diff --git a/lldb/source/Plugins/ScriptInterpreter/Python/PythonDataObjects.h b/lldb/source/Plugins/ScriptInterpreter/Python/PythonDataObjects.h
--- a/lldb/source/Plugins/ScriptInterpreter/Python/PythonDataObjects.h
+++ b/lldb/source/Plugins/ScriptInterpreter/Python/PythonDataObjects.h
@@ -151,6 +151,30 @@
   return std::move(thing);
 }
 
+// This class can be used like a utility function to convert from
+// a llvm-friendly Twine into a null-terminated const char *,
+// which is the form python C APIs want their strings in.
+//
+// Example:
+// const llvm::Twine &some_twine;
+// PyFoo_Bar(x, y, z, NullTerminated(some_twine));
+//
+// Why a class instead of a function?  If the twine isn't already null
+// terminated, it will need a temporary buffer to copy the string
+// into.   We need that buffer to stick around for the lifetime of the
+// statement.
+class NullTerminated {
+  const char *str;
+  llvm::SmallString<32> storage;
+
+public:
+  NullTerminated(const llvm::Twine &twine) {
+    llvm::StringRef ref = twine.toNullTerminatedStringRef(storage);
+    str = ref.begin();
+  }
+  operator const char *() { return str; }
+};
+
 } // namespace python
 
 enum class PyInitialValue { Invalid, Empty };
@@ -323,10 +347,11 @@
     return python::Take<PythonObject>(obj);
   }
 
-  llvm::Expected<PythonObject> GetAttribute(const char *name) const {
+  llvm::Expected<PythonObject> GetAttribute(const llvm::Twine &name) const {
+    using namespace python;
     if (!m_py_obj)
       return nullDeref();
-    PyObject *obj = PyObject_GetAttrString(m_py_obj, name);
+    PyObject *obj = PyObject_GetAttrString(m_py_obj, NullTerminated(name));
     if (!obj)
       return exception();
     return python::Take<PythonObject>(obj);
@@ -392,10 +417,11 @@
   // This can be eliminated once we drop python 2 support.
   static void Convert(PyRefType &type, PyObject *&py_obj) {}
 
-  using PythonObject::Reset;
+  void Reset() { PythonObject::Reset(); }
 
-  void Reset(PyRefType type, PyObject *py_obj) {
-    Reset();
+  void Reset(PyRefType type, PyObject *py_obj) = delete;
+
+  TypedPythonObject(PyRefType type, PyObject *py_obj) {
     if (!py_obj)
       return;
     T::Convert(type, py_obj);
@@ -405,8 +431,6 @@
       Py_DECREF(py_obj);
   }
 
-  TypedPythonObject(PyRefType type, PyObject *py_obj) { Reset(type, py_obj); }
-
   TypedPythonObject() {}
 };
 
@@ -562,9 +586,9 @@
                      const PythonObject &value); // DEPRECATED
 
   llvm::Expected<PythonObject> GetItem(const PythonObject &key) const;
-  llvm::Expected<PythonObject> GetItem(const char *key) const;
+  llvm::Expected<PythonObject> GetItem(const llvm::Twine &key) const;
   llvm::Error SetItem(const PythonObject &key, const PythonObject &value) const;
-  llvm::Error SetItem(const char *key, const PythonObject &value) const;
+  llvm::Error SetItem(const llvm::Twine &key, const PythonObject &value) const;
 
   StructuredData::DictionarySP CreateStructuredDictionary() const;
 };
@@ -592,9 +616,9 @@
     return std::move(mod.get());
   }
 
-  static llvm::Expected<PythonModule> Import(const char *name);
+  static llvm::Expected<PythonModule> Import(const llvm::Twine &name);
 
-  llvm::Expected<PythonObject> Get(const char *name);
+  llvm::Expected<PythonObject> Get(const llvm::Twine &name);
 
   PythonDictionary GetDictionary() const;
 };
@@ -708,6 +732,17 @@
   return T();
 }
 
+namespace python {
+// This is only here to help incrementally migrate old, exception-unsafe
+// code.
+template <typename T> T unwrapIgnoringErrors(llvm::Expected<T> expected) {
+  if (expected)
+    return std::move(expected.get());
+  llvm::consumeError(expected.takeError());
+  return T();
+}
+} // namespace python
+
 } // namespace lldb_private
 
