diff --git a/gramps/gen/lib/serialize.py b/gramps/gen/lib/serialize.py
index 048c41c680..a2b8851b6d 100644
--- a/gramps/gen/lib/serialize.py
+++ b/gramps/gen/lib/serialize.py
@@ -38,7 +38,8 @@
 
 
 def __object_hook(obj_dict):
-    obj = getattr(lib, obj_dict["_class"])()
+    cls = getattr(lib, obj_dict["_class"])
+    obj = cls.__new__(cls)
     del obj_dict["_class"]
     obj.set_object_state(obj_dict)
     return obj