diff --git a/mopidy/backends/__init__.py b/mopidy/backends/__init__.py
index fc4eb6f4..f7705f64 100644
--- a/mopidy/backends/__init__.py
+++ b/mopidy/backends/__init__.py
@@ -46,10 +46,10 @@ class BaseBackend(object):
     uri_handlers = []
 
     def destroy(self):
-        '''
+        """
         Call destroy on all sub-components in backend so that they can cleanup
         after themselves.
-        '''
+        """
 
         if self.current_playlist:
             self.current_playlist.destroy()
@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@ class BaseCurrentPlaylistController(object):
         self.playlist = self.playlist.with_(tracks=before+shuffled+after)
 
     def destroy(self):
-        '''Cleanup after component'''
+        """Cleanup after component"""
         pass
 
 
@@ -284,7 +284,7 @@ class BaseLibraryController(object):
         raise NotImplementedError
 
     def destroy(self):
-        '''Cleanup after component'''
+        """Cleanup after component"""
         pass
 
 
@@ -604,7 +604,7 @@ class BasePlaybackController(object):
         raise NotImplementedError
 
     def destroy(self):
-        '''Cleanup after component'''
+        """Cleanup after component"""
         pass
 
 
@@ -720,5 +720,5 @@ class BaseStoredPlaylistsController(object):
         return filter(lambda p: query in p.name, self._playlists)
 
     def destroy(self):
-        '''Cleanup after component'''
+        """Cleanup after component"""
         pass
diff --git a/mopidy/backends/gstreamer.py b/mopidy/backends/gstreamer.py
index 567e7acf..8a79ff11 100644
--- a/mopidy/backends/gstreamer.py
+++ b/mopidy/backends/gstreamer.py
@@ -9,12 +9,14 @@ pygst.require('0.10')
 import gst
 import logging
 import os
+import glob
 import shutil
 import threading
 
 from mopidy.backends import * 
-from mopidy.models import Playlist
+from mopidy.models import Playlist, Track
 from mopidy import settings
+from mopidy.utils import m3u_to_uris
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(u'backends.gstreamer')
 
@@ -117,8 +119,23 @@ class GStreamerPlaybackController(BasePlaybackController):
 class GStreamerStoredPlaylistsController(BaseStoredPlaylistsController):
     def __init__(self, *args):
         super(GStreamerStoredPlaylistsController, self).__init__(*args)
-        # FIXME need test that ensures that folder is created
         self._folder = os.path.expanduser(settings.PLAYLIST_FOLDER)
+        self.refresh()
+
+    def refresh(self):
+        playlists = []
+
+        for m3u in glob.glob(os.path.join(self._folder, '*.m3u')):
+            name = os.path.basename(m3u)[:len('.m3u')]
+            track_uris = m3u_to_uris(m3u)
+            tracks = map(lambda u: Track(uri=u), track_uris)
+            playlist = Playlist(tracks=tracks, name=name)
+
+            # FIXME playlist name needs better handling
+
+            playlists.append(playlist)
+
+        self.playlists = playlists
 
     def create(self, name):
         playlist = Playlist(name=name)
@@ -149,6 +166,13 @@ class GStreamerStoredPlaylistsController(BaseStoredPlaylistsController):
         shutil.move(src, dst)
 
     def save(self, playlist):
-        file = os.path.join(self._folder, playlist.name + '.m3u')
-        open(file, 'w').close()
+        file_path = os.path.join(self._folder, playlist.name + '.m3u')
+
+        with open(file_path, 'w') as file:
+            for track in playlist.tracks:
+                if track.uri.startswith('file:'):
+                    file.write(track.uri[len('file:'):] + '\n')
+                else:
+                    file.write(track.uri + '\n')
+
         self._playlists.append(playlist)
diff --git a/mopidy/utils.py b/mopidy/utils.py
index 0275e055..f0d972ee 100644
--- a/mopidy/utils.py
+++ b/mopidy/utils.py
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ def m3u_to_uris(file_path):
     """
     Convert M3U file list of uris
 
-    Example M3U data:
+    Example M3U data::
 
         # This is a comment
         Alternative\Band - Song.mp3
diff --git a/tests/backends/gstreamer_test.py b/tests/backends/gstreamer_test.py
index 78b1f7cb..71e92a53 100644
--- a/tests/backends/gstreamer_test.py
+++ b/tests/backends/gstreamer_test.py
@@ -2,11 +2,13 @@ import unittest
 import os
 import urllib
 
-from mopidy.models import Playlist, Track
-from mopidy.backends.gstreamer import GStreamerBackend
 from mopidy import settings
+from mopidy.backends.gstreamer import GStreamerBackend
+from mopidy.mixers.dummy import DummyMixer
+from mopidy.models import Playlist, Track
 
 from tests.backends.base import *
+from tests import SkipTest
 
 folder = os.path.dirname(__file__)
 folder = os.path.join(folder, '..', 'data')
@@ -78,6 +80,46 @@ class GStreamerBackendStoredPlaylistsControllerTest(BaseStoredPlaylistsControlle
         self.assert_(not os.path.exists(file1))
         self.assert_(os.path.exists(file2))
 
+    def test_playlist_contents_get_written_to_disk(self):
+        track = Track(uri=generate_song(1))
+        uri = track.uri[len('file:'):]
+        playlist = Playlist(tracks=[track], name='test')
+        file_path = os.path.join(settings.PLAYLIST_FOLDER, 'test.m3u')
+
+        self.stored.save(playlist)
+
+        with open(file_path) as file:
+            contents = file.read()
+
+        self.assertEqual(uri, contents.strip())
+
+    def test_playlists_are_loaded_at_startup(self):
+        track = Track(uri=generate_song(1))
+        uri = track.uri[len('file:'):]
+        playlist = Playlist(tracks=[track], name='test')
+        file_path = os.path.join(settings.PLAYLIST_FOLDER, 'test.m3u')
+
+        self.stored.save(playlist)
+
+        self.backend.destroy()
+        self.backend = self.backend_class(mixer=DummyMixer())
+        self.stored = self.backend.stored_playlists
+
+        self.assert_(self.stored.playlists)
+        self.assertEqual('test', self.stored.playlists[0].name)
+        self.assertEqual(track.uri, self.stored.playlists[0].tracks[0].uri)
+
+    def test_santitising_of_playlist_filenames(self):
+        raise SkipTest
+
+    def test_playlist_folder_is_createad(self):
+        raise SkipTest
+
+    def test_create_sets_playlist_uri(self):
+        raise SkipTest
+
+    def test_save_sets_playlist_uri(self):
+        raise SkipTest
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
     unittest.main()