diff --git a/mopidy/backends/base.py b/mopidy/backends/base.py
index 54339ecd..fd529d4c 100644
--- a/mopidy/backends/base.py
+++ b/mopidy/backends/base.py
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ class BaseBackend(object):
         return self.state
 
 # Control methods
-    def stop(self):
+    def pause(self):
         pass
 
     def play(self, songid):
@@ -47,6 +47,12 @@ class BaseBackend(object):
     def play_id(self, songid):
         pass
 
+    def resume(self):
+        pass
+
+    def stop(self):
+        pass
+
 # Current/single playlist methods
     def playlist_changes_since(self, version):
         return None
diff --git a/mopidy/backends/spotify.py b/mopidy/backends/spotify.py
index 5a5b826c..d12a78c4 100644
--- a/mopidy/backends/spotify.py
+++ b/mopidy/backends/spotify.py
@@ -96,6 +96,10 @@ class SpotifyBackend(BaseBackend):
         if track is not None and self.state in (self.PLAY, self.PAUSE):
             return self._format_track(track)
 
+    def pause(self):
+        self.state = self.PAUSE
+        self.spotify.pause()
+
     def play_id(self, songid):
         self.state = self.PLAY
         track = self._current_playlist[songid]
@@ -131,6 +135,10 @@ class SpotifyBackend(BaseBackend):
         else:
             return self._format_playlist(self._current_playlist)
 
+    def resume(self):
+        self.state = self.PLAY
+        self.spotify.resume()
+
     def stop(self):
         self.state = self.STOP
         self.spotify.stop()
diff --git a/mopidy/handler.py b/mopidy/handler.py
index b66a9ef8..ed2f2bae 100644
--- a/mopidy/handler.py
+++ b/mopidy/handler.py
@@ -173,9 +173,12 @@ class MpdHandler(object):
     def _password(self, password):
         pass # TODO
 
-    @register(r'^pause (?P<state>[01])$')
+    @register(r'^pause "(?P<state>[01])"$')
     def _pause(self, state):
-        pass # TODO
+        if int(state):
+            self.backend.pause()
+        else:
+            self.backend.resume()
 
     @register(r'^ping$')
     def _ping(self):
diff --git a/tests/handlertest.py b/tests/handlertest.py
index 77d05a4d..d9ba3abf 100644
--- a/tests/handlertest.py
+++ b/tests/handlertest.py
@@ -208,11 +208,11 @@ class PlaybackControlHandlerTest(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assert_(result is None)
 
     def test_pause_off(self):
-        result = self.h.handle_request(u'pause 0')
+        result = self.h.handle_request(u'pause "0"')
         self.assert_(result is None)
 
     def test_pause_on(self):
-        result = self.h.handle_request(u'pause 1')
+        result = self.h.handle_request(u'pause "1"')
         self.assert_(result is None)
 
     def test_play(self):