diff --git a/ssb-gtk/sbot.c b/ssb-gtk/sbot.c
index 4e96dd6..b77e10a 100644
--- a/ssb-gtk/sbot.c
+++ b/ssb-gtk/sbot.c
@@ -92,9 +92,16 @@ enum {
     SIGNAL_LAST
 };
 
-static guint ssb_scuttler_signals[SIGNAL_LAST] = {0
+enum {
+    PROP_0,
+    PROP_INITIALISED,
+    PROP_CONNECTED,
+    PROP_COUNT
 };
 
+static guint ssb_scuttler_signals[SIGNAL_LAST] = {0};
+static GParamSpec *ssb_scuttler_properties[PROP_COUNT];
+
 GMainLoop *scuttle_loop = NULL;
 SsbScuttler *singleton = NULL;
 
@@ -232,7 +239,7 @@ emit_initialised(SsbScuttler *scuttler, gboolean success)
 }
 
 static void
-initialise(SsbScuttler *scuttler, gchar *ssb_dir)
+initialise(SsbScuttler *scuttler, const gchar *ssb_dir)
 {
     gchar *config_data = NULL;
     GError *err = NULL;
@@ -319,13 +326,13 @@ initialise(SsbScuttler *scuttler, gchar *ssb_dir)
 }
 
 /**
- * ensure_scuttler():
+ * ssb_scuttler_ensure():
  * @ssb_dir: (nullable): the SSB directory
  *
  * Ensure the scuttler singleton is initialised with @ssb_dir as its base directory.
  */
-static inline gboolean
-ensure_scuttler(gchar *ssb_dir)
+gboolean
+ssb_scuttler_ensure(const gchar *ssb_dir)
 {
     if (singleton != NULL) {
         if ((ssb_dir != NULL) && g_strcmp0(ssb_dir, singleton->ssb_dir)) {
@@ -344,14 +351,6 @@ ensure_scuttler(gchar *ssb_dir)
     return TRUE;
 }
 
-static gboolean
-second_hook_cb()
-{
-    g_print("Scuttling…\n");
-
-    return TRUE;
-}
-
 // was: write_all
 static gboolean
 ssb_scuttler_send_plain(SsbScuttler *scuttler, gpointer data, gsize data_len, GError **error)
@@ -597,6 +596,8 @@ ssb_scuttler_shs_connect(SsbScuttler *scuttler, GError **error)
     scuttler->noauth = FALSE;
     scuttler->wrote_goodbye = FALSE;
 
+    g_debug("SHS succeeded");
+
     return TRUE;
 }
 
@@ -606,14 +607,62 @@ emit_connected(SsbScuttler *scuttler, gboolean success)
     g_signal_emit(scuttler, ssb_scuttler_signals[SIGNAL_CONNECTED], 0, success);
 }
 
-// extracted from main
-static gboolean
-ssb_scuttler_connect(SsbScuttler *scuttler, GError **error)
+static void
+connection_finished(GObject *source, GAsyncResult *result, gpointer user_data)
 {
+    GSocketClient *socket_client = G_SOCKET_CLIENT(source);
+    GTask *task = user_data;
+    SsbScuttler *scuttler = g_task_get_task_data(task);
+    GError *err = NULL;
+    GSocketConnection *connection = g_socket_client_connect_finish(socket_client, result, &err);
+
+    if (connection == NULL) {
+        g_task_return_error(task, err);
+        g_object_unref(task);
+
+        return;
+    }
+
+    g_clear_object(&(scuttler->connection));
+    scuttler->connection = connection;
+
+    // TODO: This is only required if noauth is not set
+    if (!ssb_scuttler_shs_connect(scuttler, &err)) {
+        g_task_return_error(task, err);
+        g_object_unref(task);
+
+        return;
+    }
+
+    g_task_return_boolean(task, TRUE);
+    emit_connected(scuttler, TRUE);
+    g_object_unref(task);
+}
+
+void
+ssb_scuttler_connect_async(SsbScuttler *scuttler,
+                           GCancellable *cancellable,
+                           GAsyncReadyCallback callback,
+                           gpointer user_data)
+{
+    GTask *task;
     GInetAddress *address;
     GSocketAddress *destination;
-    GError *err = NULL;
 
+    g_return_if_fail(SSB_IS_SCUTTLER(scuttler));
+    g_return_if_fail((cancellable == NULL) || G_IS_CANCELLABLE(cancellable));
+
+    task = g_task_new(scuttler, cancellable, callback, user_data);
+
+    // TODO: Maybe there should be a better condition here…
+    if (scuttler->connection) {
+        g_task_return_boolean(task, TRUE);
+        g_object_unref(task);
+
+        return;
+    }
+
+    g_clear_object(&(scuttler->socket_client));
     scuttler->socket_client = g_socket_client_new();
 
     // TODO: Implement the UNIX socket version, too!  Also, read this stuff from the
@@ -622,20 +671,19 @@ ssb_scuttler_connect(SsbScuttler *scuttler, GError **error)
     destination = g_inet_socket_address_new(address, 8008);
     g_object_unref(address);
 
