'p>;
-    type Success: ToPyObject;
+    type Success: IntoPyObject;
     type Result: Into<PyResult<Self::Success>>;
 }
 pub trait PyNumberModProtocol<'p>: PyNumberProtocol<'p> {
     type Other: FromPyObject<'p>;
-    type Success: ToPyObject;
+    type Success: IntoPyObject;
     type Result: Into<PyResult<Self::Success>>;
 }
 pub trait PyNumberDivmodProtocol<'p>: PyNumberProtocol<'p> {
     type Other: FromPyObject<'p>;
-    type Success: ToPyObject;
+    type Success: IntoPyObject;
     type Result: Into<PyResult<Self::Success>>;
 }
 pub trait PyNumberPowProtocol<'p>: PyNumberProtocol<'p> {
     type Other: FromPyObject<'p>;
     type Modulo: FromPyObject<'p>;
-    type Success: ToPyObject;
+    type Success: IntoPyObject;
     type Result: Into<PyResult<Self::Success>>;
 }
 pub trait PyNumberLShiftProtocol<'p>: PyNumberProtocol<'p> {
     type Other: FromPyObject<'p>;
-    type Success: ToPyObject;
+    type Success: IntoPyObject;
     type Result: Into<PyResult<Self::Success>>;
 }
 pub trait PyNumberRShiftProtocol<'p>: PyNumberProtocol<'p> {
     type Other: FromPyObject<'p>;
-    type Success: ToPyObject;
+    type Success: IntoPyObject;
     type Result: Into<PyResult<Self::Success>>;
 }
 pub trait PyNumberAndProtocol<'p>: PyNumberProtocol<'p> {
     type Other: FromPyObject<'p>;
-    type Success: ToPyObject;
+    type Success: IntoPyObject;
     type Result: Into<PyResult<Self::Success>>;
 }
 pub trait PyNumberXorProtocol<'p>: PyNumberProtocol<'p> {
     type Other: FromPyObject<'p>;
-    type Success: ToPyObject;
+    type Success: IntoPyObject;
     type Result: Into<PyResult<Self::Success>>;
 }
 pub trait PyNumberOrProtocol<'p>: PyNumberProtocol<'p> {
     type Other: FromPyObject<'p>;
-    type Success: ToPyObject;
+    type Success: IntoPyObject;
     type Result: Into<PyResult<Self::Success>>;
 }
 
 
 pub trait PyNumberRAddProtocol<'p>: PyNumberProtocol<'p> {
     type Other: FromPyObject<'p>;
-    type Success: ToPyObject;
+    type Success: IntoPyObject;
     type Result: Into<PyResult<Self::Success>>;
 }
 pub trait PyNumberRSubProtocol<'p>: PyNumberProtocol<'p> {
     type Other: FromPyObject<'p>;
-    type Success: ToPyObject;
+    type Success: IntoPyObject;
     type Result: Into<PyResult<Self::Success>>;
 }
 pub trait PyNumberRMulProtocol<'p>: PyNumberProtocol<'p> {
     type Other: FromPyObject<'p>;
-    type Success: ToPyObject;
+    type Success: IntoPyObject;
     type Result: Into<PyResult<Self::Success>>;
 }
 pub trait PyNumberRMatmulProtocol<'p>: PyNumberProtocol<'p> {
     type Other: FromPyObject<'p>;
-    type Success: ToPyObject;
+    type Success: IntoPyObject;
     type Result: Into<PyResult<Self::Success>>;
 }
 pub trait PyNumberRTruedivProtocol<'p>: PyNumberProtocol<'p> {
     type Other: FromPyObject<'p>;
-    type Success: ToPyObject;
+    type Success: IntoPyObject;
     type Result: Into<PyResult<Self::Success>>;
 }
 pub trait PyNumberRFloordivProtocol<'p>: PyNumberProtocol<'p> {
     type Other: FromPyObject<'p>;
-    type Success: ToPyObject;
+    type Success: IntoPyObject;
     type Result: Into<PyResult<Self::Success>>;
 }
 pub trait PyNumberRModProtocol<'p>: PyNumberProtocol<'p> {
     type Other: FromPyObject<'p>;
-    type Success: ToPyObject;
+    type Success: IntoPyObject;
     type Result: Into<PyResult<Self::Success>>;
 }
 pub trait PyNumberRDivmodProtocol<'p>: PyNumberProtocol<'p> {
     type Other: FromPyObject<'p>;
-    type Success: ToPyObject;
+    type Success: IntoPyObject;
     type Result: Into<PyResult<Self::Success>>;
 }
 pub trait PyNumberRPowProtocol<'p>: PyNumberProtocol<'p> {
     type Other: FromPyObject<'p>;
     type Modulo: FromPyObject<'p>;
-    type Success: ToPyObject;
+    type Success: IntoPyObject;
     type Result: Into<PyResult<Self::Success>>;
 }
 pub trait PyNumberRLShiftProtocol<'p>: PyNumberProtocol<'p> {
     type Other: FromPyObject<'p>;
-    type Success: ToPyObject;
+    type Success: IntoPyObject;
     type Result: Into<PyResult<Self::Success>>;
 }
 pub trait PyNumberRRShiftProtocol<'p>: PyNumberProtocol<'p> {
     type Other: FromPyObject<'p>;
-    type Success: ToPyObject;
+    type Success: IntoPyObject;
     type Result: Into<PyResult<Self::Success>>;
 }
 pub trait PyNumberRAndProtocol<'p>: PyNumberProtocol<'p> {
     type Other: FromPyObject<'p>;
-    type Success: ToPyObject;
+    type Success: IntoPyObject;
     type Result: Into<PyResult<Self::Success>>;
 }
 pub trait PyNumberRXorProtocol<'p>: PyNumberProtocol<'p> {
     type Other: FromPyObject<'p>;
-    type Success: ToPyObject;
+    type Success: IntoPyObject;
     type Result: Into<PyResult<Self::Success>>;
 }
 pub trait PyNumberROrProtocol<'p>: PyNumberProtocol<'p> {
     type Other: FromPyObject<'p>;
-    type Success: ToPyObject;
+    type Success: IntoPyObject;
     type Result: Into<PyResult<Self::Success>>;
 }
 
@@ -327,39 +327,39 @@ pub trait PyNumberIOrProtocol<'p>: PyNumberProtocol<'p> {
 }
 
 pub trait PyNumberNegProtocol<'p>: PyNumberProtocol<'p> {
-    type Success: ToPyObject;
+    type Success: IntoPyObject;
     type Result: Into<PyResult<Self::Success>>;
 }
 pub trait PyNumberPosProtocol<'p>: PyNumberProtocol<'p> {
-    type Success: ToPyObject;
+    type Success: IntoPyObject;
     type Result: Into<PyResult<Self::Success>>;
 }
 pub trait PyNumberAbsProtocol<'p>: PyNumberProtocol<'p> {
-    type Success: ToPyObject;
+    type Success: IntoPyObject;
     type Result: Into<PyResult<Self::Success>>;
 }
 pub trait PyNumberInvertProtocol<'p>: PyNumberProtocol<'p> {
-    type Success: ToPyObject;
+    type Success: IntoPyObject;
     type Result: Into<PyResult<Self::Success>>;
 }
 pub trait PyNumberComplexProtocol<'p>: PyNumberProtocol<'p> {
-    type Success: ToPyObject;
+    type Success: IntoPyObject;
     type Result: Into<PyResult<Self::Success>>;
 }
 pub trait PyNumberIntProtocol<'p>: PyNumberProtocol<'p> {
-    type Success: ToPyObject;
+    type Success: IntoPyObject;
     type Result: Into<PyResult<Self::Success>>;
 }
 pub trait PyNumberFloatProtocol<'p>: PyNumberProtocol<'p> {
-    type Success: ToPyObject;
+    type Success: IntoPyObject;
     type Result: Into<PyResult<Self::Success>>;
 }
 pub trait PyNumberRoundProtocol<'p>: PyNumberProtocol<'p> {
-    type Success: ToPyObject;
+    type Success: IntoPyObject;
     type Result: Into<PyResult<Self::Success>>;
 }
 pub trait PyNumberIndexProtocol<'p>: PyNumberProtocol<'p> {
-    type Success: ToPyObject;
+    type Success: IntoPyObject;
     type Result: Into<PyResult<Self::Success>>;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/conversion.rs b/src/conversion.rs
index 9a19a60e..b1595e4a 100644
--- a/src/conversion.rs
+++ b/src/conversion.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 use ffi;
 use err::PyResult;
-use pyptr::PyPtr;
+use pointers::{pptr, PyPtr};
 use python::{Python, ToPythonPointer};
 use objects::{PyObject, PyTuple};
 use token::PyObjectMarker;
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ pub trait IntoPyObject {
 
     /// Converts self into a Python object. (Consumes self)
     #[inline]
-    fn into_object(self, py: Python) -> PyPtr<PyObjectMarker>
+    fn into_object(self, py: Python) -> pptr
         where Self: Sized;
 }
 
@@ -101,9 +101,9 @@ impl <'p, T: ?Sized> RefFromPyObject<'p> for T
 impl<T> IntoPyObject for T where T: ToPyObject
 {
     #[inline]
-    default fn into_object(self, py: Python) -> PyPtr<PyObjectMarker>
+    default fn into_object(self, py: Python) -> pptr
     {
-        self.to_object(py)
+        self.to_object(py).park()
     }
 }
 
@@ -132,14 +132,14 @@ impl <T> ToPyObject for Option<T> where T: ToPyObject {
     fn to_object(&self, py: Python) -> PyPtr<PyObjectMarker> {
         match *self {
             Some(ref val) => val.to_object(py),
-            None => py.None()
+            None => py.None().into_pobject(),
         }
     }
 }
 
 impl<T> IntoPyObject for Option<T> where T: IntoPyObject {
 
-    fn into_object(self, py: Python) -> PyPtr<PyObjectMarker> {
+    fn into_object(self, py: Python) -> pptr {
         match self {
             Some(val) => val.into_object(py),
             None => py.None()
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ impl<T> IntoPyObject for Option<T> where T: IntoPyObject {
 /// `()` is converted to Python `None`.
 impl ToPyObject for () {
     fn to_object(&self, py: Python) -> PyPtr<PyObjectMarker> {
-        py.None()
+        py.None().into_pobject()
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/err.rs b/src/err.rs
index 3d0d6651..29b6b286 100644
--- a/src/err.rs
+++ b/src/err.rs
@@ -4,13 +4,13 @@ use std::os::raw::c_char;
 use libc;
 
 use ffi;
-use pyptr::{PyPtr};
+use pointers::{pptr, PyPtr};
 use python::{ToPythonPointer, IntoPythonPointer, Python};
 use objects::{PyObject, PyType, exc};
 use native::PyNativeObject;
 use token::PyObjectMarker;
 use typeob::{PyTypeObject};
-use conversion::{ToPyObject, ToPyTuple};
+use conversion::{ToPyObject, ToPyTuple, IntoPyObject};
 
