Fatal Python error: PyThreadState_Get: no current thread

Operating System: OS X El Capitan, Version 10.11.4
Python API, v4.5.5

Importing the FrontPanel API (import ok) fails with the following error:

Fatal Python error: PyThreadState_Get: no current thread
Abort trap: 6

Failure occurs with the following Python versions:

(Enthought)
Enthought Canopy Python 2.7.9 | 64-bit | (default, Jun 30 2015, 19:41:21)
[GCC 4.2.1 (Based on Apple Inc. build 5658) (LLVM build 2335.6)] on darwin

(HomeBrew)
Python 2.7.11 (default, May 12 2016, 16:36:52)
[GCC 4.2.1 Compatible Apple LLVM 7.3.0 (clang-703.0.31)] on darwin

Failure does NOT occur with the built-in Apple version:

Python 2.7.10 (default, Oct 23 2015, 19:19:21)
[GCC 4.2.1 Compatible Apple LLVM 7.0.0 (clang-700.0.59.5)] on darwin

Why is the API so specific about which Python version it operates under? What would it take to get the API working on these different Python versions?

Thanks much,

Jake