# PyCall PyCapsule\_Import could not import module "datetime"

**URL:** <https://discourse.julialang.org/t/pycall-pycapsule-import-could-not-import-module-datetime/66853>\
**Category:** General Usage\
**Created:** [August 23, 2021, 3:46pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/pycall-pycapsule-import-could-not-import-module-datetime/66853 "2021-08-23T15:46:52Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![billykalfus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6f9a4e/32.png) [@billykalfus](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/billykalfus)\
**Post date:** [August 23, 2021, 3:46pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/pycall-pycapsule-import-could-not-import-module-datetime/66853/1 "2021-08-23T15:46:52Z")

</div>

I have a Python virtual environment and I’d like to install PyCall to point to the environment’s Python, but I get an error when I try to execute “using PyCall” (error message below). I’m on Linux and I first activate the environment and then attempt to get rid of any existing conflicts by deleting the existing Julia install folder and the Julia cache (~/.julia). Then I unzip Julia, run it, and execute “]add PyCall”. It installs with no problem, then I run “using PyCall” and get the following error:

```julia
ERROR: InitError: PyError ($(Expr(:escape, :(ccall(#= /home/wdk24/.julia/packages/PyCall/BD546/src/pydates.jl:68 =# @pysym(:PyCapsule_Import), Ptr{PyDateTime_CAPI}, (Ptr{UInt8}, Cint), "datetime.datetime_CAPI", 0))))) <class 'ImportError'>
ImportError('PyCapsule_Import could not import module "datetime"')

Stacktrace:
  [1] pyerr_check
    @ ~/.julia/packages/PyCall/BD546/src/exception.jl:62 [inlined]
  [2] pyerr_check
    @ ~/.julia/packages/PyCall/BD546/src/exception.jl:66 [inlined]
  [3] _handle_error(msg::String)
    @ PyCall ~/.julia/packages/PyCall/BD546/src/exception.jl:83
  [4] macro expansion
    @ ~/.julia/packages/PyCall/BD546/src/exception.jl:97 [inlined]
  [5] init_datetime
    @ ~/.julia/packages/PyCall/BD546/src/pydates.jl:68 [inlined]
  [6] __init__ ()
    @ PyCall ~/.julia/packages/PyCall/BD546/src/pyinit.jl:226
  [7] _include_from_serialized(path::String, depmods::Vector{Any})
    @ Base ./loading.jl:696
  [8] _require_search_from_serialized(pkg::Base.PkgId, sourcepath::String)
    @ Base ./loading.jl:782
  [9] _require(pkg::Base.PkgId)
    @ Base ./loading.jl:1020
 [10] require(uuidkey::Base.PkgId)
    @ Base ./loading.jl:936
 [11] require(into::Module, mod::Symbol)
    @ Base ./loading.jl:923
during initialization of module PyCall

```

Running “import datetime” in Python yields no issues, so I’m not sure what could be causing this. Any help is greatly appreciated!