diff --git a/src/qt/Makefile.am b/src/qt/Makefile.am
index abd8a9f118..99fdecb03a 100644
--- a/src/qt/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/qt/Makefile.am
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ QT_MOC_CPP = moc_aboutdialog.cpp moc_addressbookpage.cpp \
 
 BITCOIN_MM = macdockiconhandler.mm macnotificationhandler.mm
 
-QT_MOC = intro.moc overviewpage.moc rpcconsole.moc
+QT_MOC = intro.moc overviewpage.moc rpcconsole.moc bitcoin.moc
 
 QT_QRC_CPP = qrc_bitcoin.cpp
 QT_QRC = bitcoin.qrc
diff --git a/src/qt/bitcoin.cpp b/src/qt/bitcoin.cpp
index 794d12f69b..d4a834acb6 100644
--- a/src/qt/bitcoin.cpp
+++ b/src/qt/bitcoin.cpp
@@ -30,6 +30,8 @@
 #include <QSettings>
 #include <QTimer>
 #include <QTranslator>
+#include <QWeakPointer>
+#include <QThread>
 
 #if defined(QT_STATICPLUGIN)
 #include <QtPlugin>
@@ -52,18 +54,18 @@ Q_IMPORT_PLUGIN(QWindowsIntegrationPlugin);
 // Declare meta types used for QMetaObject::invokeMethod
 Q_DECLARE_METATYPE(bool*)
 
-// Need a global reference for the notifications to find the GUI
-static BitcoinGUI *guiref;
-static SplashScreen *splashref;
+// Need a global reference for the notifications to find the GUI and splash screen
+static QWeakPointer<BitcoinGUI> guiref;
+static QWeakPointer<SplashScreen> splashref;
 
 static bool ThreadSafeMessageBox(const std::string& message, const std::string& caption, unsigned int style)
 {
-    if(guiref)
+    if(!guiref.isNull())
     {
         bool modal = (style & CClientUIInterface::MODAL);
         bool ret = false;
         // In case of modal message, use blocking connection to wait for user to click a button
-        QMetaObject::invokeMethod(guiref, "message",
+        QMetaObject::invokeMethod(guiref.data(), "message",
                                    modal ? GUIUtil::blockingGUIThreadConnection() : Qt::QueuedConnection,
                                    Q_ARG(QString, QString::fromStdString(caption)),
                                    Q_ARG(QString, QString::fromStdString(message)),
@@ -81,10 +83,13 @@ static bool ThreadSafeMessageBox(const std::string& message, const std::string&
 
 static void InitMessage(const std::string &message)
 {
-    if(splashref)
+    if(!splashref.isNull())
     {
-        splashref->showMessage(QString::fromStdString(message), Qt::AlignBottom|Qt::AlignHCenter, QColor(55,55,55));
-        qApp->processEvents();
+        QMetaObject::invokeMethod(splashref.data(), "showMessage",
+            Qt::QueuedConnection,
+            Q_ARG(QString, QString::fromStdString(message)),
+            Q_ARG(int, Qt::AlignBottom|Qt::AlignHCenter),
+            Q_ARG(QColor, QColor(55,55,55)));
     }
     LogPrintf("init message: %s\n", message.c_str());
 }
@@ -97,15 +102,6 @@ static std::string Translate(const char* psz)
     return QCoreApplication::translate("bitcoin-core", psz).toStdString();
 }
 
-/* Handle runaway exceptions. Shows a message box with the problem and quits the program.
- */
-static void handleRunawayException(std::exception *e)
-{
-    PrintExceptionContinue(e, "Runaway exception");
-    QMessageBox::critical(0, "Runaway exception", BitcoinGUI::tr("A fatal error occurred. Bitcoin can no longer continue safely and will quit.") + QString("\n\n") + QString::fromStdString(strMiscWarning));
-    exit(1);
-}
-
 /** Set up translations */
 static void initTranslations(QTranslator &qtTranslatorBase, QTranslator &qtTranslator, QTranslator &translatorBase, QTranslator &translator)
 {
@@ -162,6 +158,265 @@ void DebugMessageHandler(QtMsgType type, const QMessageLogContext& context, cons
 }
 #endif
 
