diff --git a/docs/changes.rst b/docs/changes.rst
index 7c2ce19d..4fdc8c1f 100644
--- a/docs/changes.rst
+++ b/docs/changes.rst
@@ -39,8 +39,6 @@ greatly improved MPD client support.
   the packages created by ``setup.py`` for i.e. PyPI.
 - MPD frontend:
 
-  - Relocate from :mod:`mopidy.mpd` to :mod:`mopidy.frontends.mpd`.
-  - Split gigantic protocol implementation into eleven modules.
   - Search improvements, including support for multi-word search.
   - Fixed ``play "-1"`` and ``playid "-1"`` behaviour when playlist is empty
     or when a current track is set.
@@ -56,11 +54,14 @@ greatly improved MPD client support.
   - Fix ``load`` so that one can append a playlist to the current playlist, and
     make it return the correct error message if the playlist is not found.
   - Support for single track repeat added. (Fixes: :issue:`4`)
+  - Relocate from :mod:`mopidy.mpd` to :mod:`mopidy.frontends.mpd`.
+  - Split gigantic protocol implementation into eleven modules.
   - Rename ``mopidy.frontends.mpd.{serializer => translator}`` to match naming
     in backends.
   - Remove setting :attr:`mopidy.settings.SERVER` and
     :attr:`mopidy.settings.FRONTEND` in favour of the new
     :attr:`mopidy.settings.FRONTENDS`.
+  - Run MPD server in its own process.
 
 - Backends:
 
diff --git a/mopidy/__main__.py b/mopidy/__main__.py
index 1c0318e7..20e78f5a 100644
--- a/mopidy/__main__.py
+++ b/mopidy/__main__.py
@@ -1,85 +1,17 @@
-import asyncore
-import logging
-import logging.handlers
-import multiprocessing
-import optparse
 import os
 import sys
 
+# Add ../ to the path so we can run Mopidy from a Git checkout without
+# installing it on the system.
 sys.path.insert(0,
     os.path.abspath(os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), '../')))
 
-from mopidy import get_version, settings, SettingsError
-from mopidy.process import CoreProcess
-from mopidy.utils import get_class
-from mopidy.utils.path import get_or_create_folder
-from mopidy.utils.settings import list_settings_optparse_callback
-
-logger = logging.getLogger('mopidy.main')
+from mopidy.core import CoreProcess
 
 def main():
-    options = _parse_options()
-    _setup_logging(options.verbosity_level, options.dump)
-    settings.validate()
-    logger.info('-- Starting Mopidy --')
-    get_or_create_folder('~/.mopidy/')
-    core_queue = multiprocessing.Queue()
-    output_class = get_class(settings.OUTPUT)
-    backend_class = get_class(settings.BACKENDS[0])
-    frontend = get_class(settings.FRONTENDS[0])()
-    frontend.start_server(core_queue)
-    core = CoreProcess(core_queue, output_class, backend_class, frontend)
-    core.start()
-    asyncore.loop()
-
-def _parse_options():
-    parser = optparse.OptionParser(version='Mopidy %s' % get_version())
-    parser.add_option('-q', '--quiet',
-        action='store_const', const=0, dest='verbosity_level',
-        help='less output (warning level)')
-    parser.add_option('-v', '--verbose',
-        action='store_const', const=2, dest='verbosity_level',
-        help='more output (debug level)')
-    parser.add_option('--dump',
-        action='store_true', dest='dump',
-        help='dump debug log to file')
-    parser.add_option('--list-settings',
-        action='callback', callback=list_settings_optparse_callback,
-        help='list current settings')
-    return parser.parse_args()[0]
-
-def _setup_logging(verbosity_level, dump):
-    _setup_console_logging(verbosity_level)
-    if dump:
-        _setup_dump_logging()
-
-def _setup_console_logging(verbosity_level):
-    if verbosity_level == 0:
-        level = logging.WARNING
-    elif verbosity_level == 2:
-        level = logging.DEBUG
-    else:
-        level = logging.INFO
-    logging.basicConfig(format=settings.CONSOLE_LOG_FORMAT, level=level)
-
-def _setup_dump_logging():
-    root = logging.getLogger('')
-    root.setLevel(logging.DEBUG)
-    formatter = logging.Formatter(settings.DUMP_LOG_FORMAT)
-    handler = logging.handlers.RotatingFileHandler(
-        settings.DUMP_LOG_FILENAME, maxBytes=102400, backupCount=3)
-    handler.setFormatter(formatter)
-    root.addHandler(handler)
+    # Explictly call run() instead of start(), since we don't need to start
+    # another process.
+    CoreProcess().run()
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
-    try:
-        main()
-    except KeyboardInterrupt:
-        logger.info(u'Interrupted by user')
-        sys.exit(0)
-    except SettingsError, e:
-        logger.error(e)
-        sys.exit(1)
-    except SystemExit, e:
-        logger.error(e)
-        sys.exit(1)
+    main()
diff --git a/mopidy/backends/libspotify/playback.py b/mopidy/backends/libspotify/playback.py
index 1195e9bc..ed5ba697 100644
--- a/mopidy/backends/libspotify/playback.py
+++ b/mopidy/backends/libspotify/playback.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import multiprocessing
 from spotify import Link, SpotifyError
 
