diff --git a/mopidy/backends/backend.py b/mopidy/backends/backend.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f6a1b3a5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mopidy/backends/backend.py
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+
+class BaseBackend(object):
+    def status(self):
+        return None
diff --git a/mopidy/handler.py b/mopidy/handler.py
index db2bef8f..a77a17d5 100644
--- a/mopidy/handler.py
+++ b/mopidy/handler.py
@@ -27,6 +27,9 @@ class MpdHandler(object):
                 return _request_handlers[pattern](self, **groups)
         logger.warning(u'Unhandled request: %s', request)
 
+    def register_backend(self, backend):
+        self.backend = backend
+
     @register(r'^currentsong$')
     def _currentsong(self):
         return None # TODO