+/** Class encapsulating Bitcoin Core startup and shutdown.
+ * Allows running startup and shutdown in a different thread from the UI thread.
+ */
+class BitcoinCore: public QObject
+{
+    Q_OBJECT
+public:
+    explicit BitcoinCore();
+
+public slots:
+    void initialize();
+    void shutdown();
+
+signals:
+    void initializeResult(int retval);
+    void shutdownResult(int retval);
+    void runawayException(const QString &message);
+
+private:
+    boost::thread_group threadGroup;
+
+    /// Pass fatal exception message to UI thread
+    void handleRunawayException(std::exception *e);
+};
+
+/** Main Bitcoin application object */
+class BitcoinApplication: public QApplication
+{
+    Q_OBJECT
+public:
+    explicit BitcoinApplication(int &argc, char **argv);
+    ~BitcoinApplication();
+
+    /// Create payment server
+    void createPaymentServer();
+    /// Create options model
+    void createOptionsModel();
+    /// Create main window
+    void createWindow(bool isaTestNet);
+
+    /// Request core initialization
+    void requestInitialize();
+    /// Request core shutdown
+    void requestShutdown();
+
+    /// Get process return value
+    int getReturnValue() { return returnValue; }
+
+public slots:
+    void initializeResult(int retval);
+    void shutdownResult(int retval);
+    /// Handle runaway exceptions. Shows a message box with the problem and quits the program.
+    void handleRunawayException(const QString &message);
+
+signals:
+    void requestedInitialize();
+    void requestedShutdown();
+    void stopThread();
+
+private:
+    QThread *coreThread;
+    PaymentServer* paymentServer;
+    OptionsModel *optionsModel;
+    ClientModel *clientModel;
+    BitcoinGUI *window;
+    WalletModel *walletModel;
+    int returnValue;
+
+    void startThread();
+};
+
+#include "bitcoin.moc"
+
+BitcoinCore::BitcoinCore():
+    QObject()
+{
+}
+
+void BitcoinCore::handleRunawayException(std::exception *e)
+{
+    PrintExceptionContinue(e, "Runaway exception");
+    emit runawayException(QString::fromStdString(strMiscWarning));
+}
+
+void BitcoinCore::initialize()
+{
+    try
+    {
+        LogPrintf("Running AppInit2 in thread\n");
+        int rv = AppInit2(threadGroup);
+        emit initializeResult(rv);
+    } catch (std::exception& e) {
+        handleRunawayException(&e);
+    } catch (...) {
+        handleRunawayException(NULL);
+    }
+}
+
+void BitcoinCore::shutdown()
+{
+    try
+    {
+        LogPrintf("Running Shutdown in thread\n");
+        threadGroup.interrupt_all();
+        threadGroup.join_all();
+        Shutdown();
+        LogPrintf("Shutdown finished\n");
+        emit shutdownResult(1);
+    } catch (std::exception& e) {
+        handleRunawayException(&e);
+    } catch (...) {
+        handleRunawayException(NULL);
+    }
+}
+
+BitcoinApplication::BitcoinApplication(int &argc, char **argv):
+    QApplication(argc, argv),
+    coreThread(0),
+    paymentServer(0),
+    optionsModel(0),
+    clientModel(0),
+    window(0),
+    walletModel(0),
+    returnValue(0)
+{
+    setQuitOnLastWindowClosed(false);
+    startThread();
+}
+
+BitcoinApplication::~BitcoinApplication()
+{
+    LogPrintf("Stopping thread\n");
+    emit stopThread();
+    coreThread->wait();
+    LogPrintf("Stopped thread\n");
+}
+
+void BitcoinApplication::createPaymentServer()
+{
+    paymentServer = new PaymentServer(this);
+}
+
+void BitcoinApplication::createOptionsModel()
+{
+    optionsModel = new OptionsModel();
+}
+
+void BitcoinApplication::createWindow(bool isaTestNet)
+{
+    window = new BitcoinGUI(isaTestNet, 0);
+    guiref = window;
+
+    QTimer* pollShutdownTimer = new QTimer(window);
+    connect(pollShutdownTimer, SIGNAL(timeout()), window, SLOT(detectShutdown()));
+    pollShutdownTimer->start(200);
+}
+
+void BitcoinApplication::startThread()
+{
+    coreThread = new QThread(this);
+    BitcoinCore *executor = new BitcoinCore();
+    executor->moveToThread(coreThread);
+
+    /*  communication to and from thread */
+    connect(executor, SIGNAL(initializeResult(int)), this, SLOT(initializeResult(int)));
+    connect(executor, SIGNAL(shutdownResult(int)), this, SLOT(shutdownResult(int)));
+    connect(executor, SIGNAL(runawayException(QString)), this, SLOT(handleRunawayException(QString)));
+    connect(this, SIGNAL(requestedInitialize()), executor, SLOT(initialize()));
+    connect(this, SIGNAL(requestedShutdown()), executor, SLOT(shutdown()));
+    /*  make sure executor object is deleted in its own thread */
+    connect(this, SIGNAL(stopThread()), executor, SLOT(deleteLater()));
+    connect(this, SIGNAL(stopThread()), coreThread, SLOT(quit()));
+
+    coreThread->start();
+}
+
+void BitcoinApplication::requestInitialize()
+{
+    LogPrintf("Requesting initialize\n");
+    emit requestedInitialize();
+}
+
+void BitcoinApplication::requestShutdown()
+{
+    LogPrintf("Requesting shutdown\n");
+    window->hide();
+    window->setClientModel(0);
+    window->removeAllWallets();
+    guiref.clear();
+    delete walletModel;
+    emit requestedShutdown();
+}
+
+void BitcoinApplication::initializeResult(int retval)
+{
+    LogPrintf("Initialization result: %i\n", retval);
+    /// Set exit result: 0 if successful, 1 if failure
+    returnValue = retval ? 0 : 1;
+    if(retval)
+    {
+        optionsModel->Upgrade(); // Must be done after AppInit2
+
+        PaymentServer::LoadRootCAs();
+        paymentServer->setOptionsModel(optionsModel);
+
+        if (!splashref.isNull())
+            splashref.data()->finish(window);
+
+        clientModel = new ClientModel(optionsModel);
+        window->setClientModel(clientModel);
+
+        if(pwalletMain)
+        {
+            walletModel = new WalletModel(pwalletMain, optionsModel);
+
+            window->addWallet("~Default", walletModel);
+            window->setCurrentWallet("~Default");
+
+            connect(walletModel, SIGNAL(coinsSent(CWallet*,SendCoinsRecipient,QByteArray)),
+                             paymentServer, SLOT(fetchPaymentACK(CWallet*,const SendCoinsRecipient&,QByteArray)));
+        }
+
+        // If -min option passed, start window minimized.
+        if(GetBoolArg("-min", false))
+        {
+            window->showMinimized();
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            window->show();
+        }
+
+        // Now that initialization/startup is done, process any command-line
+        // bitcoin: URIs or payment requests:
+        connect(paymentServer, SIGNAL(receivedPaymentRequest(SendCoinsRecipient)),
+                         window, SLOT(handlePaymentRequest(SendCoinsRecipient)));
+        connect(window, SIGNAL(receivedURI(QString)),
+                         paymentServer, SLOT(handleURIOrFile(QString)));
+        connect(paymentServer, SIGNAL(message(QString,QString,unsigned int)),
+                         window, SLOT(message(QString,QString,unsigned int)));
+        QTimer::singleShot(100, paymentServer, SLOT(uiReady()));
+
+    } else {
+        quit(); // Exit main loop
+    }
+}
+
+void BitcoinApplication::shutdownResult(int retval)
+{
+    LogPrintf("Shutdown result: %i\n", retval);
+    quit(); // Exit main loop after shutdown finished
+}
+
+void BitcoinApplication::handleRunawayException(const QString &message)
+{
+    QMessageBox::critical(0, "Runaway exception", BitcoinGUI::tr("A fatal error occurred. Bitcoin can no longer continue safely and will quit.") + QString("\n\n") + message);
+    ::exit(1);
+}
+
 #ifndef BITCOIN_QT_TEST
 int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 {
@@ -189,7 +444,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 #endif
 
