diff --git a/src/events.rs b/src/events.rs
index 0760b84..6e6f95c 100644
--- a/src/events.rs
+++ b/src/events.rs
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ use crate::spotify::PlayerEvent;
 
 pub enum Event {
     Player(PlayerEvent),
+    SessionDied,
 }
 
 pub type EventSender = Sender<Event>;
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index 0e5e491..c69e259 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -297,6 +297,7 @@ fn main() {
                         queue.next(false);
                     }
                 }
+                Event::SessionDied => spotify.start_worker(None),
             }
         }
     }
diff --git a/src/spotify.rs b/src/spotify.rs
index 9fc67af..3bad3b8 100644
--- a/src/spotify.rs
+++ b/src/spotify.rs
@@ -76,13 +76,16 @@ pub enum PlayerEvent {
 }
 
 pub struct Spotify {
+    events: EventManager,
+    credentials: Credentials,
+    cfg: config::Config,
     status: RwLock<PlayerEvent>,
     api: RwLock<SpotifyAPI>,
     elapsed: RwLock<Option<Duration>>,
     since: RwLock<Option<SystemTime>>,
     token_issued: RwLock<Option<SystemTime>>,
-    channel: mpsc::UnboundedSender<WorkerCommand>,
-    user: String,
+    channel: RwLock<Option<mpsc::UnboundedSender<WorkerCommand>>>,
+    user: Option<String>,
     pub volume: AtomicU16,
     pub repeat: queue::RepeatSetting,
     pub shuffle: bool,
@@ -140,6 +143,10 @@ impl futures::Future for Worker {
         loop {
             let mut progress = false;
 
+            if self.session.is_invalid() {
+                return Poll::Ready(Result::Err(()));
+            }
+
             if let Poll::Ready(Some(cmd)) = self.commands.as_mut().poll_next(cx) {
                 progress = true;
                 debug!("message received!");
@@ -221,7 +228,6 @@ impl futures::Future for Worker {
 
 impl Spotify {
     pub fn new(events: EventManager, credentials: Credentials, cfg: &config::Config) -> Spotify {
-        let (user_tx, user_rx) = oneshot::channel();
         let volume = match &cfg.saved_state {
             Some(state) => match state.volume {
                 Some(vol) => ((std::cmp::min(vol, 100) as f32) / 100.0 * 65535_f32).ceil() as u16,
@@ -248,35 +254,50 @@ impl Spotify {
             None => false,
         };
 
-        let (tx, rx) = mpsc::unbounded();
-        {
-            let cfg = cfg.clone();
-            thread::spawn(move || {
-                Self::worker(events, Box::pin(rx), cfg, credentials, user_tx, volume)
-            });
-        }
-
-        let user = futures::executor::block_on(user_rx);
-
-        let spotify = Spotify {
+        let mut spotify = Spotify {
+            events,
+            credentials,
+            cfg: cfg.clone(),
             status: RwLock::new(PlayerEvent::Stopped),
             api: RwLock::new(SpotifyAPI::default()),
             elapsed: RwLock::new(None),
             since: RwLock::new(None),
             token_issued: RwLock::new(None),
-            channel: tx,
-            user: user.expect("error retrieving userid from worker"),
+            channel: RwLock::new(None),
+            user: None,
             volume: AtomicU16::new(volume),
             repeat,
             shuffle,
         };
 
-        // acquire token for web api usage
-        spotify.refresh_token();
+        let (user_tx, user_rx) = oneshot::channel();
+        spotify.start_worker(Some(user_tx));
+        spotify.user = futures::executor::block_on(user_rx).ok();
         spotify.set_volume(volume);
+
         spotify
     }
 
+    pub fn start_worker(&self, user_tx: Option<oneshot::Sender<String>>) {
+        let (tx, rx) = mpsc::unbounded();
+        *self
+            .channel
+            .write()
+            .expect("can't writelock worker channel") = Some(tx);
+        {
+            let cfg = self.cfg.clone();
+            let events = self.events.clone();
+            let volume = self.volume();
+            let credentials = self.credentials.clone();
+            thread::spawn(move || {
+                Self::worker(events, Box::pin(rx), cfg, credentials, user_tx, volume)
+            });
+        }
+
+        // acquire token for web api usage
+        self.refresh_token();
+    }
+
     pub fn session_config() -> SessionConfig {
         let mut session_config = SessionConfig::default();
         match env::var("http_proxy") {
@@ -350,7 +371,7 @@ impl Spotify {
         commands: Pin<Box<mpsc::UnboundedReceiver<WorkerCommand>>>,
         cfg: config::Config,
         credentials: Credentials,
-        user_tx: oneshot::Sender<String>,
+        user_tx: Option<oneshot::Sender<String>>,
         volume: u16,
     ) {
         let player_config = PlayerConfig {
@@ -362,9 +383,7 @@ impl Spotify {
         let mut core = Core::new().unwrap();
 
         let session = Self::create_session(&mut core, &cfg, credentials);
-        user_tx
-            .send(session.username())
-            .expect("could not pass username back to Spotify::new");
+        user_tx.map(|tx| tx.send(session.username()));
 
         let create_mixer = librespot_playback::mixer::find(Some("softvol".to_owned()))
             .expect("could not create softvol mixer");
@@ -379,10 +398,12 @@ impl Spotify {
             move || (backend)(cfg.backend_device),
         );
 