 from mopidy.backends.base import BasePlaybackController
-from mopidy.process import pickle_connection
+from mopidy.utils.process import pickle_connection
 
 logger = logging.getLogger('mopidy.backends.libspotify.playback')
 
diff --git a/mopidy/backends/libspotify/session_manager.py b/mopidy/backends/libspotify/session_manager.py
index 707423aa..22cbb0a0 100644
--- a/mopidy/backends/libspotify/session_manager.py
+++ b/mopidy/backends/libspotify/session_manager.py
@@ -18,7 +18,10 @@ class LibspotifySessionManager(SpotifySessionManager, threading.Thread):
 
     def __init__(self, username, password, core_queue, output_queue):
         SpotifySessionManager.__init__(self, username, password)
-        threading.Thread.__init__(self)
+        threading.Thread.__init__(self, name='LibspotifySessionManagerThread')
+        # Run as a daemon thread, so Mopidy won't wait for this thread to exit
+        # before Mopidy exits.
+        self.daemon = True
         self.core_queue = core_queue
         self.output_queue = output_queue
         self.connected = threading.Event()
diff --git a/mopidy/core.py b/mopidy/core.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d823bfa5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mopidy/core.py
@@ -0,0 +1,88 @@
+import logging
+import multiprocessing
+import optparse
+
+from mopidy import get_version, settings
+from mopidy.utils import get_class
+from mopidy.utils.log import setup_logging
+from mopidy.utils.path import get_or_create_folder
+from mopidy.utils.process import BaseProcess, unpickle_connection
+from mopidy.utils.settings import list_settings_optparse_callback
+
+logger = logging.getLogger('mopidy.core')
+
+class CoreProcess(BaseProcess):
+    def __init__(self):
+        super(CoreProcess, self).__init__(name='CoreProcess')
+        self.core_queue = multiprocessing.Queue()
+        self.options = self.parse_options()
+        self.output_queue = None
+        self.backend = None
+        self.frontend = None
+
+    def parse_options(self):
+        parser = optparse.OptionParser(version='Mopidy %s' % get_version())
+        parser.add_option('-q', '--quiet',
+            action='store_const', const=0, dest='verbosity_level',
+            help='less output (warning level)')
+        parser.add_option('-v', '--verbose',
+            action='store_const', const=2, dest='verbosity_level',
+            help='more output (debug level)')
+        parser.add_option('--dump',
+            action='store_true', dest='dump',
+            help='dump debug log to file')
+        parser.add_option('--list-settings',
+            action='callback', callback=list_settings_optparse_callback,
+            help='list current settings')
+        return parser.parse_args()[0]
+
+    def run_inside_try(self):
+        logger.info(u'-- Starting Mopidy --')
+        self.setup()
+        while True:
+            message = self.core_queue.get()
+            self.process_message(message)
+
+    def setup(self):
+        self.setup_logging()
+        self.setup_settings()
+        self.output_queue = self.setup_output(self.core_queue)
+        self.backend = self.setup_backend(self.core_queue, self.output_queue)
+        self.frontend = self.setup_frontend(self.core_queue, self.backend)
+
+    def setup_logging(self):
+        setup_logging(self.options.verbosity_level, self.options.dump)
+
+    def setup_settings(self):
+        get_or_create_folder('~/.mopidy/')
+        settings.validate()
+
+    def setup_output(self, core_queue):
+        output_queue = multiprocessing.Queue()
+        get_class(settings.OUTPUT)(core_queue, output_queue)
+        return output_queue
+
+    def setup_backend(self, core_queue, output_queue):
+        return get_class(settings.BACKENDS[0])(core_queue, output_queue)
+
+    def setup_frontend(self, core_queue, backend):
+        frontend = get_class(settings.FRONTENDS[0])()
+        frontend.start_server(core_queue)
+        frontend.create_dispatcher(backend)
+        return frontend
+
+    def process_message(self, message):
+        if message.get('to') == 'output':
+            self.output_queue.put(message)
+        elif message['command'] == 'mpd_request':
+            response = self.frontend.dispatcher.handle_request(message['request'])
+            connection = unpickle_connection(message['reply_to'])
+            connection.send(response)
+        elif message['command'] == 'end_of_track':
+            self.backend.playback.on_end_of_track()
+        elif message['command'] == 'stop_playback':
+            self.backend.playback.stop()
+        elif message['command'] == 'set_stored_playlists':
+            self.backend.stored_playlists.playlists = message['playlists']
+        else:
+            logger.warning(u'Cannot handle message: %s', message)
diff --git a/mopidy/frontends/mpd/__init__.py b/mopidy/frontends/mpd/__init__.py
index 53f2003f..048f5748 100644
--- a/mopidy/frontends/mpd/__init__.py
+++ b/mopidy/frontends/mpd/__init__.py
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 from mopidy.frontends.mpd.dispatcher import MpdDispatcher
-from mopidy.frontends.mpd.server import MpdServer
+from mopidy.frontends.mpd.process import MpdProcess
 