 /**
 Defines a new exception type.
@@ -83,16 +83,16 @@ macro_rules! py_exception {
 #[derive(Debug)]
 pub struct PyErr {
     /// The type of the exception. This should be either a `PyClass` or a `PyType`.
-    pub ptype: PyPtr<PyObjectMarker>,
+    pub ptype: pptr,
     /// The value of the exception.
     ///
     /// This can be either an instance of `ptype`,
     /// a tuple of arguments to be passed to `ptype`'s constructor,
     /// or a single argument to be passed to `ptype`'s constructor.
     /// Call `PyErr::instance()` to get the exception instance in all cases.
-    pub pvalue: Option<PyPtr<PyObjectMarker>>,
+    pub pvalue: Option<pptr>,
     /// The `PyTraceBack` object associated with the error.
-    pub ptraceback: Option<PyPtr<PyObjectMarker>>,
+    pub ptraceback: Option<pptr>,
 }
 
 
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ impl PyErr {
     pub fn new<T, V>(py: Python, value: V) -> PyErr
         where T: PyTypeObject, V: ToPyObject
     {
-        PyErr::new_helper(py, py.get_type::<T>().into_object(), value.to_object(py))
+        PyErr::new_helper(py, py.get_type::<T>().park(), value.to_object(py))
     }
 
     /// Gets whether an error is present in the Python interpreter's global state.
@@ -175,20 +175,20 @@ impl PyErr {
         // and because we mustn't panic in normalize().
         PyErr {
             ptype: if ptype.is_null() {
-                py.get_type::<exc::SystemError>().into_object()
+                py.get_type::<exc::SystemError>().park()
             } else {
-                PyPtr::<PyObjectMarker>::from_owned_ptr(ptype).park()
+                pptr::from_owned_ptr(ptype)
             },
-            pvalue: PyPtr::from_owned_ptr_or_opt(py, pvalue),
-            ptraceback: PyPtr::from_owned_ptr_or_opt(py, ptraceback)
+            pvalue: pptr::from_owned_ptr_or_opt(pvalue),
+            ptraceback: pptr::from_owned_ptr_or_opt(ptraceback)
         }
     }
 
-    fn new_helper(_py: Python, ty: PyPtr<PyObjectMarker>, value: PyPtr<PyObjectMarker>) -> PyErr {
+    fn new_helper(_py: Python, ty: pptr, value: PyPtr<PyObjectMarker>) -> PyErr {
         assert!(unsafe { ffi::PyExceptionClass_Check(ty.as_ptr()) } != 0);
         PyErr {
             ptype: ty,
-            pvalue: Some(value),
+            pvalue: Some(value.park()),
             ptraceback: None
         }
     }
@@ -205,21 +205,21 @@ impl PyErr {
     fn from_instance_helper<'p>(py: Python, obj: PyPtr<PyObjectMarker>) -> PyErr {
         if unsafe { ffi::PyExceptionInstance_Check(obj.as_ptr()) } != 0 {
             PyErr {
-                ptype: unsafe { PyPtr::<PyObjectMarker>::from_borrowed_ptr(
+                ptype: unsafe { pptr::from_borrowed_ptr(
                     ffi::PyExceptionInstance_Class(obj.as_ptr())) },
-                pvalue: Some(obj),
+                pvalue: Some(obj.park()),
                 ptraceback: None
             }
         } else if unsafe { ffi::PyExceptionClass_Check(obj.as_ptr()) } != 0 {
             PyErr {
-                ptype: unsafe { PyPtr::<PyObjectMarker>::unchecked_downcast_from(obj) },
+                ptype: obj.park(),
                 pvalue: None,
                 ptraceback: None
             }
         } else {
             PyErr {
-                ptype: py.get_type::<exc::TypeError>().into_object(),
-                pvalue: Some("exceptions must derive from BaseException".to_object(py)),
+                ptype: py.get_type::<exc::TypeError>().park(),
+                pvalue: Some("exceptions must derive from BaseException".into_object(py)),
                 ptraceback: None
             }
         }
@@ -229,9 +229,9 @@ impl PyErr {
     /// `exc` is the exception type; usually one of the standard exceptions like `py.get_type::<exc::RuntimeError>()`.
     /// `value` is the exception instance, or a tuple of arguments to pass to the exception constructor.
     #[inline]
-    pub fn new_lazy_init<'p>(exc: PyType<'p>, value: Option<PyPtr<PyObjectMarker>>) -> PyErr {
+    pub fn new_lazy_init<'p>(exc: PyType<'p>, value: Option<pptr>) -> PyErr {
         PyErr {
-            ptype: exc.into_object(),
+            ptype: exc.park(),
             pvalue: value,
             ptraceback: None
         }
@@ -246,8 +246,8 @@ impl PyErr {
     {
         let pval = args.to_py_tuple(py);
         PyErr {
-            ptype: exc.into_object(),
-            pvalue: Some(pval.into_object()),
+            ptype: exc.park(),
+            pvalue: Some(pval.park()),
             ptraceback: None
         }
     }
@@ -309,8 +309,8 @@ impl PyErr {
     pub fn instance<'p>(&mut self, py: Python<'p>) -> PyObject<'p> {
         self.normalize(py);
         match self.pvalue {
-            Some(ref instance) => instance.as_ref(py).into_pyobject(),
-            None => py.None().as_ref(py).into_pyobject(),
+            Some(ref instance) => instance.as_object(py).clone_object(),
+            None => py.None().as_object(py).clone_object(),
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/src/function.rs b/src/function.rs
index 5b211fba..895ae834 100644
--- a/src/function.rs
+++ b/src/function.rs
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
 use std::ptr;
 
 use ffi;
-use pyptr::Py;
+use pointers::Py;
 use python::Python;
 use objects::PyObject;
 
diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index 658e3259..f407a476 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -64,11 +64,11 @@ pub use pyo3cls::*;
 pub mod ffi;
 pub use ffi::{Py_ssize_t, Py_hash_t};
 
-pub mod pyptr;
-pub use pyptr::{Py, PyPtr};
+pub mod pointers;
+pub use pointers::{Py, PyPtr, pptr};
 
 mod ppptr;
-pub use ppptr::pptr;
+pub use ppptr::{pyptr};
 
 mod token;
 pub use token::{PyObjectMarker, PythonToken, PythonObjectWithToken, PythonObjectWithGilToken};
diff --git a/src/native.rs b/src/native.rs
index e56d6789..baadd8d6 100644
--- a/src/native.rs
+++ b/src/native.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 // Copyright (c) 2017-present PyO3 Project and Contributors
 
-use pyptr::PyPtr;
+use pointers::{pptr, PyPtr};
 use token::PyObjectMarker;
 use objects::PyObject;
 
@@ -8,10 +8,14 @@ pub trait PyBaseObject : Sized {}
 
 pub trait PyNativeObject<'p> : PyBaseObject {
 
+    fn park(self) -> pptr;
+
     fn as_object(self) -> PyObject<'p>;
 
     fn into_object(self) -> PyPtr<PyObjectMarker>;
 
+    fn clone_object(&self) -> Self;
+
 }
 
 /*impl<'a, T: Sized> FromPyObject<'a> for T
diff --git a/src/objectprotocol.rs b/src/objectprotocol.rs
index 0149a3b1..cde01d7a 100644
--- a/src/objectprotocol.rs
+++ b/src/objectprotocol.rs
@@ -4,10 +4,11 @@
 
 use std::fmt;
 use std::cmp::Ordering;
+
 use ffi;
 use libc;
-use ppptr::pptr;
-use pyptr::{Py, PyPtr};
+use pyptr;
+use pointers::{pptr, Py, PyPtr};
 use python::{Python, PyDowncastInto, ToPythonPointer};
 use objects::{PyObject, PyDict, PyString, PyIterator};
 use token::PythonObjectWithGilToken;
@@ -373,7 +374,7 @@ impl<'p, T> ObjectProtocol<'p> for T where T: PythonObjectWithGilToken<'p> + ToP
     #[inline]
     fn iter(&self) -> PyResult<PyIterator<'p>> {
         unsafe {
-            let ptr = pptr::from_owned_ptr_or_err(
+            let ptr = pyptr::from_owned_ptr_or_err(
                 self.gil(), ffi::PyObject_GetIter(self.as_ptr()))?;
             PyIterator::from_object(self.gil(), ptr).map_err(|e| e.into())
         }
@@ -425,6 +426,31 @@ impl<'p, T> fmt::Display for PyPtr<T> where T: ObjectProtocol<'p> + PyTypeInfo {
     }
 }
 
+
+impl fmt::Debug for pptr {
+    fn fmt(&self, f : &mut fmt::Formatter) -> Result<(), fmt::Error> {
+        let gil = Python::acquire_gil();
+        let py = gil.python();
+
+        // TODO: we shouldn't use fmt::Error when repr() fails
+        let r = self.as_object(py);
+        let repr_obj = try!(r.repr().map_err(|_| fmt::Error));
+        f.write_str(&repr_obj.to_string_lossy())
+    }
+}
+
+impl fmt::Display for pptr {
+    default fn fmt(&self, f : &mut fmt::Formatter) -> Result<(), fmt::Error> {
+        let gil = Python::acquire_gil();
+        let py = gil.python();
+
+        // TODO: we shouldn't use fmt::Error when repr() fails
+        let r = self.as_object(py);
+        let repr_obj = try!(r.str().map_err(|_| fmt::Error));
+        f.write_str(&repr_obj.to_string_lossy())
+    }
+}
+
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod test {
     use python::{Python};
diff --git a/src/objects/boolobject.rs b/src/objects/boolobject.rs
index 385ba735..07efcd68 100644
--- a/src/objects/boolobject.rs
+++ b/src/objects/boolobject.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-use ::{pptr, PyPtr};
+use ::{pyptr, PyPtr};
 use ffi;
 use token::PyObjectMarker;
 use python::{ToPythonPointer, Python};
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ use native::PyNativeObject;
 use conversion::ToPyObject;
 
