diff --git a/src/julia/libjulia.py b/src/julia/libjulia.py
index b0a7eb64..7d2089a2 100644
--- a/src/julia/libjulia.py
+++ b/src/julia/libjulia.py
@@ -217,7 +217,7 @@ def __init__(self, libjulia_path, bindir, sysimage):
             )
 
         with self._pathhack():
-            self.libjulia = ctypes.PyDLL(libjulia_path, ctypes.RTLD_GLOBAL)
+            self.libjulia = ctypes.CDLL(libjulia_path, ctypes.RTLD_GLOBAL)
 
         setup_libjulia(self.libjulia)