 class MpdFrontend(object):
     """
@@ -17,8 +17,8 @@ class MpdFrontend(object):
         :param core_queue: the core queue
         :type core_queue: :class:`multiprocessing.Queue`
         """
-        self.server = MpdServer(core_queue)
-        self.server.start()
+        self.process = MpdProcess(core_queue)
+        self.process.start()
 
     def create_dispatcher(self, backend):
         """
@@ -28,6 +28,5 @@ class MpdFrontend(object):
         :type backend: :class:`mopidy.backends.base.BaseBackend`
         :rtype: :class:`mopidy.frontends.mpd.dispatcher.MpdDispatcher`
         """
-
         self.dispatcher = MpdDispatcher(backend)
         return self.dispatcher
diff --git a/mopidy/frontends/mpd/process.py b/mopidy/frontends/mpd/process.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..7bd95900
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mopidy/frontends/mpd/process.py
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+import asyncore
+import logging
+
+from mopidy.frontends.mpd.server import MpdServer
+from mopidy.utils.process import BaseProcess
+
+logger = logging.getLogger('mopidy.frontends.mpd.process')
+
+class MpdProcess(BaseProcess):
+    def __init__(self, core_queue):
+        super(MpdProcess, self).__init__(name='MpdProcess')
+        self.core_queue = core_queue
+
+    def run_inside_try(self):
+        logger.debug(u'Starting MPD server process')
+        server = MpdServer(self.core_queue)
+        server.start()
+        asyncore.loop()
diff --git a/mopidy/frontends/mpd/session.py b/mopidy/frontends/mpd/session.py
index e5d2d12d..a9eba73e 100644
--- a/mopidy/frontends/mpd/session.py
+++ b/mopidy/frontends/mpd/session.py
@@ -3,8 +3,8 @@ import logging
 import multiprocessing
 
