diff --git a/mopidy/__main__.py b/mopidy/__main__.py
index 06b7658d..1d9e8314 100644
--- a/mopidy/__main__.py
+++ b/mopidy/__main__.py
@@ -22,8 +22,8 @@ except ImportError:
         instructions on how to install the required dependencies.
     """))
     raise
-
-Gst.init()
+else:
+    Gst.init()
 
 try:
     # Make GObject's mainloop the event loop for python-dbus
diff --git a/mopidy/audio/actor.py b/mopidy/audio/actor.py
index 80462767..c5de90dc 100644
--- a/mopidy/audio/actor.py
+++ b/mopidy/audio/actor.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import threading
 import gi
 gi.require_version('Gst', '1.0')
 from gi.repository import GObject, Gst, GstPbutils
+Gst.is_initialized() or Gst.init()
 
 import pykka
 
diff --git a/mopidy/audio/scan.py b/mopidy/audio/scan.py
index fdd97784..f4bbd3a0 100644
--- a/mopidy/audio/scan.py
+++ b/mopidy/audio/scan.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import time
 import gi
 gi.require_version('Gst', '1.0')
 from gi.repository import Gst, GstPbutils
+Gst.is_initialized() or Gst.init()
 
 from mopidy import exceptions
 from mopidy.audio import utils
@@ -193,8 +194,6 @@ if __name__ == '__main__':
 
     from mopidy.internal import path
 
-    Gst.init()
-
     scanner = Scanner(5000)
     for uri in sys.argv[1:]:
         if not Gst.uri_is_valid(uri):
diff --git a/mopidy/internal/deps.py b/mopidy/internal/deps.py
index 6c93a8fa..8947025f 100644
--- a/mopidy/internal/deps.py
+++ b/mopidy/internal/deps.py
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import sys
 import gi
 gi.require_version('Gst', '1.0')
 from gi.repository import Gst
+Gst.is_initialized() or Gst.init()
 
 import pkg_resources
 
diff --git a/tests/audio/test_actor.py b/tests/audio/test_actor.py
index 0cf89418..41f730e8 100644
--- a/tests/audio/test_actor.py
+++ b/tests/audio/test_actor.py
@@ -7,8 +7,6 @@ import gi
 gi.require_version('Gst', '1.0')
 from gi.repository import Gst
 
-Gst.init()
-
 import mock
 
 import pykka
diff --git a/tests/audio/test_scan.py b/tests/audio/test_scan.py
index 6e3ba001..411ce805 100644
--- a/tests/audio/test_scan.py
+++ b/tests/audio/test_scan.py
@@ -3,12 +3,6 @@ from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 import os
 import unittest
 
-import gi
-gi.require_version('Gst', '1.0')
-from gi.repository import Gst
-
-Gst.init()
-
 from mopidy import exceptions
 from mopidy.audio import scan
 from mopidy.internal import path as path_lib