diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index 81153954..9c0410fc 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ fn main() {
     main_helper::add_session_arguments(&mut opts);
     main_helper::add_authentication_arguments(&mut opts);
     main_helper::add_player_arguments(&mut opts);
+    main_helper::add_program_arguments(&mut opts);
 
     let args: Vec<String> = std::env::args().collect();
 
diff --git a/src/main_helper.rs b/src/main_helper.rs
index 99119891..628a6ac6 100644
--- a/src/main_helper.rs
+++ b/src/main_helper.rs
@@ -54,6 +54,11 @@ pub fn add_player_arguments(opts: &mut getopts::Options) {
     opts.optopt("", "device", "Audio device to use. Use '?' to list options", "DEVICE");
 }
 
+pub fn add_program_arguments(opts: &mut getopts::Options) {
+    opts.optopt("", "onstart", "Run PROGRAM when playback is about to begin.", "PROGRAM");
+    opts.optopt("", "onstop", "Run PROGRAM when playback has ended.", "PROGRAM");
+}
+
 pub fn create_session(matches: &getopts::Matches) -> Session {
     info!("librespot {} ({}). Built on {}.",
              version::short_sha(),
@@ -77,10 +82,15 @@ pub fn create_session(matches: &getopts::Matches) -> Session {
         Box::new(DefaultCache::new(PathBuf::from(cache_location)).unwrap()) as Box<Cache + Send + Sync>
     }).unwrap_or_else(|| Box::new(NoCache) as Box<Cache + Send + Sync>);
 
+    let onstart = matches.opt_str("onstart");
+    let onstop = matches.opt_str("onstop");
+
     let config = Config {
         user_agent: version::version_string(),
         device_name: name,
         bitrate: bitrate,
+        onstart: onstart,
+        onstop: onstop,
     };
 
     Session::new(config, cache)
diff --git a/src/player.rs b/src/player.rs
index 383e1b57..7648fd7c 100644
--- a/src/player.rs
+++ b/src/player.rs
@@ -212,6 +212,20 @@ fn load_track(session: &Session, track_id: SpotifyId) -> Option<vorbis::Decoder<
     Some(decoder)
 }
 
+fn run_onstart(session: &Session) {
+    match session.config().onstart {
+        Some(ref program) => util::run_program(program),
+        None => {},
+    };
+}
+
+fn run_onstop(session: &Session) {
+    match session.config().onstop {
+        Some(ref program) => util::run_program(program),
+        None => {},
+    };
+}
+
 impl PlayerInternal {
     fn run(self, mut sink: Box<Sink>) {
         let mut decoder = None;
@@ -229,6 +243,7 @@ impl PlayerInternal {
                     self.update(|state| {
                         if state.status == PlayStatus::kPlayStatusPlay {
                             sink.stop().unwrap();
+                            run_onstop(&self.session);
                         }
                         state.end_of_track = false;
                         state.status = PlayStatus::kPlayStatusPause;
@@ -245,6 +260,7 @@ impl PlayerInternal {
 
                             self.update(|state| {
                                 state.status = if play {
+                                    run_onstart(&self.session);
                                     sink.start().unwrap();
                                     PlayStatus::kPlayStatusPlay
                                 } else {
@@ -301,6 +317,7 @@ impl PlayerInternal {
                         true
                     });
 
+                    run_onstart(&self.session);
                     sink.start().unwrap();
                 }
                 Some(PlayerCommand::Pause) => {
@@ -313,6 +330,7 @@ impl PlayerInternal {
                     });
 
                     sink.stop().unwrap();
+                    run_onstop(&self.session);
                 }
                 Some(PlayerCommand::Volume(vol)) => {
                     self.update(|state| {
@@ -331,6 +349,7 @@ impl PlayerInternal {
                     });
 
                     sink.stop().unwrap();
+                    run_onstop(&self.session);
                     decoder = None;
                 }
                 None => (),
@@ -362,6 +381,7 @@ impl PlayerInternal {
                         });
 
                         sink.stop().unwrap();
+                        run_onstop(&self.session);
                         decoder = None;
                     }
                 }
diff --git a/src/session.rs b/src/session.rs
index ac46cd00..097df7e8 100644
--- a/src/session.rs
+++ b/src/session.rs
@@ -39,6 +39,8 @@ pub struct Config {
     pub user_agent: String,
     pub device_name: String,
     pub bitrate: Bitrate,
+    pub onstart: Option<String>,
+    pub onstop: Option<String>,
 }
 
 pub struct SessionData {
diff --git a/src/util/mod.rs b/src/util/mod.rs
index 933e481e..0683f6a0 100644
--- a/src/util/mod.rs
+++ b/src/util/mod.rs
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ use std::io;
 use std::ops::{Mul, Rem, Shr};
 use std::fs;
 use std::path::Path;
+use std::process::Command;
 use std::time::{UNIX_EPOCH, SystemTime};
 
 mod int128;
@@ -51,6 +52,16 @@ pub fn mkdir_existing(path: &Path) -> io::Result<()> {
     })
 }
 
+pub fn run_program(program: &String) {
+    info!("Running {}", program);
+    let mut v: Vec<&str> = program.split_whitespace().collect();
+    let status = Command::new(&v.remove(0))
+            .args(&v)
+            .status()
+            .expect("program failed to start");
+    info!("Exit status: {}", status);
+}
+
 pub fn powm(base: &BigUint, exp: &BigUint, modulus: &BigUint) -> BigUint {
     let mut base = base.clone();
     let mut exp = exp.clone();