diff --git a/mopidy/backends/base.py b/mopidy/backends/base.py
index 495aa07d..740d3843 100644
--- a/mopidy/backends/base.py
+++ b/mopidy/backends/base.py
@@ -50,6 +50,9 @@ class BaseBackend(object):
     def pause(self):
         self.state = self.PAUSE
 
+    def play(self):
+        self.state = self.PLAY
+
     def play_pos(self, songpos):
         self.state = self.PLAY
 
diff --git a/mopidy/backends/spotify.py b/mopidy/backends/spotify.py
index b339b5d4..1a95edfa 100644
--- a/mopidy/backends/spotify.py
+++ b/mopidy/backends/spotify.py
@@ -116,6 +116,9 @@ class SpotifyBackend(BaseBackend):
         self.state = self.PAUSE
         self.spotify.pause()
 
+    def play(self):
+        self.play_id(self._current_song_id)
+
     def play_pos(self, songpos):
         self.play_id(songpos)
 
diff --git a/mopidy/handler.py b/mopidy/handler.py
index f4a7e651..dc472cc4 100644
--- a/mopidy/handler.py
+++ b/mopidy/handler.py
@@ -227,8 +227,12 @@ class MpdHandler(object):
     def _ping(self):
         pass
 
+    @register(r'^play$')
+    def _play(self):
+        return self.backend.play()
+
     @register(r'^play "(?P<songpos>\d+)"$')
-    def _play(self, songpos):
+    def _playpos(self, songpos):
         return self.backend.play_pos(int(songpos))
 
     @register(r'^playid "(?P<songid>\d+)"$')
diff --git a/tests/handlertest.py b/tests/handlertest.py
index 187ddc80..f4088df6 100644
--- a/tests/handlertest.py
+++ b/tests/handlertest.py
@@ -257,7 +257,12 @@ class PlaybackControlHandlerTest(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assert_(u'OK' in result)
         self.assertEquals(self.b.PAUSE, self.b.state)
 
-    def test_play(self):
+    def test_play_without_pos(self):
+        result = self.h.handle_request(u'play')
+        self.assert_(u'OK' in result)
+        self.assertEquals(self.b.PLAY, self.b.state)
+
+    def test_play_with_pos(self):
         result = self.h.handle_request(u'play "0"')
         self.assert_(u'OK' in result)
         self.assertEquals(self.b.PLAY, self.b.state)