diff --git a/qutebrowser/app.py b/qutebrowser/app.py
index 065596283..c03dd5fef 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/app.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/app.py
@@ -21,11 +21,9 @@
 
 import os
 import sys
-import json
 import subprocess
 import faulthandler
 import configparser
-import getpass
 import signal
 import warnings
 import bdb
@@ -36,7 +34,6 @@ import traceback
 from PyQt5.QtWidgets import QApplication, QDialog
 from PyQt5.QtCore import (pyqtSlot, qInstallMessageHandler, QTimer, QUrl,
                           QStandardPaths, QObject)
-from PyQt5.QtNetwork import QLocalSocket, QLocalServer
 
 import qutebrowser
 from qutebrowser.commands import cmdutils, runners
@@ -46,7 +43,8 @@ from qutebrowser.browser import quickmarks, cookies, downloads, cache
 from qutebrowser.widgets import mainwindow, crash
 from qutebrowser.keyinput import modeman
 from qutebrowser.utils import (log, version, message, readline, utils, qtutils,
-                               urlutils, debug, objreg, usertypes, standarddir)
+                               urlutils, debug, objreg, usertypes, standarddir,
+                               ipc)
 # We import utilcmds to run the cmdutils.register decorators.
 from qutebrowser.utils import utilcmds  # pylint: disable=unused-import
 
@@ -105,29 +103,10 @@ class Application(QApplication):
             print(version.GPL_BOILERPLATE.strip())
             sys.exit(0)
 
-        socketname = 'qutebrowser-{}'.format(getpass.getuser())
-
-        self.socket = QLocalSocket(self)
-        self.socket.connectToServer(socketname)
-        is_running = self.socket.waitForConnected(100)
-        if is_running:
-            log.init.info("Opening in existing instance")
-            line = json.dumps(self._args.command) + '\n'
-            self.socket.writeData(line.encode('utf-8'))
+        sent = ipc.send_to_running_instance(self._args.command)
+        if sent:
             sys.exit(0)
 
-        self.server = QLocalServer()
-        ok = QLocalServer.removeServer(socketname)
-        if not ok:
-            # FIXME
-            raise Exception
-        ok = self.server.listen(socketname)
-        if not ok:
-            # FIXME
-            raise Exception("Error while listening to local socket: {}".format(
-                self.server.errorString()))
-        self.server.newConnection.connect(self.on_localsocket_connection)
-
         log.init.debug("Starting init...")
         self.setQuitOnLastWindowClosed(False)
         self.setOrganizationName("qutebrowser")
@@ -155,16 +134,6 @@ class Application(QApplication):
     def __repr__(self):
         return utils.get_repr(self)
 
-    def on_localsocket_connection(self):
-        socket = self.server.nextPendingConnection()
-        # FIXME timeout:
-        while not socket.canReadLine():
-            socket.waitForReadyRead()
-        data = bytes(socket.readLine())
-        args = json.loads(data.decode('utf-8'))
-        self._process_args(args)
-        socket.deleteLater()
-
     def _init_modules(self):
         """Initialize all 'modules' which need to be initialized."""
         log.init.debug("Initializing readline-bridge...")
@@ -254,11 +223,11 @@ class Application(QApplication):
 
     def _open_pages(self):
         """Open startpage etc. and process commandline args."""
-        self._process_args(self._args.command)
+        self.process_args(self._args.command)
         self._open_startpage()
         self._open_quickstart()
 
-    def _process_args(self, args):
+    def process_args(self, args):
         """Process commandline args.
 
         URLs to open have no prefix, commands to execute begin with a colon.
diff --git a/qutebrowser/utils/ipc.py b/qutebrowser/utils/ipc.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..5c0b262c8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/qutebrowser/utils/ipc.py
@@ -0,0 +1,83 @@
+# vim: ft=python fileencoding=utf-8 sts=4 sw=4 et:
+
+# Copyright 2014 Florian Bruhin (The Compiler) <mail@qutebrowser.org>
+#
+# This file is part of qutebrowser.
+#
+# qutebrowser is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+# it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+# the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+# (at your option) any later version.
+#
+# qutebrowser is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+# but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+# MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+# GNU General Public License for more details.
+#
+# You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+# along with qutebrowser.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+"""Utilities for IPC with existing instances."""
+
+import json
+import getpass
+
+from PyQt5.QtNetwork import QLocalSocket, QLocalServer
+
+from qutebrowser.utils import log, objreg
+
+
+SOCKETNAME = 'qutebrowser-{}'.format(getpass.getuser())
+CONNECT_TIMEOUT = 100
+
+server = None
+
+
+def send_to_running_instance(cmdlist):
+    """Try to send a commandline to a running instance.
+
+    Blocks for CONNECT_TIMEOUT ms.
+
+    Args:
+        cmdlist: A list to send (URLs/commands)
+
+    Return:
+        True if connecting was successful, False if no connection was made.
+    """
+    socket = QLocalSocket()
+    socket.connectToServer(SOCKETNAME)
+    connected = socket.waitForConnected(100)
+    if connected:
+        log.init.info("Opening in existing instance")
+        line = json.dumps(cmdlist) + '\n'
+        socket.writeData(line.encode('utf-8'))
+    else:
+        return False
+
+
+
+def init_server():
+    global server
+    server = QLocalServer()
+    ok = QLocalServer.removeServer(SOCKETNAME)
+    if not ok:
+        # FIXME
+        raise Exception
+    ok = server.listen(SOCKETNAME)
+    if not ok:
+        # FIXME
+        raise Exception("Error while listening to local socket: {}".format(
+            server.errorString()))
+    server.newConnection.connect(on_localsocket_connection)
+
+
+def on_localsocket_connection(self):
+    socket = self.server.nextPendingConnection()
+    # FIXME timeout:
+    while not socket.canReadLine():
+        socket.waitForReadyRead()
+    data = bytes(socket.readLine())
+    args = json.loads(data.decode('utf-8'))
+    app = objreg.get('app')
+    app.process_args(args)
+    socket.deleteLater()