 /// Represents a Python `bool`.
-pub struct PyBool<'p>(pptr<'p>);
+pub struct PyBool<'p>(pyptr<'p>);
 
 pyobject_nativetype!(PyBool, PyBool_Check, PyBool_Type);
 
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ impl<'p> PyBool<'p> {
     #[inline]
     pub fn new(py: Python<'p>, val: bool) -> PyBool<'p> {
         unsafe { PyBool(
-            pptr::from_borrowed_ptr(py, if val { ffi::Py_True() } else { ffi::Py_False() })
+            pyptr::from_borrowed_ptr(py, if val { ffi::Py_True() } else { ffi::Py_False() })
         )}
     }
 
diff --git a/src/objects/bytearray.rs b/src/objects/bytearray.rs
index c656ff5f..b81c831a 100644
--- a/src/objects/bytearray.rs
+++ b/src/objects/bytearray.rs
@@ -7,12 +7,12 @@ use ffi;
 use python::{Python, ToPythonPointer};
 use objects::PyObject;
 use err::{PyResult, PyErr};
-use ppptr::pptr;
+use ppptr::pyptr;
 use token::PythonObjectWithGilToken;
 
 
 /// Represents a Python bytearray.
-pub struct PyByteArray<'p>(pptr<'p>);
+pub struct PyByteArray<'p>(pyptr<'p>);
 
 pyobject_nativetype!(PyByteArray, PyByteArray_Check, PyByteArray_Type);
 
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ impl<'p> PyByteArray<'p> {
         let ptr = src.as_ptr() as *const c_char;
         let len = src.len() as ffi::Py_ssize_t;
         let ptr = unsafe {ffi::PyByteArray_FromStringAndSize(ptr, len)};
-        unsafe { PyByteArray(pptr::cast_from_owned_ptr_or_panic::<PyByteArray>(py, ptr)) }
+        unsafe { PyByteArray(pyptr::cast_from_owned_ptr_or_panic::<PyByteArray>(py, ptr)) }
     }
 
     /// Creates a new Python bytearray object
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ impl<'p> PyByteArray<'p> {
         let res = unsafe {ffi::PyByteArray_FromObject(src.as_ptr())};
         if res != ptr::null_mut() {
             Ok(unsafe{ PyByteArray(
-                pptr::cast_from_owned_ptr_or_panic::<PyByteArray>(src.gil(), res))})
+                pyptr::cast_from_owned_ptr_or_panic::<PyByteArray>(src.gil(), res))})
         } else {
             Err(PyErr::fetch(src.gil()))
         }
diff --git a/src/objects/dict.rs b/src/objects/dict.rs
index 6287d52d..d967576d 100644
--- a/src/objects/dict.rs
+++ b/src/objects/dict.rs
@@ -2,18 +2,18 @@
 //
 // based on Daniel Grunwald's https://github.com/dgrunwald/rust-cpython
 
-use ::pptr;
+use ::pyptr;
 use ffi;
-use pyptr::PyPtr;
+use pointers::PyPtr;
 use python::{Python, ToPythonPointer, PyDowncastInto};
-use conversion::{ToPyObject, IntoPyObject};
+use conversion::{ToPyObject};
 use objects::{PyObject, PyList};
 use token::{PyObjectMarker, PythonObjectWithGilToken};
 use err::{self, PyResult, PyErr};
 use std::{mem, collections, hash, cmp};
 
 /// Represents a Python `dict`.
-pub struct PyDict<'p>(pptr<'p>);
+pub struct PyDict<'p>(pyptr<'p>);
 
 pyobject_nativetype!(PyDict, PyDict_Check, PyDict_Type);
 
@@ -23,12 +23,12 @@ impl<'p> PyDict<'p> {
     ///
     /// May panic when running out of memory.
     pub fn new(py: Python<'p>) -> PyDict<'p> {
-        unsafe { PyDict(pptr::from_owned_ptr_or_panic(py, ffi::PyDict_New())) }
+        unsafe { PyDict(pyptr::from_owned_ptr_or_panic(py, ffi::PyDict_New())) }
     }
 
     /// Construct a new dict with the given raw pointer
     pub fn from_borrowed_ptr(py: Python<'p>, ptr: *mut ffi::PyObject) -> PyDict<'p> {
-        unsafe { PyDict(pptr::from_borrowed_ptr(py, ptr)) }
+        unsafe { PyDict(pyptr::from_borrowed_ptr(py, ptr)) }
     }
 
     /// Return a new dictionary that contains the same key-value pairs as self.
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ impl<'p> PyDict<'p> {
     pub fn copy(&'p self) -> PyResult<PyDict<'p>> {
         unsafe {
             Ok(PyDict(
-                pptr::from_owned_ptr_or_err(self.gil(), ffi::PyDict_Copy(self.0.as_ptr()))?
+                pyptr::from_owned_ptr_or_err(self.gil(), ffi::PyDict_Copy(self.0.as_ptr()))?
             ))
         }
     }
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ impl <K, V> ToPyObject for collections::HashMap<K, V>
         for (key, value) in self {
             dict.set_item(key, value).unwrap();
         };
-        dict.into_object(py)
+        dict.to_object(py)
     }
 }
 
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ impl <K, V> ToPyObject for collections::BTreeMap<K, V>
         for (key, value) in self {
             dict.set_item(key, value).unwrap();
         };
-        dict.into_object(py)
+        dict.to_object(py)
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/objects/exc.rs b/src/objects/exc.rs
index 130a3c12..c1aec41e 100644
--- a/src/objects/exc.rs
+++ b/src/objects/exc.rs
@@ -9,9 +9,10 @@ use std::{self, mem, ops};
 use std::ffi::CStr;
 
 use ffi;
-use pyptr::{Py, PyPtr};
+use pointers::PyPtr;
 use python::{Python, ToPythonPointer};
 use err::PyResult;
+use native::PyNativeObject;
 use super::tuple::PyTuple;
 use super::typeobject::PyType;
 
@@ -110,10 +111,10 @@ impl UnicodeDecodeError {
 
 impl StopIteration {
 
-    pub fn stop_iteration<'p>(_py: Python<'p>, args: Py<'p, PyTuple>) {
+    pub fn stop_iteration<'p>(args: PyTuple<'p>) {
         unsafe {
             ffi::PyErr_SetObject(
-                ffi::PyExc_StopIteration as *mut ffi::PyObject, args.into_object().as_ptr());
+                ffi::PyExc_StopIteration as *mut ffi::PyObject, args.park().as_ptr());
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/objects/iterator.rs b/src/objects/iterator.rs
index 41b12b24..2f2810a3 100644
--- a/src/objects/iterator.rs
+++ b/src/objects/iterator.rs
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 // based on Daniel Grunwald's https://github.com/dgrunwald/rust-cpython
 
 use ffi;
-use ppptr::pptr;
+use ppptr::pyptr;
 use python::{Python, ToPythonPointer, IntoPythonPointer};
 use objects::PyObject;
 use err::{PyErr, PyResult, PyDowncastError};
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ use err::{PyErr, PyResult, PyDowncastError};
 ///
 /// Unlike other python objects, this class includes a `Python<'p>` token
 /// so that PyIterator can implement the rust `Iterator` trait.
-pub struct PyIterator<'p>(pptr<'p>);
+pub struct PyIterator<'p>(pyptr<'p>);
 
 
 impl <'p> PyIterator<'p> {
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ impl <'p> PyIterator<'p> {
         unsafe {
             let ptr = obj.into_ptr();
             if ffi::PyIter_Check(ptr) != 0 {
-                Ok(PyIterator(pptr::from_borrowed_ptr(py, ptr)))
+                Ok(PyIterator(pyptr::from_borrowed_ptr(py, ptr)))
             } else {
                 ffi::Py_DECREF(ptr);
                 Err(PyDowncastError(py, None))
diff --git a/src/objects/list.rs b/src/objects/list.rs
index b6a0da8f..556de39b 100644
--- a/src/objects/list.rs
+++ b/src/objects/list.rs
@@ -2,17 +2,17 @@
 //
 // based on Daniel Grunwald's https://github.com/dgrunwald/rust-cpython
 
-use ::pptr;
+use ::pyptr;
 use err::{self, PyResult};
 use ffi::{self, Py_ssize_t};
-use pyptr::PyPtr;
+use pointers::PyPtr;
 use python::{Python, ToPythonPointer, IntoPythonPointer};
 use objects::PyObject;
 use token::{PyObjectMarker, PythonObjectWithGilToken};
 use conversion::{ToPyObject, IntoPyObject};
 
 /// Represents a Python `list`.
-pub struct PyList<'p>(pptr<'p>);
+pub struct PyList<'p>(pyptr<'p>);
 
 pyobject_nativetype!(PyList, PyList_Check, PyList_Type);
 
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ impl<'p> PyList<'p> {
             for (i, e) in elements.iter().enumerate() {
                 ffi::PyList_SetItem(ptr, i as Py_ssize_t, e.to_object(py).into_ptr());
             }
-            PyList(pptr::from_owned_ptr_or_panic(py, ptr))
+            PyList(pyptr::from_owned_ptr_or_panic(py, ptr))
         }
     }
 
