diff --git a/mopidy/frontends/mpris.py b/mopidy/frontends/mpris.py
index 3e31ca9d..6c1e4c16 100644
--- a/mopidy/frontends/mpris.py
+++ b/mopidy/frontends/mpris.py
@@ -7,7 +7,8 @@ import multiprocessing
 try:
     import dbus
     import dbus.service
-    from dbus.mainloop.glib import DBusGMainLoop
+    from dbus.mainloop.glib import DBusGMainLoop, threads_init
+    threads_init()
 except ImportError as import_error:
     from mopidy import OptionalDependencyError
     raise OptionalDependencyError(import_error)