diff --git a/mopidy/core.py b/mopidy/core.py
index f54a3826..69760094 100644
--- a/mopidy/core.py
+++ b/mopidy/core.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import logging
 import multiprocessing
 import optparse
+import sys
 
 from mopidy import get_version, settings, OptionalDependencyError
 from mopidy.utils import get_class
@@ -80,7 +81,9 @@ class CoreProcess(BaseThread):
         return frontends
 
     def process_message(self, message):
-        if message.get('to') == 'output':
+        if message.get('to') == 'core':
+            self.process_message_to_core(message)
+        elif message.get('to') == 'output':
             self.output.process_message(message)
         elif message.get('to') == 'frontend':
             for frontend in self.frontends:
@@ -93,3 +96,12 @@ class CoreProcess(BaseThread):
             self.backend.stored_playlists.playlists = message['playlists']
         else:
             logger.warning(u'Cannot handle message: %s', message)
+
+    def process_message_to_core(self, message):
+        assert message['to'] == 'core', u'Message recipient must be "core".'
+        if message['command'] == 'exit':
+            if message['reason'] is not None:
+                logger.info(u'Exiting (%s)', message['reason'])
+            sys.exit(message['status'])
+        else:
+            logger.warning(u'Cannot handle message: %s', message)
diff --git a/mopidy/utils/process.py b/mopidy/utils/process.py
index e4ef2484..9af6fbf5 100644
--- a/mopidy/utils/process.py
+++ b/mopidy/utils/process.py
@@ -28,17 +28,17 @@ class BaseProcess(multiprocessing.Process):
         try:
             self.run_inside_try()
         except KeyboardInterrupt:
-            logger.info(u'%s: Interrupted by user', self.name)
-            sys.exit(0)
+            logger.info(u'Interrupted by user')
+            self.exit(0, u'Interrupted by user')
         except SettingsError as e:
             logger.error(e.message)
-            sys.exit(1)
+            self.exit(1, u'Settings error')
         except ImportError as e:
             logger.error(e)
-            sys.exit(1)
+            self.exit(2, u'Import error')
         except Exception as e:
             logger.exception(e)
-            raise e
+            self.exit(3, u'Unknown error')
 
     def run_inside_try(self):
         raise NotImplementedError
@@ -46,6 +46,11 @@ class BaseProcess(multiprocessing.Process):
     def destroy(self):
         self.terminate()
 
+    def exit(self, status=0, reason=None):
+        self.core_queue.put({'to': 'core', 'command': 'exit',
+            'status': status, 'reason': reason})
+        self.destroy()
+
 
 class BaseThread(multiprocessing.dummy.Process):
     def __init__(self, core_queue):
@@ -57,20 +62,25 @@ class BaseThread(multiprocessing.dummy.Process):
         try:
             self.run_inside_try()
         except KeyboardInterrupt:
-            logger.info(u'%s: Interrupted by user', self.name)
-            sys.exit(0)
+            logger.info(u'Interrupted by user')
+            self.exit(0, u'Interrupted by user')
         except SettingsError as e:
             logger.error(e.message)
-            sys.exit(1)
+            self.exit(1, u'Settings error')
         except ImportError as e:
             logger.error(e)
-            sys.exit(1)
+            self.exit(2, u'Import error')
         except Exception as e:
             logger.exception(e)
-            raise e
+            self.exit(3, u'Unknown error')
 
     def run_inside_try(self):
         raise NotImplementedError
 
     def destroy(self):
         pass
+
+    def exit(self, status=0, reason=None):
+        self.core_queue.put({'to': 'core', 'command': 'exit',
+            'status': status, 'reason': reason})
+        self.destroy()