The problem is not observed when the only connections to upstart are the standard upstart bridges (since they use nih_dbus_connect()).
For reference, here is nih_dbus_setup() which includes one or more calls that unity seemingly should be calling itself:
http://bazaar.launchpad.net/~ubuntu-branches/ubuntu/saucy/libnih/saucy/view/head:/nih-dbus/dbus_connection.c#L202
The problem is not observed when the only connections to upstart are the standard upstart bridges (since they use nih_dbus_ connect( )).
For reference, here is nih_dbus_setup() which includes one or more calls that unity seemingly should be calling itself:
http:// bazaar. launchpad. net/~ubuntu- branches/ ubuntu/ saucy/libnih/ saucy/view/ head:/nih- dbus/dbus_ connection. c#L202