diff --git a/docs/changes.rst b/docs/changes.rst
index 7b312dd8..9c426795 100644
--- a/docs/changes.rst
+++ b/docs/changes.rst
@@ -31,6 +31,10 @@ We got an updated :doc:`release roadmap <development/roadmap>`!
   - Having multiple identical tracks in a playlist is now working properly.
     (CPID refactoring)
 
+- Despotify backend:
+
+  - Catch and log :exc:`spytify.SpytifyError`. (Fixes: :issue:`11`)
+
 - Libspotify backend:
 
   - Fix choppy playback using the Libspotify backend by using blocking ALSA
diff --git a/mopidy/backends/despotify.py b/mopidy/backends/despotify.py
index 49809620..8779f40b 100644
--- a/mopidy/backends/despotify.py
+++ b/mopidy/backends/despotify.py
@@ -76,20 +76,36 @@ class DespotifyLibraryController(BaseLibraryController):
 
 class DespotifyPlaybackController(BasePlaybackController):
     def _pause(self):
-        self.backend.spotify.pause()
-        return True
+        try:
+            self.backend.spotify.pause()
+            return True
+        except spytify.SpytifyError as e:
+            logger.error(e)
+            return False
 
     def _play(self, track):
-        self.backend.spotify.play(self.backend.spotify.lookup(track.uri))
-        return True
+        try:
+            self.backend.spotify.play(self.backend.spotify.lookup(track.uri))
+            return True
+        except spytify.SpytifyError as e:
+            logger.error(e)
+            return False
 
     def _resume(self):
-        self.backend.spotify.resume()
-        return True
+        try:
+            self.backend.spotify.resume()
+            return True
+        except spytify.SpytifyError as e:
+            logger.error(e)
+            return False
 
     def _stop(self):
-        self.backend.spotify.stop()
-        return True
+        try:
+            self.backend.spotify.stop()
+            return True
+        except spytify.SpytifyError as e:
+            logger.error(e)
+            return False
 
 
 class DespotifyStoredPlaylistsController(BaseStoredPlaylistsController):
@@ -146,7 +162,8 @@ class DespotifyTranslator(object):
         return Playlist(
             uri=spotify_playlist.get_uri(),
             name=spotify_playlist.name.decode(ENCODING),
-            tracks=filter(None, [cls.to_mopidy_track(t) for t in spotify_playlist.tracks]),
+            tracks=filter(None,
+                [cls.to_mopidy_track(t) for t in spotify_playlist.tracks]),
         )