diff --git a/example/example20.py b/example/example20.py
index 78e717d91..7dd60e346 100644
--- a/example/example20.py
+++ b/example/example20.py
@@ -29,12 +29,10 @@ for func, dtype in [(create_rec_simple, simple_dtype), (create_rec_packed, packe
     check_eq(arr, [(False, 0, 0.0), (True, 1, 1.5), (False, 2, 3.0)], simple_dtype)
     check_eq(arr, [(False, 0, 0.0), (True, 1, 1.5), (False, 2, 3.0)], packed_dtype)
 
-    # uncomment lines below to cause a segfault upon exit in Py_Finalize :(
-
-    # if dtype == simple_dtype:
-    #     print_rec_simple(arr)
-    # else:
-    #     print_rec_packed(arr)
+    if dtype == simple_dtype:
+        print_rec_simple(arr)
+    else:
+        print_rec_packed(arr)
 
 nested_dtype = np.dtype([('a', simple_dtype), ('b', packed_dtype)])
 
@@ -47,4 +45,4 @@ assert arr.dtype == nested_dtype
 check_eq(arr, [((False, 0, 0.0), (True, 1, 1.5)),
                ((True, 1, 1.5), (False, 2, 3.0)),
                ((False, 2, 3.0), (True, 3, 4.5))], nested_dtype)
-# print_rec_nested(arr)
+print_rec_nested(arr)
diff --git a/example/example20.ref b/example/example20.ref
index 6023a87f2..315a82a00 100644
--- a/example/example20.ref
+++ b/example/example20.ref
@@ -1,3 +1,12 @@
 T{?:x:xxxI:y:f:z:}
 T{?:x:=I:y:f:z:}
 T{T{?:x:xxxI:y:f:z:}:a:T{?:x:=I:y:f:z:}:b:}
+0,0,0
+1,1,1.5
+0,2,3
+0,0,0
+1,1,1.5
+0,2,3
+0,0,0|1,1,1.5
+1,1,1.5|0,2,3
+0,2,3|1,3,4.5
diff --git a/include/pybind11/numpy.h b/include/pybind11/numpy.h
index 1d957d1a3..41d0fea90 100644
--- a/include/pybind11/numpy.h
+++ b/include/pybind11/numpy.h
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ public:
 
     template <typename Type> array(size_t size, const Type *ptr) {
         API& api = lookup_api();
-        PyObject *descr = detail::npy_format_descriptor<Type>::descr();
+        PyObject *descr = object(detail::npy_format_descriptor<Type>::descr(), true).release().ptr();
         Py_intptr_t shape = (Py_intptr_t) size;
         object tmp = object(api.PyArray_NewFromDescr_(
             api.PyArray_Type_, descr, 1, &shape, nullptr, (void *) ptr, 0, nullptr), false);
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ public:
         if (ptr == nullptr)
             return nullptr;
         API &api = lookup_api();
-        PyObject *descr = detail::npy_format_descriptor<T>::descr();
+        PyObject *descr = object(detail::npy_format_descriptor<T>::descr(), true).release().ptr();
         PyObject *result = api.PyArray_FromAny_(ptr, descr, 0, 0, API::NPY_ENSURE_ARRAY_ | ExtraFlags, nullptr);
         if (!result)
             PyErr_Clear();