     Q_INIT_RESOURCE(bitcoin);
-    QApplication app(argc, argv);
+    BitcoinApplication app(argc, argv);
 #if QT_VERSION > 0x050100
     // Generate high-dpi pixmaps
     QApplication::setAttribute(Qt::AA_UseHighDpiPixmaps);
@@ -254,7 +509,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 
     // Start up the payment server early, too, so impatient users that click on
     // bitcoin: links repeatedly have their payment requests routed to this process:
-    PaymentServer* paymentServer = new PaymentServer(&app);
+    app.createPaymentServer();
 
     /// 8. Main GUI initialization
     // Install global event filter that makes sure that long tooltips can be word-wrapped
@@ -266,24 +521,29 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
     qInstallMessageHandler(DebugMessageHandler);
 #endif
     // Load GUI settings from QSettings
-    OptionsModel optionsModel;
+    app.createOptionsModel();
 
     // Subscribe to global signals from core
     uiInterface.ThreadSafeMessageBox.connect(ThreadSafeMessageBox);
     uiInterface.InitMessage.connect(InitMessage);
     uiInterface.Translate.connect(Translate);
 
-    // Show splash screen if appropriate
-    SplashScreen splash(QPixmap(), 0, isaTestNet);
-    if (GetBoolArg("-splash", true) && !GetBoolArg("-min", false))
+    // Show help message immediately after parsing command-line options (for "-lang") and setting locale,
+    // but before showing splash screen.
+    if (mapArgs.count("-?") || mapArgs.count("--help"))
     {
-        splash.show();
-        splash.setAutoFillBackground(true);
-        splashref = &splash;
+        GUIUtil::HelpMessageBox help;
+        help.showOrPrint();
+        return 1;
     }
 
