I managed to attach gdb and got a backtrace. Unfortunately it isn't terribly informative because of the way Python is compiled on Oneric, but it does look like we're in Python code (not in some C module): #0 0x00007f6cdbe1170c in ?? () from /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libc.so.6 #1 0x00007f6cdbe1377d in malloc () from /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libc.so.6 #2 0x000000000044a2eb in fill_free_list () at ../Objects/intobject.c:52 #3 0x000000000044b3e1 in PyInt_FromLong (ival=) at ../Objects/intobject.c:104 #4 PyInt_FromLong (ival=) at ../Objects/intobject.c:124 #5 PyInt_FromSsize_t (ival=) at ../Objects/intobject.c:127 #6 0x000000000044e6f6 in listextend (self=0x41396c8, b=) at ../Objects/listobject.c:872 #7 0x000000000044ece6 in list_init (self=0x41396c8, args=, kw=) at ../Objects/listobject.c:2458 #8 0x000000000047c1d1 in type_call (type=, args=(,), kwds=0x0) at ../Objects/typeobject.c:737 #9 0x000000000041ad2a in PyObject_Call (func=, arg=, kw=) at ../Objects/abstract.c:2529 #10 0x00000000004b6b9e in do_call (nk=, na=, pp_stack=0x7fffeac59340, func=) at ../Python/ceval.c:4239 #11 call_function (oparg=, pp_stack=0x7fffeac59340) at ../Python/ceval.c:4044 #12 PyEval_EvalFrameEx (f=, throwflag=) at ../Python/ceval.c:2666 #13 0x00000000004bcd2d in PyEval_EvalCodeEx (co=0x7f6cdae7fe30, globals=, locals=, args=, argcount=, kws=, kwcount=2, defs=0x7f6cda53fde8, defcount=2, closure=0x0) at ../Python/ceval.c:3253 #14 0x00000000004b6a5b in fast_function (nk=, na=1, n=, pp_stack=0x7fffeac59530, func=) at ../Python/ceval.c:4117 #15 call_function (oparg=, pp_stack=0x7fffeac59530) at ../Python/ceval.c:4042 #16 PyEval_EvalFrameEx (f=, throwflag=) at ../Python/ceval.c:2666 #17 0x00000000004bcd2d in PyEval_EvalCodeEx (co=0x7f6cdae7fe30, globals=, locals=, args=, argcount=, kws=, kwcount=2, defs=0x7f6cda53fde8, defcount=2, closure=0x0) at ../Python/ceval.c:3253 #18 0x00000000004b6a5b in fast_function (nk=, na=1, n=, pp_stack=0x7fffeac59720, func=) at ../Python/ceval.c:4117 #19 call_function (oparg=, pp_stack=0x7fffeac59720) at ../Python/ceval.c:4042 #20 PyEval_EvalFrameEx (f=, throwflag=) at ../Python/ceval.c:2666 #21 0x00000000004bcd2d in PyEval_EvalCodeEx (co=0x7f6cdae7fe30, globals=, locals=, args=, argcount=, kws=, kwcount=2, defs=0x7f6cda53fde8, defcount=2, closure=0x0) at ../Python/ceval.c:3253 #22 0x00000000004b6a5b in fast_function (nk=, na=1, n=, pp_stack=0x7fffeac59910, func=) at ../Python/ceval.c:4117 #23 call_function (oparg=, pp_stack=0x7fffeac59910) at ../Python/ceval.c:4042 #24 PyEval_EvalFrameEx (f=, throwflag=) at ../Python/ceval.c:2666 #25 0x00000000004bcd2d in PyEval_EvalCodeEx (co=0x7f6cdae7fe30, globals=, locals=, args=, argcount=, kws=, kwcount=0, defs=0x7f6cda53fde8, defcount=2, closure=0x0) at ../Python/ceval.c:3253 #26 0x00000000004b6a5b in fast_function (nk=, na=2, n=, pp_stack=0x7fffeac59b00, func=) at ../Python/ceval.c:4117 #27 call_function (oparg=, pp_stack=0x7fffeac59b00) at ../Python/ceval.c:4042 #28 PyEval_EvalFrameEx (f=, throwflag=) at ../Python/ceval.c:2666 #29 0x00000000004bcd2d in PyEval_EvalCodeEx (co=0x7f6cdae7fe30, globals=, locals=, args=, argcount=, kws=, kwcount=2, defs=0x7f6cda53fde8, defcount=2, closure=0x0) at ../Python/ceval.c:3253 #30 0x00000000004b6a5b in fast_function (nk=, na=1, n=, pp_stack=0x7fffeac59cf0, func=) at ../Python/ceval.c:4117 #31 call_function (oparg=, pp_stack=0x7fffeac59cf0) at ../Python/ceval.c:4042 #32 PyEval_EvalFrameEx (f=, throwflag=) at ../Python/ceval.c:2666 #33 0x00000000004bcd2d in PyEval_EvalCodeEx (co=0x7f6cdae7fe30, globals=, locals=, args=, argcount=, kws=, kwcount=2, defs=0x7f6cda53fde8, defcount=2, closure=0x0) at ../Python/ceval.c:3253 #34 0x00000000004b6a5b in fast_function (nk=, na=1, n=, pp_stack=0x7fffeac59ee0, func=) at ../Python/ceval.c:4117 #35 call_function (oparg=, pp_stack=0x7fffeac59ee0) at ../Python/ceval.c:4042 #36 PyEval_EvalFrameEx (f=, throwflag=) at ../Python/ceval.c:2666 #37 0x00000000004bcd2d in PyEval_EvalCodeEx (co=0x7f6cdae7fe30, globals=, locals=, args=, argcount=, kws=, kwcount=2, defs=0x7f6cda53fde8, defcount=2, closure=0x0) at ../Python/ceval.c:3253 #38 0x00000000004b6a5b in fast_function (nk=, na=1, n=, pp_stack=0x7fffeac5a0d0, func=) at ../Python/ceval.c:4117 #39 call_function (oparg=, pp_stack=0x7fffeac5a0d0) at ../Python/ceval.c:4042 #40 PyEval_EvalFrameEx (f=, throwflag=) at ../Python/ceval.c:2666 #41 0x00000000004bcd2d in PyEval_EvalCodeEx (co=0x7f6cdae7fe30, globals=, locals=, args=, argcount=, kws=, kwcount=2, defs=0x7f6cda53fde8, defcount=2, closure=0x0) at ../Python/ceval.c:3253 #42 0x00000000004b6a5b in fast_function (nk=, na=1, n=, pp_stack=0x7fffeac5a2c0, func=) at ../Python/ceval.c:4117 #43 call_function (oparg=, pp_stack=0x7fffeac5a2c0) at ../Python/ceval.c:4042 #44 PyEval_EvalFrameEx (f=, throwflag=) at ../Python/ceval.c:2666 #45 0x00000000004bcd2d in PyEval_EvalCodeEx (co=0x7f6cdae7fe30, globals=, locals=, args=, argcount=, kws=, kwcount=2, defs=0x7f6cda53fde8, defcount=2, closure=0x0) at ../Python/ceval.c:3253 #46 0x00000000004b6a5b in fast_function (nk=, na=1, n=, pp_stack=0x7fffeac5a4b0, func=) at ../Python/ceval.c:4117 #47 call_function (oparg=, pp_stack=0x7fffeac5a4b0) at ../Python/ceval.c:4042 #48 PyEval_EvalFrameEx (f=, throwflag=) at ../Python/ceval.c:2666 #49 0x00000000004bcd2d in PyEval_EvalCodeEx (co=0x7f6cdae7fe30, globals=, locals=, args=, argcount=, kws=, kwcount=1, defs=0x7f6cda53fde8, defcount=2, closure=0x0) at ../Python/ceval.c:3253 #50 0x00000000004b6a5b in fast_function (nk=, na=1, n=, pp_stack=0x7fffeac5a6a0, func=) at ../Python/ceval.c:4117 #51 call_function (oparg=, pp_stack=0x7fffeac5a6a0) at ../Python/ceval.c:4042 #52 PyEval_EvalFrameEx (f=, throwflag=) at ../Python/ceval.c:2666 #53 0x00000000004b6d77 in fast_function (nk=, na=, n=, pp_stack=0x7fffeac5a7e0, func=) at ../Python/ceval.c:4107 #54 call_function (oparg=, pp_stack=0x7fffeac5a7e0) at ../Python/ceval.c:4042 #55 PyEval_EvalFrameEx (f=, throwflag=) at ../Python/ceval.c:2666 #56 0x00000000004bd325 in PyEval_EvalCodeEx (co=0x7f6cda542330, globals=, locals=, args=, argcount=, kws=, kwcount=7, defs=0x0, defcount=0, closure= (, , , , )) at ../Python/ceval.c:3253 #57 0x0000000000449098 in function_call (func=, arg= () at remote 0x31c5ed0>, last_capabilities=None, driver=) at remote 0x31ae410>, 'rbd': ) at remote 0x31b75d0>, 'local': ) at remote 0x31ae7d0>, 'sheepdog': ) at remote 0x31b78d0>, 'fake': ) at remote 0x31ae590>}, _wrapped_conn=) at remote 0x3f75ab8>, image_cache_manager=, container=None, default_root_device='vda', vif_driver=, _initiator=None, firewall_driver=, ipv...(truncated), kw= {'instance_uuid': u'7686955f-84b6-4afd-b3ea-e68b4a08084c', 'context': , auth_token=u'6f5b8b1a1efd41179a65e60bf1d9ebf2', msg_id=None, remote_address=u'192.168.1.1', strategy=u'keystone', is_admin=False, read_deleted=u'no', request_id=u'req-f84b9c2c-5f5e-47e3-89cf-01192f92d2a4', project_id=u'0881f10d7cab4429a63f872b8e46afb4', connection_pool=, current_size=2, order_as_stack=True, free_items=, min_size=0, max_size=30, channel=) at remote 0x40c9ed0>) at remote 0x40c9d90>) at remote 0x4137ad0>, 'is_first_time': True, 'admin_password': u'Yuzq7qHYKijX', 'injected_files': [], 'requested_networks': None, 'filter_properties': {u'scheduler_hints': {}}}) at ../Objects/funcobject.c:526 #58 0x000000000041ad2a in PyObject_Call (func=, arg=, kw=) at ../Objects/abstract.c:2529 #59 0x00000000004b84b6 in ext_do_call (nk=1, na=1, flags=, pp_stack=0x7fffeac5aa90, func=) at ../Python/ceval.c:4334 #60 PyEval_EvalFrameEx (f=, throwflag=) at ../Python/ceval.c:2705 #61 0x00000000004bcd2d in PyEval_EvalCodeEx (co=0x40cb130, globals=, locals=, args=, argcount=, kws=, kwcount=0, defs=0x0, defcount=0, closure=0x0) at ../Python/ceval.c:3253 #62 0x0000000000449098 in function_call (func=, arg= (, current_size=2, order_as_stack=True, free_items=, min_size=0, max_size=30, channel=) at remote 0x40c9ed0>) at remote 0x40c9d90>, proxy=, _waiters=set([<...>]), _exc=None) at remote 0x4123290>, f=) at remote 0x4123250>, , _waiters=set([]), _exc=None) at remote 0x4123390>, f=) at remote 0x4123350>], manager_class_name='nova.compute.manager.ComputeManager', saved_args=(...), manager=) at remote 0x31c5ed0>, l...(truncated), kw={}) at ../Objects/funcobject.c:526 #63 0x000000000041ad2a in PyObject_Call (func=, arg=, kw=) at ../Objects/abstract.c:2529 #64 0x00000000004b84b6 in ext_do_call (nk=0, na=0, flags=, pp_stack=0x7fffeac5ad40, func=) at ../Python/ceval.c:4334 #65 PyEval_EvalFrameEx (f=, throwflag=) at ../Python/ceval.c:2705 #66 0x00000000004bd325 in PyEval_EvalCodeEx (co=0x7f6cda542330, globals=, locals=, args=, argcount=, kws=, kwcount=0, defs=0x0, defcount=0, closure= (, , , , )) at ../Python/ceval.c:3253 #67 0x0000000000449098 in function_call (func=, arg= (, current_size=2, order_as_stack=True, free_items=, min_size=0, max_size=30, channel=) at remote 0x40c9ed0>) at remote 0x40c9d90>, proxy=, _waiters=set([<...>]), _exc=None) at remote 0x4123290>, f=) at remote 0x4123250>, , _waiters=set([]), _exc=None) at remote 0x4123390>, f=) at remote 0x4123350>], manager_class_name='nova.compute.manager.ComputeManager', saved_args=(...), manager=) at remote 0x31c5ed0>, l...