diff --git a/mopidy/core.py b/mopidy/core.py
index 701c8144..8067d3ea 100644
--- a/mopidy/core.py
+++ b/mopidy/core.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ from mopidy import get_version, settings, OptionalDependencyError
 from mopidy.utils import get_class
 from mopidy.utils.log import setup_logging
 from mopidy.utils.path import get_or_create_folder, get_or_create_file
-from mopidy.utils.process import BaseThread
+from mopidy.utils.process import BaseThread, GObjectEventThread
 from mopidy.utils.settings import list_settings_optparse_callback
 
 logger = logging.getLogger('mopidy.core')
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ class CoreProcess(BaseThread):
     def setup(self):
         self.setup_logging()
         self.setup_settings()
+        self.gobject_loop = self.setup_gobject_loop(self.core_queue)
         self.output = self.setup_output(self.core_queue)
         self.backend = self.setup_backend(self.core_queue, self.output)
         self.frontends = self.setup_frontends(self.core_queue, self.backend)
@@ -61,6 +62,11 @@ class CoreProcess(BaseThread):
         get_or_create_file('~/.mopidy/settings.py')
         settings.validate()
 
+    def setup_gobject_loop(self, core_queue):
+        gobject_loop = GObjectEventThread(core_queue)
+        gobject_loop.start()
+        return gobject_loop
+
     def setup_output(self, core_queue):
         output = get_class(settings.OUTPUT)(core_queue)
         output.start()
diff --git a/mopidy/outputs/gstreamer.py b/mopidy/outputs/gstreamer.py
index 52bd302d..3b037f62 100644
--- a/mopidy/outputs/gstreamer.py
+++ b/mopidy/outputs/gstreamer.py
@@ -1,6 +1,3 @@
-import gobject
-gobject.threads_init()
-
 import pygst
 pygst.require('0.10')
 import gst
@@ -28,20 +25,14 @@ class GStreamerOutput(BaseOutput):
 
     def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
         super(GStreamerOutput, self).__init__(*args, **kwargs)
-        # Start a helper thread that can run the gobject.MainLoop
-        self.messages_thread = GStreamerMessagesThread(self.core_queue)
-
-        # Start a helper thread that can process the output_queue
         self.output_queue = multiprocessing.Queue()
         self.player_thread = GStreamerPlayerThread(self.core_queue,
             self.output_queue)
 
     def start(self):
-        self.messages_thread.start()
         self.player_thread.start()
 
     def destroy(self):
-        self.messages_thread.destroy()
         self.player_thread.destroy()
 
     def process_message(self, message):
@@ -91,21 +82,15 @@ class GStreamerOutput(BaseOutput):
         return self._send_recv({'command': 'set_volume', 'volume': volume})
 
 
-class GStreamerMessagesThread(BaseThread):
-    def __init__(self, core_queue):
-        super(GStreamerMessagesThread, self).__init__(core_queue)
-        self.name = u'GStreamerMessagesThread'
-
-    def run_inside_try(self):
-        gobject.MainLoop().run()
-
-
 class GStreamerPlayerThread(BaseThread):
     """
     A process for all work related to GStreamer.
 
     The main loop processes events from both Mopidy and GStreamer.
 
+    This thread requires :class:`mopidy.utils.process.GObjectEventThread` to be
+    running too. This is not enforced in any way by the code.
+
     Make sure this subprocess is started by the MainThread in the top-most
     parent process, and not some other thread. If not, we can get into the
     problems described at
diff --git a/mopidy/utils/process.py b/mopidy/utils/process.py
index c34d018c..11dafa8a 100644
--- a/mopidy/utils/process.py
+++ b/mopidy/utils/process.py
@@ -4,6 +4,9 @@ import multiprocessing.dummy
 from multiprocessing.reduction import reduce_connection
 import pickle
 
+import gobject
+gobject.threads_init()
+
 from mopidy import SettingsError
 
 logger = logging.getLogger('mopidy.utils.process')
@@ -84,3 +87,25 @@ class BaseThread(multiprocessing.dummy.Process):
         self.core_queue.put({'to': 'core', 'command': 'exit',
             'status': status, 'reason': reason})
         self.destroy()
+
+
+class GObjectEventThread(BaseThread):
+    """
+    A GObject event loop which is shared by all Mopidy components that uses
+    libraries that need a GObject event loop, like GStreamer and D-Bus.
+
+    Should be started by Mopidy's core and used by
+    :mod:`mopidy.output.gstreamer`, :mod:`mopidy.frontend.mpris`, etc.
+    """
+
+    def __init__(self, core_queue):
+        super(GObjectEventThread, self).__init__(core_queue)
+        self.name = u'GObjectEventThread'
+        self.loop = None
+
+    def run_inside_try(self):
+        self.loop = gobject.MainLoop().run()
+
+    def destroy(self):
+        self.loop.quit()
+        super(GObjectEventThread, self).destroy()