-    app.processEvents();
-    app.setQuitOnLastWindowClosed(false);
+    if (GetBoolArg("-splash", true) && !GetBoolArg("-min", false))
+    {
+        SplashScreen *splash = new SplashScreen(QPixmap(), 0, isaTestNet);
+        splash->setAttribute(Qt::WA_DeleteOnClose);
+        splash->show();
+        splashref = splash;
+    }
 
     try
     {
@@ -293,93 +553,18 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
         if (GUIUtil::GetStartOnSystemStartup())
             GUIUtil::SetStartOnSystemStartup(true);
 #endif
-
-        boost::thread_group threadGroup;
-
-        BitcoinGUI window(isaTestNet, 0);
-        guiref = &window;
-
-        QTimer* pollShutdownTimer = new QTimer(guiref);
-        QObject::connect(pollShutdownTimer, SIGNAL(timeout()), guiref, SLOT(detectShutdown()));
-        pollShutdownTimer->start(200);
-
-        if(AppInit2(threadGroup))
-        {
-            {
-                // Put this in a block, so that the Model objects are cleaned up before
-                // calling Shutdown().
-
-                optionsModel.Upgrade(); // Must be done after AppInit2
-
-                PaymentServer::LoadRootCAs();
-                paymentServer->setOptionsModel(&optionsModel);
-
-                if (splashref)
-                    splash.finish(&window);
-
-                ClientModel clientModel(&optionsModel);
-                window.setClientModel(&clientModel);
-
-                WalletModel *walletModel = 0;
-                if(pwalletMain)
-                    walletModel = new WalletModel(pwalletMain, &optionsModel);
-
-                if(walletModel)
-                {
-                    window.addWallet("~Default", walletModel);
-                    window.setCurrentWallet("~Default");
-                }
-
-                // If -min option passed, start window minimized.
-                if(GetBoolArg("-min", false))
-                {
-                    window.showMinimized();
-                }
-                else
-                {
-                    window.show();
-                }
-
-                // Now that initialization/startup is done, process any command-line
-                // bitcoin: URIs or payment requests:
-                QObject::connect(paymentServer, SIGNAL(receivedPaymentRequest(SendCoinsRecipient)),
-                                 &window, SLOT(handlePaymentRequest(SendCoinsRecipient)));
-                QObject::connect(&window, SIGNAL(receivedURI(QString)),
-                                 paymentServer, SLOT(handleURIOrFile(QString)));
-                if(walletModel)
-                {
-                    QObject::connect(walletModel, SIGNAL(coinsSent(CWallet*,SendCoinsRecipient,QByteArray)),
-                                     paymentServer, SLOT(fetchPaymentACK(CWallet*,const SendCoinsRecipient&,QByteArray)));
-                }
-                QObject::connect(paymentServer, SIGNAL(message(QString,QString,unsigned int)),
-                                 guiref, SLOT(message(QString,QString,unsigned int)));
-                QTimer::singleShot(100, paymentServer, SLOT(uiReady()));
-
-                app.exec();
-
-                window.hide();
-                window.setClientModel(0);
-                window.removeAllWallets();
-                guiref = 0;
-                delete walletModel;
-            }
-            // Shutdown the core and its threads, but don't exit the GUI here
-            threadGroup.interrupt_all();
-            threadGroup.join_all();
-            Shutdown();
-        }
-        else
-        {
-            threadGroup.interrupt_all();
-            threadGroup.join_all();
-            Shutdown();
-            return 1;
-        }
+        app.createWindow(isaTestNet);
+        app.requestInitialize();
+        app.exec();
+        app.requestShutdown();
+        app.exec();
     } catch (std::exception& e) {
-        handleRunawayException(&e);
+        PrintExceptionContinue(&e, "Runaway exception");
+        app.handleRunawayException(QString::fromStdString(strMiscWarning));
     } catch (...) {
-        handleRunawayException(NULL);
+        PrintExceptionContinue(NULL, "Runaway exception");
+        app.handleRunawayException(QString::fromStdString(strMiscWarning));
     }
-    return 0;
+    return app.getReturnValue();
 }
 #endif // BITCOIN_QT_TEST
diff --git a/src/qt/splashscreen.cpp b/src/qt/splashscreen.cpp
index 6fb834c045..0e998c6d7e 100644
--- a/src/qt/splashscreen.cpp
+++ b/src/qt/splashscreen.cpp
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@
 SplashScreen::SplashScreen(const QPixmap &pixmap, Qt::WindowFlags f, bool isTestNet) :
     QSplashScreen(pixmap, f)
 {
+    setAutoFillBackground(true);
+
     // set reference point, paddings
     int paddingRight            = 50;
     int paddingTop              = 50;