diff --git a/src/pulsecore/core-util.c b/src/pulsecore/core-util.c
index 9b16936..b37e450 100644
--- a/src/pulsecore/core-util.c
+++ b/src/pulsecore/core-util.c
@@ -860,7 +860,7 @@ static int set_nice(int nice_level) {
 #ifdef HAVE_DBUS
     /* Try to talk to RealtimeKit */
 
-    if (!(bus = dbus_bus_get(DBUS_BUS_SYSTEM, &error))) {
+    if (!(bus = dbus_bus_get_private(DBUS_BUS_SYSTEM, &error))) {
         pa_log("Failed to connect to system bus: %s\n", error.message);
         dbus_error_free(&error);
         errno = -EIO;
@@ -873,6 +873,7 @@ static int set_nice(int nice_level) {
     dbus_connection_set_exit_on_disconnect(bus, FALSE);
 
     r = rtkit_make_high_priority(bus, 0, nice_level);
+    dbus_connection_close(bus);
     dbus_connection_unref(bus);
 
     if (r >= 0) {