@@ -125,14 +125,14 @@ impl <T> ToPyObject for Vec<T> where T: ToPyObject {
 
 impl <T> IntoPyObject for Vec<T> where T: IntoPyObject {
 
-    fn into_object(self, py: Python) -> PyPtr<PyObjectMarker> {
+    fn into_object(self, py: Python) -> ::pptr {
         unsafe {
             let ptr = ffi::PyList_New(self.len() as Py_ssize_t);
             for (i, e) in self.into_iter().enumerate() {
                 let obj = e.into_object(py).into_ptr();
                 ffi::PyList_SetItem(ptr, i as Py_ssize_t, obj);
             }
-            PyPtr::from_owned_ptr_or_panic(ptr)
+            ::pptr::from_owned_ptr_or_panic(ptr)
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/objects/mod.rs b/src/objects/mod.rs
index 5927bdfb..3b4856af 100644
--- a/src/objects/mod.rs
+++ b/src/objects/mod.rs
@@ -51,12 +51,21 @@ macro_rules! pyobject_nativetype(
         impl<'p> $crate::native::PyBaseObject for $name<'p> {}
 
         impl<'p> $crate::native::PyNativeObject<'p> for $name<'p> {
+            fn park(self) -> $crate::pptr {
+                unsafe { $crate::std::mem::transmute(self) }
+            }
             fn as_object(self) -> $crate::PyObject<'p> {
                 unsafe { $crate::std::mem::transmute(self) }
             }
             fn into_object(self) -> $crate::PyPtr<$crate::PyObjectMarker> {
                 unsafe { $crate::std::mem::transmute(self) }
             }
+            fn clone_object(&self) -> $name<'p> {
+                use $crate::{ToPythonPointer, PythonObjectWithGilToken};
+                unsafe {
+                    $name(pyptr::from_borrowed_ptr(self.gil(), self.as_ptr()))
+                }
+            }
         }
 
         impl<'p> $crate::token::PythonObjectWithGilToken<'p> for $name<'p> {
@@ -92,7 +101,7 @@ macro_rules! pyobject_nativetype(
                 unsafe{
                     let ptr = ob.into_ptr();
                     if ffi::$checkfunction(ptr) != 0 {
-                        Ok($name(pptr::from_owned_ptr(py, ptr)))
+                        Ok($name(pyptr::from_owned_ptr(py, ptr)))
                     } else {
                         $crate::ffi::Py_DECREF(ptr);
                         Err($crate::PyDowncastError(py, None))
@@ -105,7 +114,7 @@ macro_rules! pyobject_nativetype(
             {
                 unsafe{
                     if ffi::$checkfunction(ptr) != 0 {
-                        Ok($name(pptr::from_owned_ptr(py, ptr)))
+                        Ok($name(pyptr::from_owned_ptr(py, ptr)))
                     } else {
                         $crate::ffi::Py_DECREF(ptr);
                         Err($crate::PyDowncastError(py, None))
@@ -141,7 +150,7 @@ macro_rules! pyobject_nativetype(
 
                 unsafe {
                     if ffi::$checkfunction(py.as_ptr()) != 0 {
-                        Ok( $name($crate::pptr::from_borrowed_ptr(py.gil(), py.as_ptr())) )
+                        Ok( $name($crate::pyptr::from_borrowed_ptr(py.gil(), py.as_ptr())) )
                     } else {
                         Err(::PyDowncastError(py.gil(), None).into())
                     }
@@ -184,7 +193,7 @@ macro_rules! pyobject_nativetype(
         impl<'a> $crate::IntoPyObject for $name<'a>
         {
             #[inline]
-            fn into_object(self, _py: $crate::Python) -> $crate::PyPtr<$crate::PyObjectMarker>
+            fn into_object(self, _py: $crate::Python) -> $crate::pptr
             {
                 unsafe { $crate::std::mem::transmute(self) }
             }
diff --git a/src/objects/module.rs b/src/objects/module.rs
index d902bc53..ba61b2e6 100644
--- a/src/objects/module.rs
+++ b/src/objects/module.rs
@@ -7,9 +7,9 @@ use ffi;
 use std::os::raw::c_char;
 use std::ffi::{CStr, CString};
 
-use ::pptr;
+use ::pyptr;
 use conversion::{ToPyObject, ToPyTuple};
-use pyptr::PyPtr;
+use pointers::PyPtr;
 use python::{ToPythonPointer, Python};
 use token::PythonObjectWithGilToken;
 use objects::{PyObject, PyDict, PyType, exc};
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ use err::{PyResult, PyErr};
 
 
 /// Represents a Python module object.
-pub struct PyModule<'p>(pptr<'p>);
+pub struct PyModule<'p>(pyptr<'p>);
 
 pyobject_nativetype!(PyModule, PyModule_Check, PyModule_Type);
 
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ impl<'p> PyModule<'p> {
     pub fn new(py: Python<'p>, name: &str) -> PyResult<PyModule<'p>> {
         let name = CString::new(name).unwrap();
         unsafe {
-            let ptr = pptr::cast_from_owned_nullptr::<PyModule>(
+            let ptr = pyptr::cast_from_owned_ptr_or_err::<PyModule>(
                 py, ffi::PyModule_New(name.as_ptr()))?;
             Ok(PyModule(ptr))
         }
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ impl<'p> PyModule<'p> {
     pub fn import(py: Python<'p>, name: &str) -> PyResult<PyModule<'p>> {
         let name = CString::new(name).unwrap();
         unsafe {
-            let ptr = pptr::cast_from_owned_nullptr::<PyModule>(
+            let ptr = pyptr::cast_from_owned_ptr_or_err::<PyModule>(
                 py, ffi::PyImport_ImportModule(name.as_ptr()))?;
             Ok(PyModule(ptr))
         }
diff --git a/src/objects/num.rs b/src/objects/num.rs
index ac5fb8f9..7097ce0d 100644
--- a/src/objects/num.rs
+++ b/src/objects/num.rs
@@ -7,14 +7,14 @@ extern crate num_traits;
 use self::num_traits::cast::cast;
 use std::os::raw::{c_long, c_double};
 
-use ::{PyPtr, pptr};
+use ::{PyPtr, pyptr};
 use ffi;
 use super::exc;
 use objects::PyObject;
 use token::{PyObjectMarker, PythonObjectWithGilToken};
 use python::{ToPythonPointer, Python};
 use err::{PyResult, PyErr};
-use conversion::{ToPyObject, FromPyObject, IntoPyObject};
+use conversion::{ToPyObject, FromPyObject};
 
 /// Represents a Python `int` object.
 ///
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ use conversion::{ToPyObject, FromPyObject, IntoPyObject};
 /// by using [ToPyObject](trait.ToPyObject.html)
 /// and [extract](struct.PyObject.html#method.extract)
 /// with the primitive Rust integer types.
-pub struct PyLong<'p>(pptr<'p>);
+pub struct PyLong<'p>(pyptr<'p>);
 pyobject_nativetype!(PyLong, PyLong_Check, PyLong_Type);
 
 /// Represents a Python `float` object.
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ pyobject_nativetype!(PyLong, PyLong_Check, PyLong_Type);
 /// by using [ToPyObject](trait.ToPyObject.html)
 /// and [extract](struct.PyObject.html#method.extract)
 /// with `f32`/`f64`.
-pub struct PyFloat<'p>(pptr<'p>);
+pub struct PyFloat<'p>(pyptr<'p>);
 pyobject_nativetype!(PyFloat, PyFloat_Check, PyFloat_Type);
 
 
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ impl<'p> PyFloat<'p> {
     /// Creates a new Python `float` object.
     pub fn new(py: Python<'p>, val: c_double) -> PyFloat<'p> {
         unsafe {
-            PyFloat(pptr::from_owned_ptr_or_panic(py, ffi::PyFloat_FromDouble(val)))
+            PyFloat(pyptr::from_owned_ptr_or_panic(py, ffi::PyFloat_FromDouble(val)))
         }
     }
 
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ int_convert_u64_or_i64!(u64, ffi::PyLong_FromUnsignedLongLong, ffi::PyLong_AsUns
 
 impl ToPyObject for f64 {
     fn to_object(&self, py: Python) -> PyPtr<PyObjectMarker> {
-        PyFloat::new(py, *self).into_object(py)
+        PyFloat::new(py, *self).to_object(py)
     }
 }
 
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ fn overflow_error(py: Python) -> PyErr {
 
 impl ToPyObject for f32 {
     fn to_object(&self, py: Python) -> PyPtr<PyObjectMarker> {
-        PyFloat::new(py, *self as f64).into_object(py)
+        PyFloat::new(py, *self as f64).to_object(py)
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/objects/object.rs b/src/objects/object.rs
index b509d855..a77f35b5 100644
--- a/src/objects/object.rs
+++ b/src/objects/object.rs
@@ -2,13 +2,13 @@
 
 use std;
 
-use ::pptr;
+use ::pyptr;
 use ffi;
 use err::{PyResult, PyDowncastError};
 use python::{Python, ToPythonPointer};
 
 
-pub struct PyObject<'p>(pptr<'p>);
+pub struct PyObject<'p>(pyptr<'p>);
 
 pyobject_nativetype!(PyObject, PyObject_Check, PyBaseObject_Type);
 
@@ -17,20 +17,20 @@ impl<'p> PyObject<'p> {
 
     #[inline]
     pub fn from_owned_ptr(py: Python<'p>, ptr: *mut ffi::PyObject) -> PyObject<'p> {
-        unsafe { PyObject(pptr::from_owned_ptr(py, ptr)) }
+        unsafe { PyObject(pyptr::from_owned_ptr(py, ptr)) }
     }
 
     #[inline]
     pub fn from_owned_ptr_or_err(py: Python<'p>, ptr: *mut ffi::PyObject)
                                      -> PyResult<PyObject<'p>> {
-        unsafe { Ok(PyObject(pptr::from_owned_ptr_or_err(py, ptr)?)) }
+        unsafe { Ok(PyObject(pyptr::from_owned_ptr_or_err(py, ptr)?)) }
     }
 
     #[inline]
     pub fn from_owned_ptr_or_opt(py: Python<'p>, ptr: *mut ffi::PyObject)
                                      -> Option<PyObject<'p>> {
         unsafe {
-            if let Some(ptr) = pptr::from_owned_ptr_or_opt(py, ptr) {
+            if let Some(ptr) = pyptr::from_owned_ptr_or_opt(py, ptr) {
                 Some(PyObject(ptr))
             } else {
                 None
@@ -40,14 +40,14 @@ impl<'p> PyObject<'p> {
 
     #[inline]
     pub fn from_borrowed_ptr(py: Python<'p>, ptr: *mut ffi::PyObject) -> PyObject<'p> {
-        unsafe { PyObject(pptr::from_borrowed_ptr(py, ptr)) }
+        unsafe { PyObject(pyptr::from_borrowed_ptr(py, ptr)) }
     }
 