 from mopidy.frontends.mpd.protocol import ENCODING, LINE_TERMINATOR, VERSION
-from mopidy.process import pickle_connection
 from mopidy.utils import indent
+from mopidy.utils.process import pickle_connection
 
 logger = logging.getLogger('mopidy.frontends.mpd.session')
 
diff --git a/mopidy/mixers/gstreamer_software.py b/mopidy/mixers/gstreamer_software.py
index 2910ef72..1225cafd 100644
--- a/mopidy/mixers/gstreamer_software.py
+++ b/mopidy/mixers/gstreamer_software.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import multiprocessing
 
 from mopidy.mixers import BaseMixer
-from mopidy.process import pickle_connection
+from mopidy.utils.process import pickle_connection
 
 class GStreamerSoftwareMixer(BaseMixer):
     """Mixer which uses GStreamer to control volume in software."""
diff --git a/mopidy/mixers/nad.py b/mopidy/mixers/nad.py
index d78863aa..f859791b 100644
--- a/mopidy/mixers/nad.py
+++ b/mopidy/mixers/nad.py
@@ -3,9 +3,9 @@ from serial import Serial
 from multiprocessing import Pipe
 
 from mopidy.mixers import BaseMixer
-from mopidy.process import BaseProcess
 from mopidy.settings import (MIXER_EXT_PORT, MIXER_EXT_SOURCE,
     MIXER_EXT_SPEAKERS_A, MIXER_EXT_SPEAKERS_B)
+from mopidy.utils.process import BaseProcess
 
 logger = logging.getLogger('mopidy.mixers.nad')
 
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ class NadTalker(BaseProcess):
     _nad_volume = None
 
     def __init__(self, pipe=None):
-        super(NadTalker, self).__init__()
+        super(NadTalker, self).__init__(name='NadTalker')
         self.pipe = pipe
         self._device = None
 
diff --git a/mopidy/outputs/gstreamer.py b/mopidy/outputs/gstreamer.py
index ca5a98c5..a1544f87 100644
--- a/mopidy/outputs/gstreamer.py
+++ b/mopidy/outputs/gstreamer.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import gst
 import logging
 import threading
 
-from mopidy.process import BaseProcess, unpickle_connection
+from mopidy.utils.process import BaseProcess, unpickle_connection
 
 logger = logging.getLogger('mopidy.outputs.gstreamer')
 
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ class GStreamerProcess(BaseProcess):
     ])
 
