diff --git a/opm/simulators/flow/Main.hpp b/opm/simulators/flow/Main.hpp
index 014886c6b..f32906e52 100644
--- a/opm/simulators/flow/Main.hpp
+++ b/opm/simulators/flow/Main.hpp
@@ -174,26 +174,6 @@ public:
         return exitCode;
     }
 
-    using FlowMainType = FlowMain<Properties::TTag::FlowProblemTPFA>;
-    // To be called from the Python interface code. Only do the
-    // initialization and then return a pointer to the FlowMain
-    // object that can later be accessed directly from the Python interface
-    // to e.g. advance the simulator one report step
-    std::unique_ptr<FlowMainType> initFlowBlackoil(int& exitCode)
-    {
-        exitCode = EXIT_SUCCESS;
-        if (initialize_<Properties::TTag::FlowEarlyBird>(exitCode)) {
-            // TODO: check that this deck really represents a blackoil
-            // case. E.g. check that number of phases == 3
-            this->setupVanguard();
-            return flowBlackoilTpfaMainInit(
-                argc_, argv_, outputCout_, outputFiles_);
-        } else {
-            //NOTE: exitCode was set by initialize_() above;
-            return std::unique_ptr<FlowMainType>(); // nullptr
-        }
-    }
-
     //! \brief Used for test_outputdir.
     int justInitialize()
     {
@@ -289,6 +269,7 @@ private:
         return flowMain<TypeTag>(argc_, argv_, outputCout_, outputFiles_);
     }
 
+protected:
     /// \brief Initialize
     /// \param exitCode The exitCode of the program.
     ///
@@ -447,6 +428,9 @@ private:
         return true;
     }
 
+    void setupVanguard();
+
+private:
     // This function is an extreme special case, if the program has been invoked
     // *exactly* as:
     //
@@ -705,8 +689,6 @@ private:
                   std::string_view moduleVersion,
                   std::string_view compileTimestamp);
 
-    void setupVanguard();
-
     static int getNumThreads()
     {
 
@@ -751,11 +733,14 @@ private:
     void setupDamaris(const std::string& outputDir);
 #endif
 
+protected:
     int argc_{0};
     char** argv_{nullptr};
-    bool ownMPI_{true}; //!< True if we "own" MPI and should init / finalize
     bool outputCout_{false};
     bool outputFiles_{false};
+
+private:
+    bool ownMPI_{true}; //!< True if we "own" MPI and should init / finalize
     double setupTime_{0.0};
     std::string deckFilename_{};
     std::string flowProgName_{};
diff --git a/opm/simulators/flow/python/PyBlackOilSimulator.hpp b/opm/simulators/flow/python/PyBlackOilSimulator.hpp
index 47db13716..c5c60e3b3 100644
--- a/opm/simulators/flow/python/PyBlackOilSimulator.hpp
+++ b/opm/simulators/flow/python/PyBlackOilSimulator.hpp
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
 #ifndef OPM_PY_BLACKOIL_SIMULATOR_HEADER_INCLUDED
 #define OPM_PY_BLACKOIL_SIMULATOR_HEADER_INCLUDED
 
-#include <opm/simulators/flow/Main.hpp>
+#include <python/simulators/PyMain.hpp>
 #include <opm/simulators/flow/FlowMain.hpp>
 #include <opm/models/utils/propertysystem.hh>
 #include <opm/models/utils/parametersystem.hpp>
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ private:
     // This *must* be declared before other pointers
     // to simulator objects. This in order to deinitialize
     // MPI at the correct time (ie after the other objects).
-    std::unique_ptr<Opm::Main> main_;
+    std::unique_ptr<Opm::PyMain> main_;
 
     std::unique_ptr<Opm::FlowMain<TypeTag>> flow_main_;
     Simulator* simulator_;
diff --git a/python/simulators/PyBlackOilSimulator.cpp b/python/simulators/PyBlackOilSimulator.cpp
index b5259776f..8428fe14a 100644
--- a/python/simulators/PyBlackOilSimulator.cpp
+++ b/python/simulators/PyBlackOilSimulator.cpp
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@
 #include <opm/input/eclipse/EclipseState/EclipseState.hpp>
 #include <opm/input/eclipse/Schedule/Schedule.hpp>
 #include <opm/input/eclipse/EclipseState/SummaryConfig/SummaryConfig.hpp>
-#include <opm/simulators/flow/Main.hpp>
 #include <opm/simulators/flow/FlowMain.hpp>
 //#include <opm/simulators/flow/python/PyFluidState.hpp>
 #include <opm/simulators/flow/python/PyMaterialState.hpp>
@@ -216,7 +215,7 @@ int PyBlackOilSimulator::stepInit()
         }
     }
     if (this->deck_) {
-        this->main_ = std::make_unique<Opm::Main>(
+        this->main_ = std::make_unique<Opm::PyMain>(
             this->deck_->getDataFile(),
             this->eclipse_state_,
             this->schedule_,
@@ -226,7 +225,7 @@ int PyBlackOilSimulator::stepInit()
         );
     }
     else {
-        this->main_ = std::make_unique<Opm::Main>(
+        this->main_ = std::make_unique<Opm::PyMain>(
             this->deck_filename_,
             this->mpi_init_,
             this->mpi_finalize_
diff --git a/python/simulators/PyMain.hpp b/python/simulators/PyMain.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..fdf547515
--- /dev/null
+++ b/python/simulators/PyMain.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+/*
+  Copyright 2013, 2014, 2015 SINTEF ICT, Applied Mathematics.
+  Copyright 2014 Dr. Blatt - HPC-Simulation-Software & Services
+  Copyright 2015 IRIS AS
+  Copyright 2014 STATOIL ASA.
+  Copyright 2023 Inria
+
+  This file is part of the Open Porous Media project (OPM).
+
+  OPM is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+  it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+  the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+  (at your option) any later version.
+
+  OPM is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+  but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+  MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+  GNU General Public License for more details.
+
+  You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+  along with OPM.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+*/
+#ifndef OPM_PYMAIN_HEADER_INCLUDED
+#define OPM_PYMAIN_HEADER_INCLUDED
+
+#include <opm/simulators/flow/Main.hpp>
+
+namespace Opm {
+
+// ----------------- Python Main class -----------------
+// Adds a python-only initialization method
+class PyMain : public Main
+{
+public:
+    using Main::Main;
+
+    using FlowMainType = FlowMain<Properties::TTag::FlowProblemTPFA>;
+    // To be called from the Python interface code. Only do the
+    // initialization and then return a pointer to the FlowMain
+    // object that can later be accessed directly from the Python interface
+    // to e.g. advance the simulator one report step
+    std::unique_ptr<FlowMainType> initFlowBlackoil(int& exitCode)
+    {
+        exitCode = EXIT_SUCCESS;
+        if (initialize_<Properties::TTag::FlowEarlyBird>(exitCode)) {
+            // TODO: check that this deck really represents a blackoil
+            // case. E.g. check that number of phases == 3
+            this->setupVanguard();
+            return flowBlackoilTpfaMainInit(
+                argc_, argv_, outputCout_, outputFiles_);
+        } else {
+            //NOTE: exitCode was set by initialize_() above;
+            return std::unique_ptr<FlowMainType>(); // nullptr
+        }
+    }
+};
+
+} // namespace Opm
+
+#endif // OPM_PYMAIN_HEADER_INCLUDED