     #[inline]
     pub fn from_borrowed_ptr_or_opt(py: Python<'p>, ptr: *mut ffi::PyObject)
                                     -> Option<PyObject<'p>> {
         unsafe {
-            if let Some(ptr) = pptr::from_borrowed_ptr_or_opt(py, ptr) {
+            if let Some(ptr) = pyptr::from_borrowed_ptr_or_opt(py, ptr) {
                 Some(PyObject(ptr))
             } else {
                 None
diff --git a/src/objects/sequence.rs b/src/objects/sequence.rs
index a7bd27a7..b94a90d9 100644
--- a/src/objects/sequence.rs
+++ b/src/objects/sequence.rs
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 // based on Daniel Grunwald's https://github.com/dgrunwald/rust-cpython
 
 use ffi;
-use ppptr::pptr;
+use ppptr::pyptr;
 use python::{ToPythonPointer, PyDowncastFrom, PyDowncastInto};
 use conversion::{FromPyObject, ToPyObject};
 use objects::{PyObject, PyList, PyTuple};
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ use objectprotocol::ObjectProtocol;
 
 
 /// Represents a reference to a python object supporting the sequence protocol.
-pub struct PySequence<'p>(pptr<'p>);
+pub struct PySequence<'p>(pyptr<'p>);
 
  pyobject_nativetype!(PySequence, PySequence_Check);
 
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ impl<'p> PySequence<'p> {
     #[inline]
     pub fn concat(&self, other: &PySequence) -> PyResult<PySequence<'p>> {
         unsafe {
-            Ok(PySequence(pptr::from_owned_ptr_or_err(
+            Ok(PySequence(pyptr::from_owned_ptr_or_err(
                 self.gil(),
                 ffi::PySequence_Concat(self.as_ptr(), other.as_ptr()))?))
         }
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ impl<'p> PySequence<'p> {
     #[inline]
     pub fn repeat(&self, count: isize) -> PyResult<PySequence<'p>> {
         unsafe {
-            Ok(PySequence(pptr::from_owned_ptr_or_err(
+            Ok(PySequence(pyptr::from_owned_ptr_or_err(
                 self.gil(),
                 ffi::PySequence_Repeat(self.as_ptr(), count as Py_ssize_t))?))
         }
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ impl<'p> PySequence<'p> {
     #[inline]
     pub fn in_place_concat(&self, other: &PySequence) -> PyResult<PySequence<'p>> {
         unsafe {
-            Ok(PySequence(pptr::from_owned_ptr_or_err(
+            Ok(PySequence(pyptr::from_owned_ptr_or_err(
                 self.0.token(),
                 ffi::PySequence_InPlaceConcat(self.0.as_ptr(), other.as_ptr()))?))
         }
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ impl<'p> PySequence<'p> {
     #[inline]
     pub fn in_place_repeat(&self, count: isize) -> PyResult<PySequence<'p>> {
         unsafe {
-            Ok(PySequence(pptr::from_owned_ptr_or_err(
+            Ok(PySequence(pyptr::from_owned_ptr_or_err(
                 self.0.token(),
                 ffi::PySequence_InPlaceRepeat(self.as_ptr(), count as Py_ssize_t))?))
         }
diff --git a/src/objects/set.rs b/src/objects/set.rs
index 414ebfe4..e6488647 100644
--- a/src/objects/set.rs
+++ b/src/objects/set.rs
@@ -3,20 +3,20 @@
 
 use std::{hash, collections};
 use ffi;
-use pyptr::PyPtr;
+use pointers::PyPtr;
 use python::{Python, ToPythonPointer};
-use conversion::{ToPyObject, IntoPyObject};
+use conversion::ToPyObject;
 use objects::{PyObject, PyIterator};
 use err::{self, PyResult, PyErr};
-use pptr;
+use pyptr;
 use token::{PyObjectMarker, PythonObjectWithGilToken};
 use objectprotocol::ObjectProtocol;
 
 
 /// Represents a Python `set`
-pub struct PySet<'p>(pptr<'p>);
+pub struct PySet<'p>(pyptr<'p>);
 /// Represents a  Python `frozenset`
-pub struct PyFrozenSet<'p>(pptr<'p>);
+pub struct PyFrozenSet<'p>(pyptr<'p>);
 
 pyobject_nativetype!(PySet, PySet_Check, PySet_Type);
 pyobject_nativetype!(PyFrozenSet, PyFrozenSet_Check, PyFrozenSet_Type);
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ impl<'p> PySet<'p> {
         let list = elements.to_object(py);
         unsafe {
             let ptr = ffi::PySet_New(list.as_ptr());
-            PySet(pptr::from_owned_ptr_or_panic(py, ptr))
+            PySet(pyptr::from_owned_ptr_or_panic(py, ptr))
         }
     }
 
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ impl<T> ToPyObject for collections::HashSet<T>
         for val in self {
             set.add(val).unwrap();
         }
-        set.into_object(py)
+        set.to_object(py)
     }
 }
 
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ impl<T> ToPyObject for collections::BTreeSet<T>
         for val in self {
             set.add(val).unwrap();
         }
-        set.into_object(py)
+        set.to_object(py)
     }
 }
 
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ impl<'p> PyFrozenSet<'p> {
         let list = elements.to_object(py);
         unsafe {
             let ptr = ffi::PyFrozenSet_New(list.as_ptr());
-            PyFrozenSet(pptr::from_owned_ptr_or_panic(py, ptr))
+            PyFrozenSet(pyptr::from_owned_ptr_or_panic(py, ptr))
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/src/objects/slice.rs b/src/objects/slice.rs
index e9335bfb..146c2fee 100644
--- a/src/objects/slice.rs
+++ b/src/objects/slice.rs
@@ -2,12 +2,12 @@
 
 use std::os::raw::c_long;
 
-use ::pptr;
-use pyptr::PyPtr;
+use ::pyptr;
+use pointers::PyPtr;
 use python::{ToPythonPointer, Python};
 use err::{PyErr, PyResult};
 use ffi::{self, Py_ssize_t};
-use conversion::{ToPyObject, IntoPyObject};
+use conversion::ToPyObject;
 use token::{PyObjectMarker, PythonObjectWithGilToken};
 
 /// Represents a Python `slice` indices
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ impl PySliceIndices {
 
 /// Represents a Python `slice`. Only `c_long` indeces supprted
 /// at the moment by PySlice object.
-pub struct PySlice<'p>(pptr<'p>);
+pub struct PySlice<'p>(pyptr<'p>);
 
 pyobject_nativetype!(PySlice, PySlice_Check, PySlice_Type);
 
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ impl<'p> PySlice<'p> {
             let ptr = ffi::PySlice_New(ffi::PyLong_FromLong(start as i64),
                                        ffi::PyLong_FromLong(stop as i64),
                                        ffi::PyLong_FromLong(step as i64));
-            PySlice(pptr::from_owned_ptr_or_panic(py, ptr))
+            PySlice(pyptr::from_owned_ptr_or_panic(py, ptr))
         }
     }
 
@@ -79,6 +79,6 @@ impl<'p> PySlice<'p> {
 
 impl ToPyObject for PySliceIndices {
     fn to_object<'p>(&self, py: Python) -> PyPtr<PyObjectMarker> {
-        PySlice::new(py, self.start, self.stop, self.step).into_object(py)
+        PySlice::new(py, self.start, self.stop, self.step).to_object(py)
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/objects/string.rs b/src/objects/string.rs
index 52343be4..64c15fad 100644
--- a/src/objects/string.rs
+++ b/src/objects/string.rs
@@ -8,21 +8,21 @@ use std::ascii::AsciiExt;
 use std::borrow::Cow;
 use std::os::raw::c_char;
 
-use ::{PyPtr, pptr};
+use ::{PyPtr, pyptr};
 use ffi;
 use python::{ToPythonPointer, Python};
 use super::{exc, PyObject};
 use token::{PyObjectMarker, PythonObjectWithGilToken};
 use err::{PyResult, PyErr};
-use conversion::{ToPyObject, IntoPyObject, RefFromPyObject};
+use conversion::{ToPyObject, RefFromPyObject};
 
 /// Represents a Python string.
-pub struct PyString<'p>(pptr<'p>);
+pub struct PyString<'p>(pyptr<'p>);
 
 pyobject_nativetype!(PyString, PyUnicode_Check, PyUnicode_Type);
 
 /// Represents a Python byte string.
-pub struct PyBytes<'p>(pptr<'p>);
+pub struct PyBytes<'p>(pyptr<'p>);
 
 pyobject_nativetype!(PyBytes, PyBytes_Check, PyBytes_Type);
 
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ impl<'p> PyString<'p> {
         let ptr = s.as_ptr() as *const c_char;
         let len = s.len() as ffi::Py_ssize_t;
         unsafe {
-            PyString(pptr::from_owned_ptr_or_panic(
+            PyString(pyptr::from_owned_ptr_or_panic(
                 py, ffi::PyUnicode_FromStringAndSize(ptr, len)))
         }
     }
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ impl<'p> PyString<'p> {
                        -> PyResult<PyString<'p>> {
         unsafe {
             Ok(PyString(
-                pptr::from_owned_ptr_or_err(
+                pyptr::from_owned_ptr_or_err(
                     src.gil(), ffi::PyUnicode_FromEncodedObject(
                         src.as_ptr(),
                         encoding.as_ptr() as *const i8,
@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@ impl<'p> PyBytes<'p> {
         let ptr = s.as_ptr() as *const c_char;
         let len = s.len() as ffi::Py_ssize_t;
         unsafe {
-            PyBytes(pptr::from_owned_ptr_or_panic(
+            PyBytes(pyptr::from_owned_ptr_or_panic(
                 py, ffi::PyBytes_FromStringAndSize(ptr, len)))
         }
     }
@@ -221,7 +221,7 @@ impl<'p> PyBytes<'p> {
 impl ToPyObject for str {
     #[inline]
     fn to_object(&self, py: Python) -> PyPtr<PyObjectMarker> {
-        PyString::new(py, self).into_object(py)
+        PyString::new(py, self).to_object(py)
     }
 }
 
