diff --git a/mopidy/backends/__init__.py b/mopidy/backends/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e69de29b
diff --git a/mopidy/backends/dummy_backend.py b/mopidy/backends/dummy_backend.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..dabdae79
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mopidy/backends/dummy_backend.py
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+from mopidy.backends.backend import BaseBackend
+
+class DummyBackend(BaseBackend):
+    pass
diff --git a/mopidy/session.py b/mopidy/session.py
index 331419f5..5c6094df 100644
--- a/mopidy/session.py
+++ b/mopidy/session.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import logging
 
 from mopidy import get_mpd_version, settings
 from mopidy.handler import MpdHandler
+from mopidy.backends.dummy_backend import DummyBackend
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(u'session')
 
@@ -12,6 +13,7 @@ class MpdSession(asynchat.async_chat):
         self.input_buffer = []
         self.set_terminator(settings.MPD_LINE_TERMINATOR)
         self.handler = handler()
+        self.handler.register_backend(DummyBackend())
         self.send_response(u'OK MPD %s' % get_mpd_version())
 
     def collect_incoming_data(self, data):