(truncated), kw={}) at ../Objects/funcobject.c:526 #68 0x000000000041ad2a in PyObject_Call (func=, arg=, kw=) at ../Objects/abstract.c:2529 #69 0x00000000004b84b6 in ext_do_call (nk=0, na=1, flags=, pp_stack=0x7fffeac5aff0, func=) at ../Python/ceval.c:4334 #70 PyEval_EvalFrameEx (f=, throwflag=) at ../Python/ceval.c:2705 #71 0x00000000004bcd2d in PyEval_EvalCodeEx (co=0x7f6cdd2b21b0, globals=, locals=, args=, argcount=, kws=, kwcount=0, defs=0x0, defcount=0, closure= 0x0) at ../Python/ceval.c:3253 #72 0x0000000000449098 in function_call (func=, arg= (, coroutines_running=set([]), no_coros_running=, _waiters=set([]), _exc=None) at remote 0x4137610>, size=1024) at remote 0x411ed90>, , (, auth_token=u'6f5b8b1a1efd41179a65e60bf1d9ebf2', msg_id=None, remote_address=u'192.168.1.1', strategy=u'keystone', is_admin=False, read_deleted=u'no', request_id=u'req-f84b9c2c-5f5e-47e3-89cf-01192f92d2a4', project_id=u'0881f10d7cab4429a63f872b8e46afb4', connection_pool=, current_size=2, order_as_stack=True, free_items=, min_size=0, max_size=30, channel=, arg=, kw=) at ../Objects/abstract.c:2529 #74 0x000000000043074e in instancemethod_call (func=, arg= (, coroutines_running=set([]), no_coros_running=, _waiters=set([]), _exc=None) at remote 0x4137610>, size=1024) at remote 0x411ed90>, , (, auth_token=u'6f5b8b1a1efd41179a65e60bf1d9ebf2', msg_id=None, remote_address=u'192.168.1.1', strategy=u'keystone', is_admin=False, read_deleted=u'no', request_id=u'req-f84b9c2c-5f5e-47e3-89cf-01192f92d2a4', project_id=u'0881f10d7cab4429a63f872b8e46afb4', connection_pool=, current_size=2, order_as_stack=True, free_items=, min_size=0, max_size=30, channel=, arg=, kw=) at ../Objects/abstract.c:2529 #76 0x00000000004b5d76 in PyEval_CallObjectWithKeywords (func=, arg= (, (, auth_token=u'6f5b8b1a1efd41179a65e60bf1d9ebf2', msg_id=None, remote_address=u'192.168.1.1', strategy=u'keystone', is_admin=False, read_deleted=u'no', request_id=u'req-f84b9c2c-5f5e-47e3-89cf-01192f92d2a4', project_id=u'0881f10d7cab4429a63f872b8e46afb4', connection_pool=, current_size=2, order_as_stack=True, free_items=, min_size=0, max_size=30, channel=) at remote 0x40c9ed0>) at remote 0x40c9d90>) at remote 0x4137ad0>, u'run_instance', {u'instance_uuid': u'7686955f-84b6-4afd-b3ea-e68b4a08084c', u'requested_networks': None, u'filter_properties': {u'scheduler_hints': {}}, u'admin_password': u'Yuzq7qHYKijX', u'injected_files': [], u'is_...(truncated), kw=) at ../Python/ceval.c:3890 #77 0x00007f6cdb8caee3 in ?? () from /usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/greenlet.so #78 0x00007f6cdb8ca665 in ?? () from /usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/greenlet.so #79 0x0000000003c4f290 in ?? () #80 0x00007f6cdd2de2b6 in ?? () #81 0x00000000004b7283 in PyEval_EvalFrameEx (f=, throwflag=) at ../Python/ceval.c:1889 #82 0x00000000004bcd54 in PyEval_EvalCodeEx (co=, globals=, locals=, args=, argcount=, kws=, kwcount=2, defs=0x1, defcount=69580272, closure=) at ../Python/ceval.c:3264 #83 0x0000000000000000 in ?? ()