@@ -230,7 +230,7 @@ impl ToPyObject for str {
 impl <'a> ToPyObject for Cow<'a, str> {
     #[inline]
     fn to_object(&self, py: Python) -> PyPtr<PyObjectMarker> {
-        PyString::new(py, self).into_object(py)
+        PyString::new(py, self).to_object(py)
     }
 }
 
@@ -239,7 +239,7 @@ impl <'a> ToPyObject for Cow<'a, str> {
 impl ToPyObject for String {
     #[inline]
     fn to_object(&self, py: Python) -> PyPtr<PyObjectMarker> {
-        PyString::new(py, self).into_object(py)
+        PyString::new(py, self).to_object(py)
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/objects/tuple.rs b/src/objects/tuple.rs
index 82f67837..26496fd2 100644
--- a/src/objects/tuple.rs
+++ b/src/objects/tuple.rs
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 
 use std::slice;
 
-use ::{PyPtr, pptr};
+use ::{PyPtr, pyptr};
 use ffi::{self, Py_ssize_t};
 use err::{PyErr, PyResult};
 use python::{Python, ToPythonPointer, IntoPythonPointer};
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ use token::{PyObjectMarker, PythonObjectWithGilToken};
 use super::exc;
 
 /// Represents a Python tuple object.
-pub struct PyTuple<'p>(pptr<'p>);
+pub struct PyTuple<'p>(pyptr<'p>);
 
 pyobject_nativetype!(PyTuple, PyTuple_Check, PyTuple_Type);
 
@@ -29,19 +29,19 @@ impl<'p> PyTuple<'p> {
             for (i, e) in elements.iter().enumerate() {
                 ffi::PyTuple_SetItem(ptr, i as Py_ssize_t, e.to_object(py).into_ptr());
             }
-            PyTuple(pptr::from_owned_ptr_or_panic(py, ptr))
+            PyTuple(pyptr::from_owned_ptr_or_panic(py, ptr))
         }
     }
 
     /// Construct a new tuple with the given raw pointer
     pub unsafe fn from_borrowed_ptr(py: Python<'p>, ptr: *mut ffi::PyObject) -> PyTuple<'p> {
-        PyTuple(pptr::from_borrowed_ptr(py, ptr))
+        PyTuple(pyptr::from_borrowed_ptr(py, ptr))
     }
 
     /// Retrieves the empty tuple.
     pub fn empty(py: Python<'p>) -> PyTuple<'p> {
         unsafe {
-            PyTuple(pptr::from_owned_ptr_or_panic(py, ffi::PyTuple_New(0)))
+            PyTuple(pyptr::from_owned_ptr_or_panic(py, ffi::PyTuple_New(0)))
         }
     }
 
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ impl<'p> PyTuple<'p> {
 
 impl<'a> ToPyTuple for PyTuple<'a> {
     fn to_py_tuple<'p>(&self, py: Python<'p>) -> PyTuple<'p> {
-        unsafe { PyTuple(pptr::from_borrowed_ptr(py, self.0.as_ptr())) }
+        unsafe { PyTuple(pyptr::from_borrowed_ptr(py, self.0.as_ptr())) }
     }
 }
 
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ fn wrong_tuple_length(py: Python, t: &PyTuple, expected_length: usize) -> PyErr
     let msg = format!("Expected tuple of length {}, but got tuple of length {}.",
                       expected_length, t.len());
     PyErr::new_lazy_init(
-        py.get_type::<exc::ValueError>(), Some(msg.to_object(py)))
+        py.get_type::<exc::ValueError>(), Some(msg.into_object(py)))
 }
 
 macro_rules! tuple_conversion ({$length:expr,$(($refN:ident, $n:tt, $T:ident)),+} => {
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ macro_rules! tuple_conversion ({$length:expr,$(($refN:ident, $n:tt, $T:ident)),+
         fn to_object<'p>(&self, py: Python<'p>) -> PyPtr<PyObjectMarker> {
             PyTuple::new(py, &[
                 $(py_coerce_expr!(self.$n.to_object(py)),)+
-            ]).into_object(py)
+            ]).to_object(py)
         }
     }
 
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@ pub struct NoArgs;
 impl ToPyObject for NoArgs {
 
     fn to_object(&self, py: Python) -> PyPtr<PyObjectMarker> {
-        PyTuple::empty(py).into_object(py)
+        PyTuple::empty(py).to_object(py)
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/objects/typeobject.rs b/src/objects/typeobject.rs
index 28a9f465..5784f5d0 100644
--- a/src/objects/typeobject.rs
+++ b/src/objects/typeobject.rs
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 use std::ffi::CStr;
 use std::borrow::Cow;
 
-use ::pptr;
+use ::pyptr;
 use ffi;
 use token::PythonObjectWithGilToken;
 use python::{Python, ToPythonPointer};
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ use objects::{PyObject, PyDict};
 use err::PyResult;
 
 /// Represents a reference to a Python type object.
-pub struct PyType<'p>(pptr<'p>);
+pub struct PyType<'p>(pyptr<'p>);
 
 pyobject_nativetype!(PyType, PyType_Check, PyType_Type);
 
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ impl<'p> PyType<'p> {
     /// Undefined behavior if the pointer is NULL or invalid.
     #[inline]
     pub unsafe fn from_type_ptr(py: Python<'p>, p: *mut ffi::PyTypeObject) -> PyType<'p> {
-        PyType(pptr::from_borrowed_ptr(py, p as *mut ffi::PyObject))
+        PyType(pyptr::from_borrowed_ptr(py, p as *mut ffi::PyObject))
     }
 
     /// Gets the name of the PyType.
diff --git a/src/pyptr.rs b/src/pointers.rs
similarity index 76%
rename from src/pyptr.rs
rename to src/pointers.rs
index 537a9f78..3be47433 100644
--- a/src/pyptr.rs
+++ b/src/pointers.rs
@@ -14,11 +14,203 @@ use token::{PyObjectMarker, PythonObjectWithGilToken};
 use typeob::{PyTypeInfo, PyObjectAlloc};
 
 
+#[allow(non_camel_case_types)]
+pub struct pptr(*mut ffi::PyObject);
+
+// `pptr` is thread-safe, because all operations on it require a Python<'p> token.
+unsafe impl Send for pptr {}
+unsafe impl Sync for pptr {}
+
+
+impl pptr {
+    /// Creates a `pptr` instance for the given FFI pointer.
+    /// This moves ownership over the pointer into the `pptr`.
+    /// Undefined behavior if the pointer is NULL or invalid.
+    #[inline]
+    pub unsafe fn from_owned_ptr(ptr: *mut ffi::PyObject) -> pptr {
+        debug_assert!(!ptr.is_null() && ffi::Py_REFCNT(ptr) > 0);
+        pptr(ptr)
+    }
+
+    /// Creates a `pptr` instance for the given FFI pointer.
+    /// This moves ownership over the pointer into the `pptr`.
+    /// Returns None for null pointers; undefined behavior if the pointer is invalid.
+    #[inline]
+    pub unsafe fn from_owned_ptr_or_opt(ptr: *mut ffi::PyObject) -> Option<pptr> {
+        if ptr.is_null() {
+            None
+        } else {
+            Some(pptr::from_owned_ptr(ptr))
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Construct `pptr` from the result of a Python FFI call that
+    /// returns a new reference (owned pointer).
+    /// Returns `Err(PyErr)` if the pointer is `null`; undefined behavior if the
+    /// pointer is invalid.
+    pub unsafe fn from_owned_ptr_or_err(py: Python, ptr: *mut ffi::PyObject) -> PyResult<pptr>
+    {
+        if ptr.is_null() {
+            Err(PyErr::fetch(py))
+        } else {
+            Ok(pptr::from_owned_ptr(ptr))
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Construct `pptr` instance for the given Python FFI pointer.
+    /// Panics if the pointer is `null`; undefined behavior if the pointer is invalid.
+    #[inline]
+    pub unsafe fn from_owned_ptr_or_panic(ptr: *mut ffi::PyObject) -> pptr
+    {
+        if ptr.is_null() {
+            ::err::panic_after_error();
+        } else {
+            pptr::from_owned_ptr(ptr)
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Creates a `pptr` instance for the given Python FFI pointer.
+    /// Calls Py_INCREF() on the ptr.
+    /// Undefined behavior if the pointer is NULL or invalid.
+    #[inline]
+    pub unsafe fn from_borrowed_ptr(ptr: *mut ffi::PyObject) -> pptr {
+        debug_assert!(!ptr.is_null() && ffi::Py_REFCNT(ptr) > 0);
+        ffi::Py_INCREF(ptr);
+        pptr::from_owned_ptr(ptr)
+    }
+
+    /// Creates a `pptr` instance for the given Python FFI pointer.
+    /// Calls Py_INCREF() on the ptr.
+    /// Returns None for null pointers; undefined behavior if the pointer is invalid.
+    #[inline]
+    pub unsafe fn from_borrowed_ptr_or_opt(ptr: *mut ffi::PyObject) -> Option<pptr> {
+        if ptr.is_null() {
+            None
+        } else {
+            Some(pptr::from_borrowed_ptr(ptr))
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Construct `pptr` instance for the given Python FFI pointer.
+    /// Calls Py_INCREF() on the ptr.
+    /// Panics if the pointer is `null`; undefined behavior if the pointer is invalid.
+    #[inline]
+    pub unsafe fn from_borrowed_ptr_or_panic(ptr: *mut ffi::PyObject) -> pptr
+    {
+        if ptr.is_null() {
+            ::err::panic_after_error();
+        } else {
+            pptr::from_borrowed_ptr(ptr)
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Gets the reference count of the PyObject pointer.
+    #[inline]
+    pub fn get_refcnt(&self) -> isize {
+        unsafe { ffi::Py_REFCNT(self.0) }
+    }
+
+    /// Get reference to &PyObject<'p>
+    #[inline]
+    pub fn as_object<'p>(&self, _py: Python<'p>) -> &PyObject<'p> {
+        unsafe { std::mem::transmute(self) }
+    }
+
+    /// Converts `pptr` instance -> PyObject<'p>
+    /// Consumes `self` without calling `Py_DECREF()`
+    #[inline]
+    pub fn into_object<'p>(self, _py: Python<'p>) -> PyObject<'p> {
+        unsafe { std::mem::transmute(self) }
+    }
+
+    /// Converts `pptr` instance -> PyObject<'p>
+    /// Consumes `self` without calling `Py_DECREF()`
+    #[inline]
+    pub fn into_pobject(self) -> PyPtr<PyObjectMarker> {
+        unsafe { std::mem::transmute(self) }
+    }
+
+    /// Clone self, Calls Py_INCREF() on the ptr.
+    #[inline]
+    pub fn clone_ref(&self, _py: Python) -> pptr {
+        unsafe { pptr::from_borrowed_ptr(self.0) }
+    }
+
+    /// Casts the `pptr` imstance to a concrete Python object type.
+    /// Fails with `PyDowncastError` if the object is not of the expected type.
+    #[inline]
+    pub fn cast_into<'p, D>(self, py: Python<'p>) -> Result<D, PyDowncastError<'p>>
+        where D: ::PyDowncastInto<'p>
+    {
+        <D as ::PyDowncastInto>::downcast_into(py, self)
+    }
+
+    // /// Unchecked cast into native object.
+    // /// Undefined behavior if the input object does not have the expected type.
+    // #[inline]
+    // pub unsafe fn unchecked_cast_into<'p, S>(self, py: Python<'p>) -> S
+    //    where S: PyNativeObject<'p>
+    // {
+    //    unsafe { std::mem::transmute(self) }
+    // }
+}
+
+impl ToPythonPointer for pptr {
+    /// Gets the underlying FFI pointer, returns a borrowed pointer.
+    #[inline]
+    fn as_ptr(&self) -> *mut ffi::PyObject {
+        self.0
+    }
+}
+
+impl IntoPythonPointer for pptr {
+    /// Gets the underlying FFI pointer, returns a owned pointer.
+    #[inline]
+    #[must_use]
+    fn into_ptr(self) -> *mut ffi::PyObject {
+        let ptr = self.0;
+        std::mem::forget(self);
+        ptr
+    }
+}
+
+impl IntoPyObject for pptr {
+    #[inline]
+    fn into_object(self, _py: Python) -> pptr {
+        self
+    }
+}
+
+impl PartialEq for pptr {
+    #[inline]
+    fn eq(&self, o: &pptr) -> bool {
+        self.0 == o.0
+    }
+}
+
+
+/// Dropping a `pptr` instance decrements the reference count on the object by 1.
+impl Drop for pptr {
+
+    fn drop(&mut self) {
+        unsafe {
+            println!("drop pptr: {:?} {} {:?}",
+                     self.0, ffi::Py_REFCNT(self.0), &self as *const _);
+        }
+        let _gil_guard = Python::acquire_gil();
+        unsafe { ffi::Py_DECREF(self.0); }
+    }
+}
+
+
+
 pub struct PyPtr<T> {
     inner: *mut ffi::PyObject,
     _t: PhantomData<T>,
 }
 