-    scuttler->connection = g_socket_client_connect(scuttler->socket_client,
-                                                   G_SOCKET_CONNECTABLE(destination),
-                                                   NULL,
-                                                   &err);
+    g_task_set_task_data(task, g_object_ref(scuttler), (GDestroyNotify)g_object_unref);
+
+    g_socket_client_connect_async(scuttler->socket_client, G_SOCKET_CONNECTABLE(destination), cancellable, connection_finished, task);
     g_object_unref(destination);
+}
 
-    // TODO: This is only required if noauth is not set
-    if (!ssb_scuttler_shs_connect(scuttler, &err)) {
-        g_propagate_error(error, err);
+gboolean
+ssb_scuttler_connect_finish(SsbScuttler *scuttler, GAsyncResult *result, GError **error)
+{
+    g_return_val_if_fail(SSB_IS_SCUTTLER(scuttler), FALSE);
+    g_return_val_if_fail(g_task_is_valid(result, scuttler), FALSE);
 
-        return FALSE;
-    }
-
-    return TRUE;
+    return g_task_propagate_boolean(G_TASK(result), error);
 }
 
 static void
@@ -747,7 +795,22 @@ ssb_scuttler_send_packet(SsbScuttler *scuttler,
 }
 
 // was: muxrpc_call
-static void
+/**
+ * ssb_scuttler_muxrpc_call:
+ * @scuttler: an #SsbScuttler instance
+ * @method: the name of the RPC method to call
+ * @argument: the argument for the method
+ * @type: the type of the RPC call
+ * @typestr: TODO
+ * @req_id: the request ID to use in the RPC call
+ * @error: (nullable): placeholder for a #GError, or %NULL
+ *
+ * Start an RPC call to SBOT.
+ *
+ * This is a low-level call and unless a specific RPC method is not exposed via other #SsbScuttler
+ * method, it should not be called explicitly.
+ */
+void
 ssb_scuttler_muxrpc_call(SsbScuttler *scuttler,
                          const gchar *method,
                          const gchar *argument,
@@ -821,6 +884,12 @@ ssb_scuttler_class_init(SsbScuttlerClass *klass)
 {
     GObjectClass *gobject_class = G_OBJECT_CLASS(klass);
 
+    if (sodium_init() < 0) {
+        g_critical("Can not initialise sodium");
+
+        return;
+    }
+
     gobject_class->dispose = ssb_scuttler_dispose;
     gobject_class->finalize = ssb_scuttler_finalize;
 
@@ -851,6 +920,23 @@ ssb_scuttler_class_init(SsbScuttlerClass *klass)
         0, NULL, NULL,
         g_cclosure_marshal_VOID__BOOLEAN, G_TYPE_NONE, 1,
         G_TYPE_BOOLEAN);
+
+    /**
+     * SsbScuttler:initialised:
+     *
+     * If %TRUE, the scuttler is connected
+     */
+    ssb_scuttler_properties[PROP_INITIALISED] = g_param_spec_boolean(
+        "initialised", "initialised", "initialised",
+        FALSE,
+        G_PARAM_STATIC_STRINGS | G_PARAM_READABLE);
+
+    ssb_scuttler_properties[PROP_CONNECTED] = g_param_spec_boolean(
+        "connected", "connected", "connected",
+        FALSE,
+        G_PARAM_STATIC_STRINGS | G_PARAM_READABLE);
+
+    g_object_class_install_properties(gobject_class, PROP_COUNT, ssb_scuttler_properties);
 }
 
 static void
@@ -865,68 +951,12 @@ ssb_scuttler_init(SsbScuttler *scuttler)
     scuttler->encrypt_key = NULL;
 }
 
-gpointer
-scuttle(gchar *ssb_dir)
+SsbScuttler *
+ssb_scuttler_get(void)
 {
-    GMainContext *scuttle_context;
-    GSource *second_hook;
-    GError *err = NULL;
-
-    if (sodium_init() < 0) {
-        g_critical("Can not initialise sodium");
-
+    if (singleton == NULL) {
         return NULL;
     }
 