-        let worker = Worker::new(events, commands, session, player, mixer);
+        let worker = Worker::new(events.clone(), commands, session, player, mixer);
         debug!("worker thread ready.");
-        core.run(futures::compat::Compat::new(worker)).unwrap();
-        debug!("worker thread finished.");
+        if core.run(futures::compat::Compat::new(worker)).is_err() {
+            error!("worker thread died, requesting restart");
+            events.send(Event::SessionDied)
+        }
     }
 
     pub fn get_current_status(&self) -> PlayerEvent {
@@ -445,6 +466,10 @@ impl Spotify {
 
         let (token_tx, token_rx) = oneshot::channel();
         self.channel
+            .read()
+            .expect("can't readlock worker channel")
+            .as_ref()
+            .expect("channel to worker is missing")
             .unbounded_send(WorkerCommand::RequestToken(token_tx))
             .unwrap();
         let token = futures::executor::block_on(token_rx).unwrap();
@@ -503,7 +528,12 @@ impl Spotify {
         position: Option<i32>,
     ) -> bool {
         self.api_with_retry(|api| {
-            api.user_playlist_add_tracks(&self.user, playlist_id, &tracks, position)
+            api.user_playlist_add_tracks(
+                self.user.as_ref().unwrap(),
+                playlist_id,
+                &tracks,
+                position,
+            )
         })
         .is_some()
     }
@@ -523,9 +553,9 @@ impl Spotify {
             None
         };
 
-        if let Some(()) =
-            self.api_with_retry(|api| api.user_playlist_replace_tracks(&self.user, id, &tracks))
-        {
+        if let Some(()) = self.api_with_retry(|api| {
+            api.user_playlist_replace_tracks(self.user.as_ref().unwrap(), id, &tracks)
+        }) {
             debug!("saved {} tracks to playlist {}", tracks.len(), id);
             while let Some(ref mut tracks) = remainder.clone() {
                 // grab the next set of 100 tracks
@@ -549,7 +579,7 @@ impl Spotify {
     }
 
     pub fn delete_playlist(&self, id: &str) -> bool {
-        self.api_with_retry(|api| api.user_playlist_unfollow(&self.user, id))
+        self.api_with_retry(|api| api.user_playlist_unfollow(self.user.as_ref().unwrap(), id))
             .is_some()
     }
 
@@ -560,7 +590,12 @@ impl Spotify {
         description: Option<String>,
     ) -> Option<String> {
         let result = self.api_with_retry(|api| {
-            api.user_playlist_create(&self.user, name, public, description.clone())
+            api.user_playlist_create(
+                self.user.as_ref().unwrap(),
+                name,
+                public,
+                description.clone(),
+            )
         });
         result.map(|r| r.id)
     }
@@ -606,9 +641,9 @@ impl Spotify {
         limit: u32,
         offset: u32,
     ) -> Option<Page<PlaylistTrack>> {
-        let user = self.user.clone();
+        let user = self.user.as_ref().unwrap();
         self.api_with_retry(|api| {
-            api.user_playlist_tracks(&user, playlist_id, None, limit, offset, None)
+            api.user_playlist_tracks(user, playlist_id, None, limit, offset, None)
         })
     }
 
@@ -688,6 +723,10 @@ impl Spotify {
     pub fn load(&self, track: &Track) {
         info!("loading track: {:?}", track);
         self.channel
+            .read()
+            .expect("can't readlock worker channel")
+            .as_ref()
+            .expect("channel to worker is missing")
             .unbounded_send(WorkerCommand::Load(Box::new(track.clone())))
             .unwrap();
     }
@@ -721,7 +760,13 @@ impl Spotify {
 
     pub fn play(&self) {
         info!("play()");
-        self.channel.unbounded_send(WorkerCommand::Play).unwrap();
+        self.channel
+            .read()
+            .expect("can't readlock worker channel")
+            .as_ref()
+            .expect("channel to worker is missing")
+            .unbounded_send(WorkerCommand::Play)
+            .unwrap();
     }
 
     pub fn toggleplayback(&self) {
@@ -738,12 +783,24 @@ impl Spotify {
 
     pub fn pause(&self) {
         info!("pause()");
-        self.channel.unbounded_send(WorkerCommand::Pause).unwrap();
+        self.channel
+            .read()
+            .expect("can't readlock worker channel")
+            .as_ref()
+            .expect("channel to worker is missing")
+            .unbounded_send(WorkerCommand::Pause)
+            .unwrap();
     }
 
     pub fn stop(&self) {
         info!("stop()");
-        self.channel.unbounded_send(WorkerCommand::Stop).unwrap();
+        self.channel
+            .read()
+            .expect("can't readlock worker channel")
+            .as_ref()
+            .expect("channel to worker is missing")
+            .unbounded_send(WorkerCommand::Stop)
+            .unwrap();
     }
 
     pub fn seek(&self, position_ms: u32) {
@@ -755,6 +812,10 @@ impl Spotify {
         });
 
         self.channel
+            .read()
+            .expect("can't readlock worker channel")
+            .as_ref()
+            .expect("channel to worker is missing")
             .unbounded_send(WorkerCommand::Seek(position_ms))
             .unwrap();
     }
@@ -790,6 +851,10 @@ impl Spotify {
         info!("setting volume to {}", volume);
         self.volume.store(volume, Ordering::Relaxed);
         self.channel
+            .read()
+            .expect("can't readlock worker channel")
+            .as_ref()
+            .expect("channel to worker is missing")
             .unbounded_send(WorkerCommand::SetVolume(Self::log_scale(volume)))
             .unwrap();
     }