+
+
 impl<T> PyPtr<T> {
     /// Creates a PyPtr instance for the given FFI pointer.
     /// This moves ownership over the pointer into the Py.
@@ -104,16 +296,13 @@ impl<T> PyPtr<T> {
     /// Converts PyPtr<T> -> PyPtr<PyObject>
     /// Consumes `self` without calling `Py_INCREF()`
     #[inline]
-    pub fn park(self) -> PyPtr<PyObjectMarker> {
-        let p = PyPtr {inner: self.inner, _t: PhantomData};
-        std::mem::forget(self);
-        p
+    pub fn park(self) -> pptr {
+        unsafe { std::mem::transmute(self) }
     }
 
     /// Converts PyPtr<T> -> &PyObject<'p>.
     #[inline]
     pub fn as_object<'p>(&self, _py: Python<'p>) -> &PyObject<'p> {
-        unsafe {ffi::Py_INCREF(self.inner)};
         unsafe { std::mem::transmute(self) }
     }
 
@@ -184,7 +373,7 @@ impl<T> IntoPythonPointer for PyPtr<T> {
 impl<T> IntoPyObject for PyPtr<T> {
 
     #[inline]
-    fn into_object<'a>(self, _py: Python) -> PyPtr<PyObjectMarker> {
+    fn into_object<'a>(self, _py: Python) -> pptr {
         self.park()
     }
 }
@@ -290,6 +479,12 @@ impl<'p, T> Py<'p, T>
         unsafe { ffi::Py_REFCNT(self.inner) as usize }
     }
 
+    /// Convert tp `pptr` pointer
+    #[inline]
+    pub fn park(self) -> pptr {
+        unsafe { std::mem::transmute(self) }
+    }
+
     /// Creates a PyPtr instance. Calls Py_INCREF() on the ptr.
     #[inline]
     pub fn as_pptr(&self) -> PyPtr<T> {
@@ -636,10 +831,8 @@ impl<T> ToPyObject for PyPtr<T> {
 impl<'p, T> IntoPyObject for Py<'p, T> {
 
     #[inline]
-    default fn into_object(self, _py: Python) -> PyPtr<PyObjectMarker> {
-        let ptr = unsafe { PyPtr::from_owned_ptr(self.inner) };
-        std::mem::forget(self);
-        ptr
+    default fn into_object(self, _py: Python) -> pptr {
+        unsafe { std::mem::transmute(self) }
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/ppptr.rs b/src/ppptr.rs
index 59e807a8..5398f747 100644
--- a/src/ppptr.rs
+++ b/src/ppptr.rs
@@ -8,37 +8,37 @@ use python::{Python, PyDowncastInto, ToPythonPointer, IntoPythonPointer};
 use typeob::{PyTypeInfo, PyObjectAlloc};
 
 #[allow(non_camel_case_types)]
-pub struct pptr<'p>(Python<'p>, *mut ffi::PyObject);
+pub struct pyptr<'p>(Python<'p>, *mut ffi::PyObject);
 
 
-impl<'p> pptr<'p> {
+impl<'p> pyptr<'p> {
 
     /// Create new python object and move T instance under python management
-    pub fn new<T>(py: Python<'p>, value: T) -> PyResult<pptr<'p>> where T: PyObjectAlloc<Type=T>
+    pub fn new<T>(py: Python<'p>, value: T) -> PyResult<pyptr<'p>> where T: PyObjectAlloc<Type=T>
     {
         let ptr = unsafe {
             try!(<T as PyObjectAlloc>::alloc(py, value))
         };
-        Ok(pptr(py, ptr))
+        Ok(pyptr(py, ptr))
     }
 
     /// Creates a Py instance for the given FFI pointer.
     /// This moves ownership over the pointer into the Py.
     /// Undefined behavior if the pointer is NULL or invalid.
     #[inline]
-    pub unsafe fn from_owned_ptr(py: Python<'p>, ptr: *mut ffi::PyObject) -> pptr<'p> {
+    pub unsafe fn from_owned_ptr(py: Python<'p>, ptr: *mut ffi::PyObject) -> pyptr<'p> {
         debug_assert!(!ptr.is_null() && ffi::Py_REFCNT(ptr) > 0);
-        pptr(py, ptr)
+        pyptr(py, ptr)
     }
 
     /// Cast from ffi::PyObject ptr to a concrete object.
     #[inline]
-    pub unsafe fn from_owned_ptr_or_panic(py: Python<'p>, ptr: *mut ffi::PyObject) -> pptr<'p>
+    pub unsafe fn from_owned_ptr_or_panic(py: Python<'p>, ptr: *mut ffi::PyObject) -> pyptr<'p>
     {
         if ptr.is_null() {
             ::err::panic_after_error();
         } else {
-            pptr::from_owned_ptr(py, ptr)
+            pyptr::from_owned_ptr(py, ptr)
         }
     }
 
@@ -47,25 +47,25 @@ impl<'p> pptr<'p> {
     /// Returns `Err(PyErr)` if the pointer is `null`.
     /// Unsafe because the pointer might be invalid.
     pub unsafe fn from_owned_ptr_or_err(py: Python<'p>, ptr: *mut ffi::PyObject)
-                                        -> PyResult<pptr<'p>>
+                                        -> PyResult<pyptr<'p>>
     {
         if ptr.is_null() {
             Err(PyErr::fetch(py))
         } else {
-            Ok(pptr::from_owned_ptr(py, ptr))
+            Ok(pyptr::from_owned_ptr(py, ptr))
         }
     }
 
-    /// Creates a pptr<'p> instance for the given FFI pointer.
-    /// This moves ownership over the pointer into the pptr<'p>.
+    /// Creates a pyptr<'p> instance for the given FFI pointer.
+    /// This moves ownership over the pointer into the pyptr<'p>.
     /// Returns None for null pointers; undefined behavior if the pointer is invalid.
     #[inline]
         pub unsafe fn from_owned_ptr_or_opt(py: Python<'p>, ptr: *mut ffi::PyObject)
-                                         -> Option<pptr<'p>> {
+                                         -> Option<pyptr<'p>> {
         if ptr.is_null() {
             None
         } else {
-            Some(pptr::from_owned_ptr(py, ptr))
+            Some(pyptr::from_owned_ptr(py, ptr))
         }
     }
 
@@ -73,23 +73,23 @@ impl<'p> pptr<'p> {
     /// Calls Py_INCREF() on the ptr.
     /// Undefined behavior if the pointer is NULL or invalid.
     #[inline]
-    pub unsafe fn from_borrowed_ptr(py: Python<'p>, ptr: *mut ffi::PyObject) -> pptr<'p> {
+    pub unsafe fn from_borrowed_ptr(py: Python<'p>, ptr: *mut ffi::PyObject) -> pyptr<'p> {
         debug_assert!(!ptr.is_null() && ffi::Py_REFCNT(ptr) > 0);
         ffi::Py_INCREF(ptr);
-        pptr(py, ptr)
+        pyptr(py, ptr)
     }
 
     /// Creates a Py instance for the given FFI pointer.
     /// Calls Py_INCREF() on the ptr.
     #[inline]
     pub unsafe fn from_borrowed_ptr_or_opt(py: Python<'p>, ptr: *mut ffi::PyObject)
-                                           -> Option<pptr<'p>> {
+                                           -> Option<pyptr<'p>> {
         if ptr.is_null() {
             None
         } else {
             debug_assert!(ffi::Py_REFCNT(ptr) > 0);
             ffi::Py_INCREF(ptr);
-            Some(pptr(py, ptr))
+            Some(pyptr(py, ptr))
         }
     }
 