     def __init__(self, core_queue, output_queue):
-        super(GStreamerProcess, self).__init__()
+        super(GStreamerProcess, self).__init__(name='GStreamerProcess')
         self.core_queue = core_queue
         self.output_queue = output_queue
         self.gst_pipeline = None
diff --git a/mopidy/process.py b/mopidy/process.py
deleted file mode 100644
index 008129b3..00000000
--- a/mopidy/process.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,79 +0,0 @@
-import logging
-import multiprocessing
-from multiprocessing.reduction import reduce_connection
-import pickle
-import sys
-
-from mopidy import SettingsError
-
-logger = logging.getLogger('mopidy.process')
-
-def pickle_connection(connection):
-    return pickle.dumps(reduce_connection(connection))
-
-def unpickle_connection(pickled_connection):
-    # From http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1446004
-    (func, args) = pickle.loads(pickled_connection)
-    return func(*args)
-
-
-class BaseProcess(multiprocessing.Process):
-    def run(self):
-        try:
-            self.run_inside_try()
-        except KeyboardInterrupt:
-            logger.info(u'Interrupted by user')
-            sys.exit(0)
-        except SettingsError as e:
-            logger.error(e.message)
-            sys.exit(1)
-        except ImportError as e:
-            logger.error(e)
-            sys.exit(1)
-        except Exception as e:
-            logger.exception(e)
-            raise e
-
-    def run_inside_try(self):
-        raise NotImplementedError
-
-
-class CoreProcess(BaseProcess):
-    def __init__(self, core_queue, output_class, backend_class, frontend):
-        super(CoreProcess, self).__init__()
-        self.core_queue = core_queue
-        self.output_queue = None
-        self.output_class = output_class
-        self.backend_class = backend_class
-        self.output = None
-        self.backend = None
-        self.frontend = frontend
-        self.dispatcher = None
-
-    def run_inside_try(self):
-        self.setup()
-        while True:
-            message = self.core_queue.get()
-            self.process_message(message)
-
-    def setup(self):
-        self.output_queue = multiprocessing.Queue()
-        self.output = self.output_class(self.core_queue, self.output_queue)
-        self.backend = self.backend_class(self.core_queue, self.output_queue)
-        self.dispatcher = self.frontend.create_dispatcher(self.backend)
-
-    def process_message(self, message):
-        if message.get('to') == 'output':
-            self.output_queue.put(message)
-        elif message['command'] == 'mpd_request':
-            response = self.dispatcher.handle_request(message['request'])
-            connection = unpickle_connection(message['reply_to'])
-            connection.send(response)
-        elif message['command'] == 'end_of_track':
-            self.backend.playback.on_end_of_track()
-        elif message['command'] == 'stop_playback':
-            self.backend.playback.stop()
-        elif message['command'] == 'set_stored_playlists':
-            self.backend.stored_playlists.playlists = message['playlists']
-        else:
-            logger.warning(u'Cannot handle message: %s', message)
diff --git a/mopidy/utils/log.py b/mopidy/utils/log.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e75a6df6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mopidy/utils/log.py
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+import logging
+import logging.handlers
+
+from mopidy import settings
+
+def setup_logging(verbosity_level, dump):
+    setup_console_logging(verbosity_level)
+    if dump:
+        setup_dump_logging()
+
+def setup_console_logging(verbosity_level):
+    if verbosity_level == 0:
+        level = logging.WARNING
+    elif verbosity_level == 2:
+        level = logging.DEBUG
+    else:
+        level = logging.INFO
+    logging.basicConfig(format=settings.CONSOLE_LOG_FORMAT, level=level)
+
+def setup_dump_logging():
+    root = logging.getLogger('')
+    root.setLevel(logging.DEBUG)
+    formatter = logging.Formatter(settings.DUMP_LOG_FORMAT)
+    handler = logging.handlers.RotatingFileHandler(
+        settings.DUMP_LOG_FILENAME, maxBytes=102400, backupCount=3)
+    handler.setFormatter(formatter)
+    root.addHandler(handler)
+
diff --git a/mopidy/utils/process.py b/mopidy/utils/process.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..73224840
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mopidy/utils/process.py
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+import logging
+import multiprocessing
+from multiprocessing.reduction import reduce_connection
+import pickle
+import sys
+
+from mopidy import SettingsError
+
+logger = logging.getLogger('mopidy.utils.process')
+
+def pickle_connection(connection):
+    return pickle.dumps(reduce_connection(connection))
+
+def unpickle_connection(pickled_connection):
+    # From http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1446004
+    (func, args) = pickle.loads(pickled_connection)
+    return func(*args)
+
+
+class BaseProcess(multiprocessing.Process):
+    def run(self):
+        logger.debug(u'%s: Starting process', self.name)
+        try:
+            self.run_inside_try()
+        except KeyboardInterrupt:
+            logger.info(u'%s: Interrupted by user', self.name)
+            sys.exit(0)
+        except SettingsError as e:
+            logger.error(e.message)
+            sys.exit(1)
+        except ImportError as e:
+            logger.error(e)
+            sys.exit(1)
+        except Exception as e:
+            logger.exception(e)
+            raise e
+
+    def run_inside_try(self):
+        raise NotImplementedError
diff --git a/tests/outputs/gstreamer_test.py b/tests/outputs/gstreamer_test.py
index c063aaee..5f681f23 100644
--- a/tests/outputs/gstreamer_test.py
+++ b/tests/outputs/gstreamer_test.py
@@ -2,8 +2,8 @@ import multiprocessing
 import unittest
 
 from mopidy.outputs.gstreamer import GStreamerOutput
-from mopidy.process import pickle_connection
 from mopidy.utils.path import path_to_uri
+from mopidy.utils.process import pickle_connection
 
 from tests import data_folder, SkipTest