diff --git a/mopidy/backends/local/playlists.py b/mopidy/backends/local/playlists.py
index 05873a98..ea45bcbb 100644
--- a/mopidy/backends/local/playlists.py
+++ b/mopidy/backends/local/playlists.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ import os
 import shutil
 
 from mopidy import settings
-from mopidy.backends import base
+from mopidy.backends import base, listener
 from mopidy.models import Playlist
 from mopidy.utils import formatting, path
 
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@ class LocalPlaylistsProvider(base.BasePlaylistsProvider):
             playlists.append(playlist)
 
         self.playlists = playlists
+        listener.BackendListener.send('playlists_loaded')
 
     def save(self, playlist):
         assert playlist.uri, 'Cannot save playlist without URI'
diff --git a/tests/backends/base/events.py b/tests/backends/base/events.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0a2e6722
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/backends/base/events.py
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+from __future__ import unicode_literals
+
+import mock
+import pykka
+
+from mopidy import core, audio
+from mopidy.backends import listener
+
+
+@mock.patch.object(listener.BackendListener, 'send')
+class BackendEventsTest(object):
+    def setUp(self):
+        self.audio = mock.Mock(spec=audio.Audio)
+        self.backend = self.backend_class.start(audio=audio).proxy()
+        self.core = core.Core.start(backends=[self.backend]).proxy()
+
+    def tearDown(self):
+        pykka.ActorRegistry.stop_all()
+
+    def test_playlists_refresh_sends_playlists_loaded_event(self, send):
+        send.reset_mock()
+        self.core.playlists.refresh().get()
+        self.assertEqual(send.call_args[0][0], 'playlists_loaded')
diff --git a/tests/backends/local/events_test.py b/tests/backends/local/events_test.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ba61f97a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/backends/local/events_test.py
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+from mopidy.backends.local import LocalBackend
+
+from tests import unittest
+from tests.backends.base import events
+
+
+class LocalBackendEventsTest(events.BackendEventsTest, unittest.TestCase):
+    backend_class = LocalBackend