@@ -106,13 +106,13 @@ impl<'p> pptr<'p> {
     /// Cast from ffi::PyObject ptr to a concrete object.
     #[inline]
     pub fn cast_from_owned_ptr<T>(py: Python<'p>, ptr: *mut ffi::PyObject)
-                                  -> Result<pptr<'p>, ::PyDowncastError<'p>>
+                                  -> Result<pyptr<'p>, ::PyDowncastError<'p>>
         where T: PyTypeInfo
     {
         let checked = unsafe { ffi::PyObject_TypeCheck(ptr, T::type_object()) != 0 };
 
         if checked {
-            Ok( unsafe { pptr::from_owned_ptr(py, ptr) })
+            Ok( unsafe { pyptr::from_owned_ptr(py, ptr) })
         } else {
             Err(::PyDowncastError(py, None))
         }
@@ -121,13 +121,13 @@ impl<'p> pptr<'p> {
     /// Cast from ffi::PyObject ptr to a concrete object.
     #[inline]
     pub fn cast_from_borrowed_ptr<T>(py: Python<'p>, ptr: *mut ffi::PyObject)
-                                     -> Result<pptr<'p>, ::PyDowncastError<'p>>
+                                     -> Result<pyptr<'p>, ::PyDowncastError<'p>>
         where T: PyTypeInfo
     {
         let checked = unsafe { ffi::PyObject_TypeCheck(ptr, T::type_object()) != 0 };
 
         if checked {
-            Ok( unsafe { pptr::from_borrowed_ptr(py, ptr) })
+            Ok( unsafe { pyptr::from_borrowed_ptr(py, ptr) })
         } else {
             Err(::PyDowncastError(py, None))
         }
@@ -136,30 +136,30 @@ impl<'p> pptr<'p> {
     /// Cast from ffi::PyObject ptr to a concrete object.
     #[inline]
     pub unsafe fn cast_from_owned_ptr_or_panic<T>(py: Python<'p>,
-                                                  ptr: *mut ffi::PyObject) -> pptr<'p>
+                                                  ptr: *mut ffi::PyObject) -> pyptr<'p>
         where T: PyTypeInfo
     {
         if ffi::PyObject_TypeCheck(ptr, T::type_object()) != 0 {
-            pptr::from_owned_ptr(py, ptr)
+            pyptr::from_owned_ptr(py, ptr)
         } else {
             ::err::panic_after_error();
         }
     }
 
     #[inline]
-    pub fn cast_from_owned_nullptr<T>(py: Python<'p>, ptr: *mut ffi::PyObject)
-                                      -> PyResult<pptr<'p>>
+    pub fn cast_from_owned_ptr_or_err<T>(py: Python<'p>, ptr: *mut ffi::PyObject)
+                                         -> PyResult<pyptr<'p>>
         where T: PyTypeInfo
     {
         if ptr.is_null() {
             Err(PyErr::fetch(py))
         } else {
-            pptr::cast_from_owned_ptr::<T>(py, ptr).map_err(|e| e.into())
+            pyptr::cast_from_owned_ptr::<T>(py, ptr).map_err(|e| e.into())
         }
     }
 }
 
-impl<'p> ToPythonPointer for pptr<'p> {
+impl<'p> ToPythonPointer for pyptr<'p> {
     /// Gets the underlying FFI pointer, returns a borrowed pointer.
     #[inline]
     fn as_ptr(&self) -> *mut ffi::PyObject {
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ impl<'p> ToPythonPointer for pptr<'p> {
     }
 }
 
-impl<'p> IntoPythonPointer for pptr<'p> {
+impl<'p> IntoPythonPointer for pyptr<'p> {
     /// Gets the underlying FFI pointer, returns a owned pointer.
     #[inline]
     #[must_use]
@@ -178,19 +178,19 @@ impl<'p> IntoPythonPointer for pptr<'p> {
     }
 }
 
-/// Dropping a `pptr` instance decrements the reference count on the object by 1.
-impl<'p> Drop for pptr<'p> {
+/// Dropping a `pyptr` instance decrements the reference count on the object by 1.
+impl<'p> Drop for pyptr<'p> {
 
     fn drop(&mut self) {
         unsafe {
-            println!("drop pptr: {:?} {} {:?}",
+            println!("drop pyptr: {:?} {} {:?}",
                      self.1, ffi::Py_REFCNT(self.1), &self as *const _);
         }
         unsafe { ffi::Py_DECREF(self.1); }
     }
 }
 
-impl<'p> std::fmt::Debug for pptr<'p> {
+impl<'p> std::fmt::Debug for pyptr<'p> {
     fn fmt(&self, f: &mut std::fmt::Formatter) -> Result<(), std::fmt::Error> {
         let repr = unsafe { ::PyString::downcast_from_owned_ptr(
             self.0, ffi::PyObject_Repr(self.1)) };
@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@ impl<'p> std::fmt::Debug for pptr<'p> {
     }
 }
 
-impl<'p> std::fmt::Display for pptr<'p> {
+impl<'p> std::fmt::Display for pyptr<'p> {
     fn fmt(&self, f: &mut std::fmt::Formatter) -> Result<(), std::fmt::Error> {
         let ob = unsafe { ::PyString::downcast_from_owned_ptr(
             self.0, ffi::PyObject_Str(self.1)) };
diff --git a/src/python.rs b/src/python.rs
index 59dc8cd6..b1b077e9 100644
--- a/src/python.rs
+++ b/src/python.rs
@@ -9,10 +9,10 @@ use std::os::raw::c_int;
 
 use ffi;
 use typeob::{PyTypeInfo, PyTypeObject, PyObjectAlloc};
-use token::{PyObjectMarker, PythonToken};
+use token::{PythonToken};
 use objects::{PyObject, PyType, PyBool, PyDict, PyModule};
 use err::{PyErr, PyResult, PyDowncastError};
-use pyptr::{Py, PyPtr};
+use pointers::{Py, PyPtr, pptr};
 use pythonrun::GILGuard;
 
 
@@ -42,9 +42,8 @@ pub trait PyDowncastFrom<'p> : Sized {
 /// Trait implemented by Python object types that allow a checked downcast.
 pub trait PyDowncastInto<'p> : Sized {
 
-    /// Cast from PyObject to a concrete Python object type.
-    fn downcast_into<I>(Python<'p>, I)
-                        -> Result<Self, PyDowncastError<'p>>
+    /// Cast Self to a concrete Python object type.
+    fn downcast_into<I>(Python<'p>, I) -> Result<Self, PyDowncastError<'p>>
         where I: ToPythonPointer + IntoPythonPointer;
 
     /// Cast from ffi::PyObject to a concrete Python object type.
@@ -216,8 +215,8 @@ impl<'p> Python<'p> {
     /// Gets the Python builtin value `None`.
     #[allow(non_snake_case)] // the Python keyword starts with uppercase
     #[inline]
-    pub fn None(self) -> PyPtr<PyObjectMarker> {
-        unsafe { PyPtr::from_borrowed_ptr(ffi::Py_None()) }
+    pub fn None(self) -> pptr {
+        unsafe { pptr::from_borrowed_ptr(ffi::Py_None()) }
     }
 
     /// Gets the Python builtin value `True`.
@@ -237,8 +236,8 @@ impl<'p> Python<'p> {
     /// Gets the Python builtin value `NotImplemented`.
     #[allow(non_snake_case)] // the Python keyword starts with uppercase
     #[inline]
-    pub fn NotImplemented(self) -> PyPtr<PyObjectMarker> {
-        unsafe { PyPtr::from_borrowed_ptr(ffi::Py_NotImplemented()) }
+    pub fn NotImplemented(self) -> pptr {
+        unsafe { pptr::from_borrowed_ptr(ffi::Py_NotImplemented()) }
     }
 
     /// Execute closure `F` with Python instance.
diff --git a/src/token.rs b/src/token.rs
index 070c6666..1a8bf172 100644
--- a/src/token.rs
+++ b/src/token.rs
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ use std::fmt;
 use std::marker::PhantomData;
 
 use ffi;
-use pyptr::{Py, PyPtr};
+use pointers::{Py, PyPtr};
 use err::{PyResult};
 use python::{Python, ToPythonPointer, PyDowncastInto};
 use objects::PyString;
diff --git a/src/typeob.rs b/src/typeob.rs
index 3d29af6e..9c49627c 100644
--- a/src/typeob.rs
+++ b/src/typeob.rs
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ use std::collections::HashMap;
 
 use {ffi, class};
 use err::{PyErr, PyResult};
-use pyptr::{Py};
+use pointers::{Py};
 use python::{Python};
 use objects::PyType;
 use callback::AbortOnDrop;
diff --git a/tests/test_class.rs b/tests/test_class.rs
index 8f77014b..15a7bfb3 100644
--- a/tests/test_class.rs
+++ b/tests/test_class.rs
@@ -316,7 +316,7 @@ impl StaticMethod {
 
 #[py::class]
 struct GCIntegration {
-    self_ref: RefCell<PyPtr<PyObjectMarker>>,
+    self_ref: RefCell<pptr>,
     dropped: TestDropCall,
     token: PythonToken<GCIntegration>,
 }
@@ -343,7 +343,7 @@ fn gc_integration() {
         dropped: TestDropCall { drop_called: drop_called.clone() },
         token: t});
 
-    *inst.self_ref.borrow_mut() = inst.clone_ref().into_object().into_pptr();
+    *inst.self_ref.borrow_mut() = inst.clone_ref().park();
     drop(inst);
 
     py.run("import gc; gc.collect()", None, None).unwrap();
@@ -804,7 +804,7 @@ impl PyObjectProtocol for RichComparisons2 {
     }
 
     fn __richcmp__(&self, py: Python,
-                   other: &'p PyObject<'p>, op: CompareOp) -> PyResult<PyPtr<PyObjectMarker>> {
+                   other: &'p PyObject<'p>, op: CompareOp) -> PyResult<pptr> {
         match op {
             CompareOp::Eq => Ok(true.to_object(py).park()),
             CompareOp::Ne => Ok(false.to_object(py).park()),