diff --git a/sugar/activity/activityfactory.py b/sugar/activity/activityfactory.py
index 10417479..41439780 100644
--- a/sugar/activity/activityfactory.py
+++ b/sugar/activity/activityfactory.py
@@ -29,6 +29,13 @@ from sugar import util
 
 import os
 
+# #3903 - this constant can be removed and assumed to be 1 when dbus-python
+# 0.82.3 is the only version used
+if dbus.version >= (0, 82, 3):
+    DBUS_PYTHON_TIMEOUT_UNITS_PER_SECOND = 1
+else:
+    DBUS_PYTHON_TIMEOUT_UNITS_PER_SECOND = 1000
+
 _SHELL_SERVICE = "org.laptop.Shell"
 _SHELL_PATH = "/org/laptop/Shell"
 _SHELL_IFACE = "org.laptop.Shell"
@@ -143,7 +150,7 @@ class ActivityCreationHandler(gobject.GObject):
         if not os.path.exists('/etc/olpc-security'):
             handle = self._handle.get_dict() 
             self._factory.create(dbus.Dictionary(handle, signature='ss'),
-                                 timeout=120 * 1000,
+                                 timeout=120 * DBUS_PYTHON_TIMEOUT_UNITS_PER_SECOND,
                                  reply_handler=self._no_reply_handler,
                                  error_handler=self._create_error_handler)
         else:
@@ -153,7 +160,7 @@ class ActivityCreationHandler(gobject.GObject):
             factory.CreateActivity(
                     self._service_name,
                     self._handle.get_dict(),
-                    timeout=120 * 1000,
+                    timeout=120 * DBUS_PYTHON_TIMEOUT_UNITS_PER_SECOND,
                     reply_handler=self._create_reply_handler,
                     error_handler=self._create_error_handler,
                     dbus_interface=_RAINBOW_ACTIVITY_FACTORY_INTERFACE)