diff --git a/src/bindings/python/flux/future.py b/src/bindings/python/flux/future.py
index 5155174a00f2..7090f3aa01c2 100644
--- a/src/bindings/python/flux/future.py
+++ b/src/bindings/python/flux/future.py
@@ -68,9 +68,11 @@ def check_wrap(self, fun, name):
             func = super(Future.InnerWrapper, self).check_wrap(fun, name)
             return check_future_error(func)
 
-    def __init__(self, future_handle, prefixes=None):
+    def __init__(self, future_handle, prefixes=None, pimpl_t=None):
         super(Future, self).__init__()
-        self.pimpl = self.InnerWrapper(handle=future_handle, prefixes=prefixes)
+        if pimpl_t is None:
+            pimpl_t = self.InnerWrapper
+        self.pimpl = pimpl_t(handle=future_handle, prefixes=prefixes)
         self.then_cb = None
         self.then_arg = None
         self.cb_handle = None
diff --git a/src/bindings/python/flux/rpc.py b/src/bindings/python/flux/rpc.py
index b14c3cda590d..b7ca796a7d53 100644
--- a/src/bindings/python/flux/rpc.py
+++ b/src/bindings/python/flux/rpc.py
@@ -20,6 +20,9 @@
 class RPC(Future):
     """An RPC state object"""
 
+    class RPCInnerWrapper(Future.InnerWrapper):
+        pass
+
     def __init__(
         self,
         flux_handle,
@@ -37,7 +40,11 @@ def __init__(
         payload = encode_payload(payload)
 
         future_handle = raw.flux_rpc(flux_handle, topic, payload, nodeid, flags)
-        super(RPC, self).__init__(future_handle, prefixes=["flux_rpc_", "flux_future_"])
+        super(RPC, self).__init__(
+            future_handle,
+            prefixes=["flux_rpc_", "flux_future_"],
+            pimpl_t=self.RPCInnerWrapper,
+        )
 
     def get_str(self):
         payload_str = ffi.new("char *[1]")
diff --git a/src/bindings/python/flux/wrapper.py b/src/bindings/python/flux/wrapper.py
index d981c2a87b8b..6ed568edfe16 100644
--- a/src/bindings/python/flux/wrapper.py
+++ b/src/bindings/python/flux/wrapper.py
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 import os
 import errno
 import inspect
-import weakref
+from types import MethodType
 
 import six
 
@@ -250,6 +250,20 @@ def __init__(
         self.filter_match = filter_match
         self.prefixes = prefixes
         self.destructor = destructor
+        # this is an error-checking dance to ensure that the class-based caching of
+        # callables is safe by only allowing one set of prefixes, filter-matches, etc.
+        # per derived class of wrapper
+        signature = (match, filter_match, prefixes)
+        mytype = type(self)
+        if getattr(mytype, "signature", None) is None:
+            setattr(mytype, "signature", signature)
+        else:
+            assert signature == getattr(
+                mytype, "signature"
+            ), f"""
+signatures do not match, create a new subclass to change matching parameters:
+{mytype}: mysig: {getattr(mytype, "signature")} sig:{signature}
+            """
 
     def check_handle(self, name, fun_type):
         if self.match is not None and self._handle is not None:
@@ -322,12 +336,15 @@ def __getattr__(self, name):
             return fun
 
         new_fun = self.check_wrap(fun, name)
-        new_method = six.create_bound_method(new_fun, weakref.proxy(self))
+        new_meth = MethodType(new_fun, self)
+
+        def wrap_class(self_renamed, *args, **kwargs):
+            return new_fun(self_renamed, *args, **kwargs)
 
-        # Store the wrapper function into the instance
+        # Store the wrapper function into the class
         # to prevent a second lookup
-        setattr(self, name, new_method)
-        return new_method
+        setattr(type(self), name, wrap_class)
+        return new_meth
 
     def _clear(self):
         # avoid recursion