diff --git a/bindings/python/setup.py b/bindings/python/setup.py
index ca733bec..bc83b1a9 100755
--- a/bindings/python/setup.py
+++ b/bindings/python/setup.py
@@ -32,14 +32,14 @@ BUILD_DIR = os.path.join(UC_DIR, 'build_python')
 VERSION = "2.0.0rc7"
 
 if SYSTEM == 'darwin':
-    LIBRARY_FILE = "libunicorn.dylib"
+    LIBRARY_FILE = "libunicorn.2.dylib"
     STATIC_LIBRARY_FILE = None
 elif SYSTEM in ('win32', 'cygwin'):
     LIBRARY_FILE = "unicorn.dll"
     STATIC_LIBRARY_FILE = "unicorn.lib"
 else:
-    LIBRARY_FILE = "libunicorn.so"
-    STATIC_LIBRARY_FILE = None
+    LIBRARY_FILE = "libunicorn.so.2"
+    STATIC_LIBRARY_FILE = "libunicorn.a"
 
 def clean_bins():
     shutil.rmtree(LIBS_DIR, ignore_errors=True)
@@ -140,15 +140,8 @@ def build_libraries():
         subprocess.check_call(["cmake", "--build", ".", "-j" + threads])
     
         shutil.copy(LIBRARY_FILE, LIBS_DIR)
-        try:
-            # static library may fail to build on windows if user doesn't have visual studio installed. this is fine.
-            if STATIC_LIBRARY_FILE is not None:
-                shutil.copy(STATIC_LIBRARY_FILE, LIBS_DIR)
-        except FileNotFoundError:
-            print('Warning: Could not build static library file! This build is not appropriate for a binary distribution')
-            # enforce this
-            if 'upload' in sys.argv:
-                sys.exit(1)
+        shutil.copy(STATIC_LIBRARY_FILE, LIBS_DIR)
+
     os.chdir(cwd)
 
 
diff --git a/bindings/python/unicorn/unicorn.py b/bindings/python/unicorn/unicorn.py
index 30decacc..b1b7073c 100644
--- a/bindings/python/unicorn/unicorn.py
+++ b/bindings/python/unicorn/unicorn.py
@@ -21,11 +21,11 @@ _python2 = sys.version_info[0] < 3
 if _python2:
     range = xrange
 
-_lib = { 'darwin': 'libunicorn.dylib',
+_lib = { 'darwin': 'libunicorn.2.dylib',
          'win32': 'unicorn.dll',
          'cygwin': 'cygunicorn.dll',
-         'linux': 'libunicorn.so',
-         'linux2': 'libunicorn.so' }
+         'linux': 'libunicorn.so.2',
+         'linux2': 'libunicorn.so.2' }
 
 
 # Windows DLL in dependency order
@@ -57,12 +57,12 @@ def _load_win_support(path):
 if sys.platform in ('win32', 'cygwin'):
     _load_win_support('')
 
-def _load_lib(path):
+def _load_lib(path, lib_name):
     try:
         if sys.platform in ('win32', 'cygwin'):
             _load_win_support(path)
 
-        lib_file = os.path.join(path, _lib.get(sys.platform, 'libunicorn.so'))
+        lib_file = os.path.join(path, lib_name)
         dll = ctypes.cdll.LoadLibrary(lib_file)
         #print('SUCCESS')
         return dll
@@ -93,9 +93,23 @@ _path_list = [os.getenv('LIBUNICORN_PATH', None),
 
 for _path in _path_list:
     if _path is None: continue
-    _uc = _load_lib(_path)
-    if _uc is not None: break
-else:
+    _uc = _load_lib(_path, _lib.get(sys.platform, "libunicorn.so"))
+    if _uc is not None:
+        break
+
+# Try to search old unicorn1 library without SONAME
+if _uc is None:
+    for _path in _path_list:
+        if _path is None:
+            continue
+        
+        _uc = _load_lib(_path, "libunicorn.so")
+        if _uc is not None:
+            # In this case, show a warning for users
+            print("Found an old style dynamic library libunicorn.so, consider checking your installation", file=sys.stderr)
+            break
+
+if _uc is None:
     raise ImportError("ERROR: fail to load the dynamic library.")
 
 __version__ = "%u.%u.%u" % (uc.UC_VERSION_MAJOR, uc.UC_VERSION_MINOR, uc.UC_VERSION_PATCH)