diff --git a/docs/changelog.rst b/docs/changelog.rst
index 713ba215..6f642073 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.rst
+++ b/docs/changelog.rst
@@ -33,6 +33,9 @@ v0.20.0 (UNRELEASED)
 - Add :meth:`mopidy.core.LibraryController.get_images` for looking up images
   for any URI backends know about. (Fixes :issue:`973`)
 
+- When seeking in paused state, do not change to playing state. (Fixed
+  :issue:`939`)
+
 **Commands**
 
 - Make the ``mopidy`` command print a friendly error message if the
diff --git a/mopidy/core/playback.py b/mopidy/core/playback.py
index d4cdce0d..0d604d61 100644
--- a/mopidy/core/playback.py
+++ b/mopidy/core/playback.py
@@ -371,8 +371,6 @@ class PlaybackController(object):
 
         if self.get_state() == PlaybackState.STOPPED:
             self.play()
-        elif self.get_state() == PlaybackState.PAUSED:
-            self.resume()
 
         if time_position < 0:
             time_position = 0
diff --git a/tests/core/test_playback.py b/tests/core/test_playback.py
index 40741e23..11d63e04 100644
--- a/tests/core/test_playback.py
+++ b/tests/core/test_playback.py
@@ -85,6 +85,25 @@ class CorePlaybackTest(unittest.TestCase):
                     'track_playback_started', tl_track=self.tl_tracks[0]),
             ])
 
+    @mock.patch(
+        'mopidy.core.playback.listener.CoreListener', spec=core.CoreListener)
+    def test_play_when_paused_emits_events(self, listener_mock):
+        self.core.playback.play(self.tl_tracks[0])
+        self.core.playback.pause()
+        listener_mock.reset_mock()
+
+        self.core.playback.play(self.tl_tracks[1])
+
+        self.assertListEqual(
+            listener_mock.send.mock_calls,
+            [
+                mock.call(
+                    'playback_state_changed',
+                    old_state='paused', new_state='playing'),
+                mock.call(
+                    'track_playback_started', tl_track=self.tl_tracks[1]),
+            ])
+
     @mock.patch(
         'mopidy.core.playback.listener.CoreListener', spec=core.CoreListener)
     def test_play_when_playing_emits_events(self, listener_mock):
@@ -389,6 +408,20 @@ class CorePlaybackTest(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertFalse(self.playback1.seek.called)
         self.assertFalse(self.playback2.seek.called)
 
+    def test_seek_play_stay_playing(self):
+        self.core.playback.play(self.tl_tracks[0])
+        self.core.playback.state = core.PlaybackState.PLAYING
+        self.core.playback.seek(1000)
+
+        self.assertEqual(self.core.playback.state, core.PlaybackState.PLAYING)
+
+    def test_seek_paused_stay_paused(self):
+        self.core.playback.play(self.tl_tracks[0])
+        self.core.playback.state = core.PlaybackState.PAUSED
+        self.core.playback.seek(1000)
+
+        self.assertEqual(self.core.playback.state, core.PlaybackState.PAUSED)
+
     @mock.patch(
         'mopidy.core.playback.listener.CoreListener', spec=core.CoreListener)
     def test_seek_emits_seeked_event(self, listener_mock):
diff --git a/tests/local/test_playback.py b/tests/local/test_playback.py
index 5f1ff525..3ccd8d8f 100644
--- a/tests/local/test_playback.py
+++ b/tests/local/test_playback.py
@@ -798,6 +798,7 @@ class LocalPlaybackProviderTest(unittest.TestCase):
         self.playback.pause()
         result = self.playback.seek(self.tracks[0].length - 1000)
         self.assert_(result, 'Seek return value was %s' % result)
+        self.assertEqual(self.playback.state, PlaybackState.PAUSED)
 
     @populate_tracklist
     def test_seek_when_paused_updates_position(self):
@@ -808,13 +809,6 @@ class LocalPlaybackProviderTest(unittest.TestCase):
         position = self.playback.time_position
         self.assertGreaterEqual(position, length - 1010)
 
-    @populate_tracklist
-    def test_seek_when_paused_triggers_play(self):
-        self.playback.play()
-        self.playback.pause()
-        self.playback.seek(0)
-        self.assertEqual(self.playback.state, PlaybackState.PLAYING)
-
     @unittest.SkipTest
     @populate_tracklist
     def test_seek_beyond_end_of_song(self):