diff --git a/src/CMakeLists.txt b/src/CMakeLists.txt
index bdd42b2e3..5484302ed 100644
--- a/src/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@ set(CLEMENTINE-LANGUAGES
 
 # OSD and DBus.
 if(APPLE)
-  set(CLEMENTINE-SOURCES ${CLEMENTINE-SOURCES} osd_mac.mm)
+  set(CLEMENTINE-SOURCES ${CLEMENTINE-SOURCES} osd_mac.mm mac_startup.mm)
 else(APPLE)
   if(WIN32)
     set(CLEMENTINE-SOURCES ${CLEMENTINE-SOURCES} osd_win.cpp)
@@ -318,6 +318,7 @@ if (APPLE)
       ${GROWL}
       /System/Library/Frameworks/Carbon.framework
       /System/Library/Frameworks/Foundation.framework
+      /System/Library/Frameworks/AppKit.framework
   )
   include_directories(${GROWL}/Headers)
 endif (APPLE)
diff --git a/src/globalshortcuts/globalshortcuts.cpp b/src/globalshortcuts/globalshortcuts.cpp
index 7e41ba84f..839e282a9 100644
--- a/src/globalshortcuts/globalshortcuts.cpp
+++ b/src/globalshortcuts/globalshortcuts.cpp
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@
 #include "globalshortcuts.h"
 #include "qxtglobalshortcut.h"
 
+#include "mac_startup.h"
+
 #include <QtDebug>
 
 #ifdef QT_DBUS_LIB
@@ -34,6 +36,10 @@ GlobalShortcuts::GlobalShortcuts(QObject *parent)
 }
 
 void GlobalShortcuts::Init() {
+#ifdef Q_OS_DARWIN
+  mac::SetShortcutHandler(this);
+  return;
+#endif
   if (RegisterGnome()) return;
   if (RegisterQxt()) return;
 }
@@ -78,3 +84,10 @@ void GlobalShortcuts::GnomeMediaKeyPressed(const QString&, const QString& key) {
   if (key == "Next")     emit Next();
   if (key == "Previous") emit Previous();
 }
+
+void GlobalShortcuts::MacMediaKeyPressed(const QString& key) {
+  if (key == "Play")     emit PlayPause();
+  // Stop doesn't exist on a mac keyboard.
+  if (key == "Next")     emit Next();
+  if (key == "Previous") emit Previous();
+}
diff --git a/src/globalshortcuts/globalshortcuts.h b/src/globalshortcuts/globalshortcuts.h
index a3895dd72..e31fa0a12 100644
--- a/src/globalshortcuts/globalshortcuts.h
+++ b/src/globalshortcuts/globalshortcuts.h
@@ -29,6 +29,8 @@ public:
   static const char* kGsdPath;
   static const char* kGsdInterface;
 
+  void MacMediaKeyPressed(const QString& key);
+
 signals:
   void PlayPause();
   void Stop();
diff --git a/src/mac_startup.h b/src/mac_startup.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..561628b2f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/mac_startup.h
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+#ifndef MAC_STARTUP_H
+#define MAC_STARTUP_H
+
+class GlobalShortcuts;
+
+namespace mac {
+
+void MacMain();
+void SetShortcutHandler(GlobalShortcuts* handler);
+
+}  // namespace mac
+
+#endif
diff --git a/src/mac_startup.mm b/src/mac_startup.mm
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c9d778e09
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/mac_startup.mm
@@ -0,0 +1,87 @@
+#import <IOKit/hidsystem/ev_keymap.h>
+#import <AppKit/NSApplication.h>
+#import <AppKit/NSEvent.h>
+
+#include "globalshortcuts/globalshortcuts.h"
+#include "mac_startup.h"
+
+// Capture global media keys on Mac (Cocoa only!)
+// See: http://www.rogueamoeba.com/utm/2007/09/29/apple-keyboard-media-key-event-handling/
+
+@interface MacApplication :NSApplication {
+  GlobalShortcuts* handler_;
+}
+
+- (GlobalShortcuts*) handler;
+- (void) SetHandler: (GlobalShortcuts*)handler;
+
+-(void) mediaKeyEvent: (int)key state: (BOOL)state repeat: (BOOL)repeat;
+@end
+
+@implementation MacApplication
+
+- (id) init {
+  if ((self = [super init])) {
+    [self SetHandler:nil];
+  }
+  return self;
+}
+
+- (GlobalShortcuts*) handler {
+  return handler_;
+}
+
+- (void) SetHandler: (GlobalShortcuts*)handler {
+  handler_ = handler;
+}
+
+-(void) sendEvent: (NSEvent*)event {
+  if ([event type] == NSSystemDefined && [event subtype] == 8) {
+    int keycode = (([event data1] & 0xFFFF0000) >> 16);
+    int keyflags = ([event data1] & 0x0000FFFF);
+    int keystate = (((keyflags & 0xFF00) >> 8)) == 0xA;
+    int keyrepeat = (keyflags & 0x1);
+
+    [self mediaKeyEvent: keycode state: keystate repeat: keyrepeat];
+  }
+
+  [super sendEvent: event];
+}
+
+-(void) mediaKeyEvent: (int)key state: (BOOL)state repeat: (BOOL)repeat {
+  if (!handler_) {
+    return;
+  }
+  if (state == 0) {
+    switch (key) {
+      case NX_KEYTYPE_PLAY:
+        // Play pressed.
+        handler_->MacMediaKeyPressed("Play");
+        break;
+      case NX_KEYTYPE_FAST:
+        // Next pressed.
+        handler_->MacMediaKeyPressed("Next");
+        break;
+      case NX_KEYTYPE_REWIND:
+        handler_->MacMediaKeyPressed("Previous");
+        break;
+      default:
+        break;
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+@end
+
+namespace mac {
+
+void MacMain() {
+  // Creates and sets the magic global variable so QApplication will find it.
+  [MacApplication sharedApplication];
+}
+
+void SetShortcutHandler(GlobalShortcuts* handler) {
+  [NSApp SetHandler: handler];
+}
+
+}  // namespace mac
diff --git a/src/main.cpp b/src/main.cpp
index d92312557..c1c756027 100644
--- a/src/main.cpp
+++ b/src/main.cpp
@@ -43,6 +43,8 @@
 #  include "osd.h"
 #endif
 
+#include "mac_startup.h"
+
 // Load sqlite plugin on windows
 #ifdef WIN32
 # include <QtPlugin>
@@ -67,6 +69,12 @@ void LoadTranslation(const QString& prefix, const QString& path) {
 }
 
 int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
+#ifdef Q_OS_DARWIN
+  // Do Mac specific startup to get media keys working.
+  // This must go before QApplication initialisation.
+  mac::MacMain();
+#endif
+
   QCoreApplication::setApplicationName("Clementine");
   QCoreApplication::setApplicationVersion("0.2");
   QCoreApplication::setOrganizationName("Clementine");