diff --git a/mopidy/backends/__init__.py b/mopidy/backends/__init__.py
index 3e3ddc9d..86acc226 100644
--- a/mopidy/backends/__init__.py
+++ b/mopidy/backends/__init__.py
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ class BaseCurrentPlaylistController(object):
         raise NotImplementedError
 
     def clear(self):
+        self.backend.playback.stop()
         self.playlist = Playlist()
 
 class BasePlaybackController(object):
@@ -39,5 +40,8 @@ class BasePlaybackController(object):
     def play(self, id=None, position=None):
         raise NotImplementedError
 
+    def stop(self):
+        raise NotImplementedError
+
     def next(self):
         raise NotImplementedError
diff --git a/mopidy/backends/gstreamer.py b/mopidy/backends/gstreamer.py
index ae23dcda..d45fb008 100644
--- a/mopidy/backends/gstreamer.py
+++ b/mopidy/backends/gstreamer.py
@@ -67,6 +67,9 @@ class GStreamerPlaybackController(BasePlaybackController):
 
         return True
 
+    def stop(self):
+        self.bin.set_state(gst.STATE_NULL)
+
     def next(self):
         playlist = self.backend.current_playlist.playlist