diff --git a/jedi/api.py b/jedi/api.py
index 278b2061..3e467991 100644
--- a/jedi/api.py
+++ b/jedi/api.py
@@ -251,7 +251,7 @@ class Script(object):
             if (not scopes or not isinstance(scopes[0], imports.ImportPath)) \
                         and not path:
                 # add keywords
-                bs = builtin.builtin_scope
+                bs = builtin.Builtin.scope
                 completions += ((k, bs) for k in keywords.get_keywords(
                                                                     all=True))
 
diff --git a/jedi/builtin.py b/jedi/builtin.py
index 301bb10a..87060009 100644
--- a/jedi/builtin.py
+++ b/jedi/builtin.py
@@ -403,13 +403,24 @@ def parse_function_doc(func):
     return param_str, ret
 
 
-class _Builtin(object):
+class Builtin(object):
     """ The builtin scope / module """
     # Python 3 compatibility
     if is_py3k:
         name = 'builtins'
     else:
         name = '__builtin__'
-    _builtins = Parser(name=name)
 
-builtin_scope = _Builtin()._builtins.parser.module
+    _builtin = None
+
+    @property
+    def builtin(self):
+        if self._builtin is None:
+            self._builtin = Parser(name=self.name)
+        return self._builtin
+
+    @property
+    def scope(self):
+        return self.builtin.parser.module
+
+Builtin = Builtin()
diff --git a/jedi/evaluate.py b/jedi/evaluate.py
index 66fb8698..9f6b8c48 100644
--- a/jedi/evaluate.py
+++ b/jedi/evaluate.py
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ class Instance(use_metaclass(CachedMetaClass, Executable)):
     def __init__(self, base, var_args=None):
         super(Instance, self).__init__(base, var_args)
         if str(base.name) in ['list', 'set'] \
-                    and builtin.builtin_scope == base.get_parent_until():
+                    and builtin.Builtin.scope == base.get_parent_until():
             # compare the module path with the builtin name.
             self.var_args = dynamic.check_array_instances(self)
         else:
@@ -475,7 +475,7 @@ class Execution(Executable):
     def get_return_types(self, evaluate_generator=False):
         """ Get the return types of a function. """
         stmts = []
-        if self.base.parent() == builtin.builtin_scope \
+        if self.base.parent() == builtin.Builtin.scope \
                 and not isinstance(self.base, (Generator, Array)):
             func_name = str(self.base.name)
 
@@ -853,7 +853,7 @@ class Array(use_metaclass(CachedMetaClass, parsing.Base)):
         It returns e.g. for a list: append, pop, ...
         """
         # `array.type` is a string with the type, e.g. 'list'.
-        scope = get_scopes_for_name(builtin.builtin_scope, self._array.type)[0]
+        scope = get_scopes_for_name(builtin.Builtin.scope, self._array.type)[0]
         scope = Instance(scope)
         names = scope.get_defined_names()
         return [ArrayElement(n) for n in names]
@@ -865,10 +865,10 @@ class Array(use_metaclass(CachedMetaClass, parsing.Base)):
         """
         Return the builtin scope as parent, because the arrays are builtins
         """
-        return builtin.builtin_scope
+        return builtin.Builtin.scope
 
     def get_parent_until(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        return builtin.builtin_scope
+        return builtin.Builtin.scope
 
     def __getattr__(self, name):
         if name not in ['type', 'start_pos']:
@@ -964,7 +964,7 @@ def get_names_for_scope(scope, position=None, star_search=True,
 
         # Add builtins to the global scope.
         if include_builtin:
-            builtin_scope = builtin.builtin_scope
+            builtin_scope = builtin.Builtin.scope
             yield builtin_scope, builtin_scope.get_defined_names()
 
 
@@ -1441,7 +1441,7 @@ def follow_call_path(path, scope, position):
         if not isinstance(current, parsing.NamePart):
             if current.type in (parsing.Call.STRING, parsing.Call.NUMBER):
                 t = type(current.name).__name__
-                scopes = get_scopes_for_name(builtin.builtin_scope, t)
+                scopes = get_scopes_for_name(builtin.Builtin.scope, t)
             else:
                 debug.warning('unknown type:', current.type, current)
                 scopes = []
diff --git a/jedi/helpers.py b/jedi/helpers.py
index 9a59333b..0c1db043 100644
--- a/jedi/helpers.py
+++ b/jedi/helpers.py
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ class RecursionNode(object):
         # The same's true for the builtins, because the builtins are really
         # simple.
         self.is_ignored = isinstance(stmt, parsing.Param) \
-                                   or (self.script == builtin.builtin_scope)
+                                   or (self.script == builtin.Builtin.scope)
 
     def __eq__(self, other):
         if not other:
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ class ExecutionRecursionDecorator(object):
         if isinstance(execution.base, (evaluate.Generator, evaluate.Array)):
             return False
         module = execution.get_parent_until()
-        if evaluate_generator or module == builtin.builtin_scope:
+        if evaluate_generator or module == builtin.Builtin.scope:
             return False
 
         if in_par_execution_funcs:
diff --git a/jedi/keywords.py b/jedi/keywords.py
index 329ad6c6..1e595c68 100644
--- a/jedi/keywords.py
+++ b/jedi/keywords.py
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ class Keyword(object):
         self.start_pos = pos
 
     def get_parent_until(self):
-        return builtin.builtin_scope
+        return builtin.Builtin.scope
 
     @property
     def names(self):