diff --git a/docs/changelog.rst b/docs/changelog.rst
index e8953ce8..77ac5320 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.rst
+++ b/docs/changelog.rst
@@ -24,7 +24,8 @@ Core API
 
 - Add ``tlid`` alternatives to methods that take ``tl_track`` and also add
   ``get_{eot,next,previous}_tlid`` methods as light weight alternatives to the
-  ``tl_track`` versions of the calls. (Fixes: :issue:`1131` PR: :issue:`1136`)
+  ``tl_track`` versions of the calls. (Fixes: :issue:`1131` PR: :issue:`1136`,
+  :issue:`1140`)
 
 Models
 ------
diff --git a/mopidy/core/playback.py b/mopidy/core/playback.py
index 135e1828..99deee05 100644
--- a/mopidy/core/playback.py
+++ b/mopidy/core/playback.py
@@ -265,18 +265,32 @@ class PlaybackController(object):
             self.set_state(PlaybackState.PAUSED)
             self._trigger_track_playback_paused()
 
-    def play(self, tl_track=None):
+    def play(self, tl_track=None, tlid=None):
         """
         Play the given track, or if the given track is :class:`None`, play the
         currently active track.
 
         :param tl_track: track to play
         :type tl_track: :class:`mopidy.models.TlTrack` or :class:`None`
+        :param tlid: TLID of the track to play
+        :type tlid: :class:`int` or :class:`None`
         """
         tl_track is None or validation.check_instance(tl_track, models.TlTrack)
-        self._play(tl_track, on_error_step=1)
+        tlid is None or validation.check_integer(tlid, min=0)
+        # TODO: check one of or none for args
+        if tl_track:
+            deprecation.warn('core.playback.play:tl_track_kwarg', pending=True)
+
+        self._play(tl_track=tl_track, tlid=tlid, on_error_step=1)
+
+    def _play(self, tl_track=None, tlid=None, on_error_step=1):
+        if tl_track is None and tlid is not None:
+            for tl_track in self.core.tracklist.get_tl_tracks():
+                if tl_track.tlid == tlid:
+                    break
+            else:
+                tl_track = None
 
-    def _play(self, tl_track=None, on_error_step=1):
         if tl_track is None:
             if self.get_state() == PlaybackState.PAUSED:
                 return self.resume()
diff --git a/mopidy/utils/deprecation.py b/mopidy/utils/deprecation.py
index a650d79e..7b1b915e 100644
--- a/mopidy/utils/deprecation.py
+++ b/mopidy/utils/deprecation.py
@@ -30,6 +30,9 @@ _MESSAGES = {
     'core.playback.set_mute': 'playback.set_mute() is deprecated',
     'core.playback.get_volume': 'playback.get_volume() is deprecated',
     'core.playback.set_volume': 'playback.set_volume() is deprecated',
+    'core.playback.play:tl_track_kwargs':
+        'playback.play() with "tl_track" argument is pending deprecation use '
+        '"tlid" instead',
 
     # Deprecated features in core playlists:
     'core.playlists.filter': 'playlists.filter() is deprecated',
diff --git a/tests/core/test_playback.py b/tests/core/test_playback.py
index a113e034..1837ac80 100644
--- a/tests/core/test_playback.py
+++ b/tests/core/test_playback.py
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import pykka
 
 from mopidy import backend, core
 from mopidy.models import Track
+from mopidy.utils import deprecation
 
 from tests import dummy_audio as audio
 
@@ -698,3 +699,22 @@ class CorePlaybackWithOldBackendTest(unittest.TestCase):
         c = core.Core(mixer=None, backends=[b])
         c.tracklist.add(uris=['dummy1:a'])
         c.playback.play()  # No TypeError == test passed.
+
+
+class TestPlay(unittest.TestCase):
+
+    def setUp(self):  # noqa: N802
+        self.backend = mock.Mock()
+        self.backend.uri_schemes.get.return_value = ['dummy']
+        self.core = core.Core(backends=[self.backend])
+
+        self.tracks = [Track(uri='dummy:a', length=1234),
+                       Track(uri='dummy:b', length=1234)]
+
+        with deprecation.ignore('core.tracklist.add:tracks_arg'):
+            self.tl_tracks = self.core.tracklist.add(tracks=self.tracks)
+
+    def test_play_tlid(self):
+        self.core.playback.play(tlid=self.tl_tracks[1].tlid)
+        self.backend.playback.change_track.assert_called_once_with(
+            self.tl_tracks[1].track)