diff --git a/mopidy/backends/spotify/playback.py b/mopidy/backends/spotify/playback.py
index 61696bd8..94d57f56 100644
--- a/mopidy/backends/spotify/playback.py
+++ b/mopidy/backends/spotify/playback.py
@@ -14,12 +14,10 @@ class SpotifyPlaybackProvider(BasePlaybackProvider):
     def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
         super(SpotifyPlaybackProvider, self).__init__(*args, **kwargs)
 
-        self._play_time_accumulated = 0
-        self._play_time_started = 0
+        self._timer = TrackPositionTimer()
 
     def pause(self):
-        time_since_started = self._wall_time() - self._play_time_started
-        self._play_time_accumulated += time_since_started
+        self._timer.pause()
 
         return super(SpotifyPlaybackProvider, self).pause()
 
@@ -27,38 +25,42 @@ class SpotifyPlaybackProvider(BasePlaybackProvider):
         if track.uri is None:
             return False
 
-        self._play_time_accumulated = 0
-        self._play_time_started = self._wall_time()
-
         try:
             self.backend.spotify.session.load(
                 Link.from_string(track.uri).as_track())
             self.backend.spotify.session.play(1)
+
             self.backend.audio.prepare_change()
             self.backend.audio.set_uri('appsrc://')
             self.backend.audio.start_playback()
             self.backend.audio.set_metadata(track)
+
+            self._timer.play()
+
             return True
         except SpotifyError as e:
             logger.info('Playback of %s failed: %s', track.uri, e)
             return False
 
     def resume(self):
-        self._play_time_started = self._wall_time()
-        return self.seek(self.backend.playback.time_position)
+        time_position = self.get_time_position()
+
+        self._timer.resume()
+
+        return self.seek(time_position)
 
     def seek(self, time_position):
-        self._play_time_started = self._wall_time()
-        self._play_time_accumulated = time_position
-
         self.backend.audio.prepare_change()
         self.backend.spotify.session.seek(time_position)
         self.backend.audio.start_playback()
 
+        self._timer.seek(time_position)
+
         return True
 
     def stop(self):
         self.backend.spotify.session.play(0)
+
         return super(SpotifyPlaybackProvider, self).stop()
 
     def get_time_position(self):
@@ -66,14 +68,46 @@ class SpotifyPlaybackProvider(BasePlaybackProvider):
         # when used with the Spotify backend and GStreamer appsrc. If this can
         # be resolved, we no longer need to use a wall clock based time
         # position for Spotify playback.
-        state = self.backend.playback.state
-        if state == PlaybackState.PLAYING:
-            time_since_started = (self._wall_time() -
-                self._play_time_started)
-            return self._play_time_accumulated + time_since_started
-        elif state == PlaybackState.PAUSED:
-            return self._play_time_accumulated
-        elif state == PlaybackState.STOPPED:
+        return self._timer.get_time_position()
+
+
+class TrackPositionTimer(object):
+    """
+    Keeps track of time position in a track using the wall clock and playback
+    events.
+
+    To not introduce a reverse dependency on the playback controller, this
+    class keeps track of playback state itself.
+    """
+
+    def __init__(self):
+        self._state = PlaybackState.STOPPED
+        self._accumulated = 0
+        self._started = 0
+
+    def play(self):
+        self._state = PlaybackState.PLAYING
+        self._accumulated = 0
+        self._started = self._wall_time()
+
+    def pause(self):
+        self._state = PlaybackState.PAUSED
+        self._accumulated += self._wall_time() - self._started
+
+    def resume(self):
+        self._state = PlaybackState.PLAYING
+
+    def seek(self, time_position):
+        self._started = self._wall_time()
+        self._accumulated = time_position
+
+    def get_time_position(self):
+        if self._state == PlaybackState.PLAYING:
+            time_since_started = self._wall_time() - self._started
+            return self._accumulated + time_since_started
+        elif self._state == PlaybackState.PAUSED:
+            return self._accumulated
+        elif self._state == PlaybackState.STOPPED:
             return 0
 
     def _wall_time(self):