diff -ru Python-2.5.2-orig/Lib/ctypes/util.py Python-2.5.2/Lib/ctypes/util.py

--- Python-2.5.2-orig/Lib/ctypes/util.py	2007-09-14 16:05:26.000000000 -0400

+++ Python-2.5.2/Lib/ctypes/util.py	2008-09-24 17:30:06.000000000 -0400

@@ -83,9 +83,14 @@

             if not f:

                 return None

             cmd = "objdump -p -j .dynamic 2>/dev/null " + f

-            res = re.search(r'\sSONAME\s+([^\s]+)', os.popen(cmd).read())

+            try:

+                res = re.search(r'\sSONAME\s+([^\s]+)', os.popen(cmd).read())

+            except:

+                res = None

             if not res:

-                return None

+                return os.path.basename(f) #  This is good for GLibc, I think,

+                                           # and a dep on binutils is big (for

+                                           # live CDs).

             return res.group(1)

     if (sys.platform.startswith("freebsd")