 #endif
diff --git a/lldb/source/Plugins/ScriptInterpreter/Python/PythonDataObjects.cpp b/lldb/source/Plugins/ScriptInterpreter/Python/PythonDataObjects.cpp
--- a/lldb/source/Plugins/ScriptInterpreter/Python/PythonDataObjects.cpp
+++ b/lldb/source/Plugins/ScriptInterpreter/Python/PythonDataObjects.cpp
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@
 using llvm::cantFail;
 using llvm::Error;
 using llvm::Expected;
+using llvm::Twine;
 
 template <> Expected<bool> python::As<bool>(Expected<PythonObject> &&obj) {
   if (!obj)
@@ -278,7 +279,7 @@
 
 PythonByteArray::PythonByteArray(const uint8_t *bytes, size_t length) {
   const char *str = reinterpret_cast<const char *>(bytes);
-  Reset(PyRefType::Owned, PyByteArray_FromStringAndSize(str, length));
+  *this = Take<PythonByteArray>(PyByteArray_FromStringAndSize(str, length));
 }
 
 bool PythonByteArray::Check(PyObject *py_obj) {
@@ -522,11 +523,11 @@
 
 PythonList::PythonList(PyInitialValue value) {
   if (value == PyInitialValue::Empty)
-    Reset(PyRefType::Owned, PyList_New(0));
+    *this = Take<PythonList>(PyList_New(0));
 }
 
 PythonList::PythonList(int list_size) {
-  Reset(PyRefType::Owned, PyList_New(list_size));
+  *this = Take<PythonList>(PyList_New(list_size));
 }
 
 bool PythonList::Check(PyObject *py_obj) {
@@ -578,11 +579,11 @@
 
 PythonTuple::PythonTuple(PyInitialValue value) {
   if (value == PyInitialValue::Empty)
-    Reset(PyRefType::Owned, PyTuple_New(0));
+    *this = Take<PythonTuple>(PyTuple_New(0));
 }
 
 PythonTuple::PythonTuple(int tuple_size) {
-  Reset(PyRefType::Owned, PyTuple_New(tuple_size));
+  *this = Take<PythonTuple>(PyTuple_New(tuple_size));
 }
 
 PythonTuple::PythonTuple(std::initializer_list<PythonObject> objects) {
@@ -649,7 +650,7 @@
 
 PythonDictionary::PythonDictionary(PyInitialValue value) {
   if (value == PyInitialValue::Empty)
-    Reset(PyRefType::Owned, PyDict_New());
+    *this = Take<PythonDictionary>(PyDict_New());
 }
 
 bool PythonDictionary::Check(PyObject *py_obj) {
@@ -696,10 +697,10 @@
   return Retain<PythonObject>(o);
 }
 
-Expected<PythonObject> PythonDictionary::GetItem(const char *key) const {
+Expected<PythonObject> PythonDictionary::GetItem(const Twine &key) const {
   if (!IsValid())
     return nullDeref();
-  PyObject *o = PyDict_GetItemString(m_py_obj, key);
+  PyObject *o = PyDict_GetItemString(m_py_obj, NullTerminated(key));
   if (PyErr_Occurred())
     return exception();
   if (!o)
@@ -717,11 +718,11 @@
   return Error::success();
 }
 
-Error PythonDictionary::SetItem(const char *key,
+Error PythonDictionary::SetItem(const Twine &key,
                                 const PythonObject &value) const {
   if (!IsValid() || !value.IsValid())
     return nullDeref();
-  int r = PyDict_SetItemString(m_py_obj, key, value.get());
+  int r = PyDict_SetItemString(m_py_obj, NullTerminated(key), value.get());
   if (r < 0)
     return exception();
   return Error::success();
@@ -763,20 +764,20 @@
   return PythonModule(PyRefType::Borrowed, PyImport_AddModule(str.c_str()));
 }
 
-Expected<PythonModule> PythonModule::Import(const char *name) {
-  PyObject *mod = PyImport_ImportModule(name);
+Expected<PythonModule> PythonModule::Import(const Twine &name) {
+  PyObject *mod = PyImport_ImportModule(NullTerminated(name));
   if (!mod)
     return exception();
   return Take<PythonModule>(mod);
 }
 
-Expected<PythonObject> PythonModule::Get(const char *name) {
+Expected<PythonObject> PythonModule::Get(const Twine &name) {
   if (!IsValid())
     return nullDeref();
   PyObject *dict = PyModule_GetDict(m_py_obj);
   if (!dict)
     return exception();
-  PyObject *item = PyDict_GetItemString(dict, name);
+  PyObject *item = PyDict_GetItemString(dict, NullTerminated(name));
   if (!item)
     return exception();
   return Retain<PythonObject>(item);
@@ -790,7 +791,9 @@
 }
 