-    // Since scuttler is a singleton global to this file, we don’t need the return value of this
-    // function now.
-    if (G_UNLIKELY(!ensure_scuttler(ssb_dir))) {
-        g_critical("Can not reinitialise scuttler with a new SSB directory.");
-
-        return NULL;
-    }
-
-    g_object_ref_sink(singleton);
-
-    scuttle_context = g_main_context_new();
-    scuttle_loop = g_main_loop_new(scuttle_context, FALSE);
-
-    // TODO: This is for debugging purposes only, let’s remove it as soon as the scuttler works
-    second_hook = g_timeout_source_new_seconds(1);
-    g_source_set_callback(second_hook,
-                          G_SOURCE_FUNC(second_hook_cb),
-                          g_main_loop_ref(scuttle_loop),
-                          (GDestroyNotify)g_main_loop_unref);
-    g_source_attach(second_hook, scuttle_context);
-
-    // Set scuttle_context as the default context for this thread
-    g_main_context_push_thread_default(scuttle_context);
-
-    if (!ssb_scuttler_connect(singleton, &err))
-    {
-        g_critical("Could not connect: %s", err->message);
-
-        return NULL;
-    }
-
-    g_debug("Starting scuttle");
-
-    g_main_loop_run(scuttle_loop);
-    g_main_context_pop_thread_default(scuttle_context);
-    g_main_loop_unref(scuttle_loop);
-    g_object_unref(singleton);
-
-    g_debug("Scuttling stopped");
-
-    scuttle_loop = NULL;
-
-    return NULL;
-}
-
-void
-stop_scuttling(void)
-{
-    if (scuttle_loop) {
-        g_main_loop_quit(scuttle_loop);
-    }
+    return g_object_ref(singleton);
 }
diff --git a/ssb-gtk/sbot.h b/ssb-gtk/sbot.h
index b333199..4fa8230 100644
--- a/ssb-gtk/sbot.h
+++ b/ssb-gtk/sbot.h
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 # define __SBOT_H__
 
 # include <glib-object.h>
+# include <gio/gio.h>
 
 # define SSB_TYPE_SCUTTLER ssb_scuttler_get_type()
 G_DECLARE_FINAL_TYPE(SsbScuttler, ssb_scuttler, SSB, SCUTTLER, GInitiallyUnowned)
@@ -22,6 +23,15 @@ void stop_scuttling(void);
 
 # define SSB_SCUTTLER_ERROR (ssb_scuttler_error_quark())
 GQuark ssb_scuttler_error_quark(void);
+gboolean ssb_scuttler_ensure(const gchar *ssb_dir);
+SsbScuttler *ssb_scuttler_get(void);
+void ssb_scuttler_connect_async(SsbScuttler *scuttler,
+                                GCancellable *cancellable,
+                                GAsyncReadyCallback callback,
+                                gpointer user_data);
+gboolean ssb_scuttler_connect_finish(SsbScuttler *scuttler,
+                                     GAsyncResult *result,
+                                     GError **error);
 
 G_END_DECLS
 
diff --git a/ssb-gtk/ssb-app.c b/ssb-gtk/ssb-app.c
index 1663e8d..a13e746 100644
--- a/ssb-gtk/ssb-app.c
+++ b/ssb-gtk/ssb-app.c
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ struct _SsbApp {
 
     gchar *ssb_dir;
     SsbWindow *window;
-    GThread *scuttle_thread;
+    SsbScuttler *scuttler;
 };
 
 G_DEFINE_TYPE(SsbApp, ssb_app, GTK_TYPE_APPLICATION);
@@ -78,19 +78,42 @@ ssb_app_dispose(GObject *gobject)
     SsbApp *app = SSB_APP(gobject);
 
     g_clear_object(&(app->window));
+    g_clear_object(&(app->scuttler));
+
     G_OBJECT_CLASS(ssb_app_parent_class)->dispose(gobject);
 }
 
+void
+connect_finished(GObject *source, GAsyncResult *res, gpointer user_data)
+{
+    SsbScuttler *scuttler = SSB_SCUTTLER(source);
+    SsbApp *app = user_data;
+    GError *err = NULL;
+    gboolean connect_successful = ssb_scuttler_connect_finish(scuttler, res, &err);
+}
+
 static void
 ssb_app_startup(GApplication *gapp)
 {
     SsbApp *app = SSB_APP(gapp);
+    SsbScuttler *scuttler = NULL;
 
     G_APPLICATION_CLASS(ssb_app_parent_class)->startup(gapp);
 
-    if (app->scuttle_thread == NULL) {
-        app->scuttle_thread = g_thread_new("scuttler", (GThreadFunc)scuttle, app->ssb_dir);
+    if (G_UNLIKELY(!ssb_scuttler_ensure(app->ssb_dir))) {
+        g_critical("Can not reinitialise scuttler with a new SSB directory.");
+
+        return;
     }
+
+    // Wait until the scuttler instance comes up
+    if ((scuttler = ssb_scuttler_get()) == NULL) {
+        g_critical("Can not get scuttler object");
+    }
+
+    app->scuttler = g_object_ref_sink(ssb_scuttler_get());
+
+    ssb_scuttler_connect_async(app->scuttler, NULL, connect_finished, app);
 }
 
 static SsbWindow *
@@ -113,12 +136,6 @@ ssb_app_activate(GApplication *app)
 static void
 ssb_app_shutdown(GApplication *gapp)
 {
-    SsbApp *app = SSB_APP(gapp);
-
-    stop_scuttling();
-
-    (void)g_thread_join(app->scuttle_thread);
-
     G_APPLICATION_CLASS(ssb_app_parent_class)->shutdown(gapp);
 }
 
@@ -130,7 +147,7 @@ ssb_app_init(SsbApp *app)
 
     app->ssb_dir = NULL;
     app->window = NULL;
-    app->scuttle_thread = NULL;
+    app->scuttler = NULL;
 
     if (app_dir_path != NULL) {
         app->ssb_dir = g_strdup(app_dir_path);