 PythonDictionary PythonModule::GetDictionary() const {
-  return PythonDictionary(PyRefType::Borrowed, PyModule_GetDict(m_py_obj));
+  if (!IsValid())
+    return PythonDictionary();
+  return Retain<PythonDictionary>(PyModule_GetDict(m_py_obj));
 }
 
 bool PythonCallable::Check(PyObject *py_obj) {
@@ -1092,6 +1095,8 @@
     assert(m_py_obj);
     GIL takeGIL;
     Close();
+    // we need to ensure the python object is released while we still
+    // hold the GIL
     m_py_obj.Reset();
   }
 
diff --git a/lldb/source/Plugins/ScriptInterpreter/Python/ScriptInterpreterPython.cpp b/lldb/source/Plugins/ScriptInterpreter/Python/ScriptInterpreterPython.cpp
--- a/lldb/source/Plugins/ScriptInterpreter/Python/ScriptInterpreterPython.cpp
+++ b/lldb/source/Plugins/ScriptInterpreter/Python/ScriptInterpreterPython.cpp
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@
 
 using namespace lldb;
 using namespace lldb_private;
+using namespace lldb_private::python;
 
 // Defined in the SWIG source file
 #if PY_MAJOR_VERSION >= 3
@@ -765,19 +766,16 @@
   if (!main_dict.IsValid())
     return m_session_dict;
 
-  PythonObject item = main_dict.GetItemForKey(PythonString(m_dictionary_name));
-  m_session_dict.Reset(PyRefType::Borrowed, item.get());
+  m_session_dict = unwrapIgnoringErrors(
+      As<PythonDictionary>(main_dict.GetItem(m_dictionary_name)));
   return m_session_dict;
 }
 
 PythonDictionary &ScriptInterpreterPythonImpl::GetSysModuleDictionary() {
   if (m_sys_module_dict.IsValid())
     return m_sys_module_dict;
-
-  PythonObject sys_module(PyRefType::Borrowed, PyImport_AddModule("sys"));
-  if (sys_module.IsValid())
-    m_sys_module_dict.Reset(PyRefType::Borrowed,
-                            PyModule_GetDict(sys_module.get()));
+  PythonModule sys_module = unwrapIgnoringErrors(PythonModule::Import("sys"));
+  m_sys_module_dict = sys_module.GetDictionary();
   return m_sys_module_dict;
 }
 
@@ -1053,9 +1051,8 @@
   PythonDictionary locals = GetSessionDictionary();
 
   if (!locals.IsValid()) {
-    locals.Reset(
-        PyRefType::Owned,
-        PyObject_GetAttrString(globals.get(), m_dictionary_name.c_str()));
+    locals = unwrapIgnoringErrors(
+        As<PythonDictionary>(globals.GetAttribute(m_dictionary_name)));
   }
 
   if (!locals.IsValid())
@@ -1204,9 +1201,8 @@
   PythonDictionary locals = GetSessionDictionary();
 
   if (!locals.IsValid())
-    locals.Reset(
-        PyRefType::Owned,
-        PyObject_GetAttrString(globals.get(), m_dictionary_name.c_str()));
+    locals = unwrapIgnoringErrors(
+        As<PythonDictionary>(globals.GetAttribute(m_dictionary_name)));
 
   if (!locals.IsValid())
     locals = globals;
diff --git a/lldb/unittests/ScriptInterpreter/Python/PythonDataObjectsTests.cpp b/lldb/unittests/ScriptInterpreter/Python/PythonDataObjectsTests.cpp
--- a/lldb/unittests/ScriptInterpreter/Python/PythonDataObjectsTests.cpp
+++ b/lldb/unittests/ScriptInterpreter/Python/PythonDataObjectsTests.cpp
@@ -27,8 +27,7 @@
   void SetUp() override {
     PythonTestSuite::SetUp();
 
-    PythonString sys_module("sys");
-    m_sys_module.Reset(PyRefType::Owned, PyImport_Import(sys_module.get()));
+    m_sys_module = unwrapIgnoringErrors(PythonModule::Import("sys"));
     m_main_module = PythonModule::MainModule();
     m_builtins_module = PythonModule::BuiltinsModule();
   }
@@ -70,13 +69,10 @@
   PythonDictionary dict(PyInitialValue::Empty);
 
   PyObject *new_dict = PyDict_New();
-  dict.Reset(PyRefType::Owned, new_dict);
+  dict = Take<PythonDictionary>(new_dict);
   EXPECT_EQ(new_dict, dict.get());
 
-  dict.Reset(PyRefType::Owned, nullptr);
-  EXPECT_EQ(nullptr, dict.get());
-
-  dict.Reset(PyRefType::Owned, PyDict_New());
+  dict = Take<PythonDictionary>(PyDict_New());
   EXPECT_NE(nullptr, dict.get());
   dict.Reset();
   EXPECT_EQ(nullptr, dict.get());