diff --git a/src/Makefile.am b/src/Makefile.am
index dcb9568..f9aa525 100644
--- a/src/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/Makefile.am
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ noinst_HEADERS	 = \
 	log.h \
 	metadata.h \
 	playlist.h \
+	stream.h \
 	util.h \
 	xalloc.h
 libezstream_la_SOURCES = \
@@ -24,6 +25,7 @@ libezstream_la_SOURCES = \
 	log.c \
 	metadata.c \
 	playlist.c \
+	stream.c \
 	util.c \
 	xalloc.c
 libezstream_la_DEPENDENCIES = \
diff --git a/src/ezstream.c b/src/ezstream.c
index 1c5e47a..37cb715 100644
--- a/src/ezstream.c
+++ b/src/ezstream.c
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@
 #include "log.h"
 #include "metadata.h"
 #include "playlist.h"
+#include "stream.h"
 #include "util.h"
 #include "xalloc.h"
 
@@ -994,8 +995,7 @@ streamPlaylist(shout_t *shout)
 int
 ez_shutdown(int exitval)
 {
-	shout_shutdown();
-
+	stream_exit();
 	playlist_exit();
 	cfg_encoder_exit();
 	cfg_decoder_exit();
@@ -1017,6 +1017,7 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[])
 	struct sigaction act;
 	unsigned int	 i;
 #endif
+
 	ret = 1;
 	if (0 > cfg_init() ||
 	    0 > cmdline_parse(argc, argv, &ret) ||
@@ -1024,9 +1025,9 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[])
 	    0 > cfg_decoder_init() ||
 	    0 > cfg_encoder_init() ||
 	    0 > playlist_init() ||
-	    0 > cfg_reload())
+	    0 > cfg_reload() ||
+	    0 > stream_init())
 		return (ez_shutdown(ret));
-	shout_init();
 
 	if (0 > cfg_check(&errstr)) {
 		log_error("%s: %s", cfg_get_program_config_file(), errstr);
diff --git a/src/stream.c b/src/stream.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ff56d6b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/stream.c
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (c) 2015 Moritz Grimm <mgrimm@mrsserver.net>
+ *
+ * Permission to use, copy, modify, and distribute this software for any
+ * purpose with or without fee is hereby granted, provided that the above
+ * copyright notice and this permission notice appear in all copies.
+ *
+ * THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND THE AUTHOR DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES
+ * WITH REGARD TO THIS SOFTWARE INCLUDING ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF
+ * MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHOR BE LIABLE FOR
+ * ANY SPECIAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR ANY DAMAGES
+ * WHATSOEVER RESULTING FROM LOSS OF USE, DATA OR PROFITS, WHETHER IN AN
+ * ACTION OF CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE OR OTHER TORTIOUS ACTION, ARISING OUT OF
+ * OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.
+ */
+
+#ifdef HAVE_CONFIG_H
+# include "config.h"
+#endif /* HAVE_CONFIG_H */
+
+#include <shout/shout.h>
+
+#include "cfg.h"
+#include "stream.h"
+
+int
+stream_init(void)
+{
+	shout_init();
+	return (0);
+}
+
+void
+stream_exit(void)
+{
+	shout_shutdown();
+}
diff --git a/src/stream.h b/src/stream.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2cc1676
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/stream.h
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (c) 2015 Moritz Grimm <mgrimm@mrsserver.net>
+ *
+ * Permission to use, copy, modify, and distribute this software for any
+ * purpose with or without fee is hereby granted, provided that the above
+ * copyright notice and this permission notice appear in all copies.
+ *
+ * THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND THE AUTHOR DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES
+ * WITH REGARD TO THIS SOFTWARE INCLUDING ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF
+ * MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHOR BE LIABLE FOR
+ * ANY SPECIAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR ANY DAMAGES
+ * WHATSOEVER RESULTING FROM LOSS OF USE, DATA OR PROFITS, WHETHER IN AN
+ * ACTION OF CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE OR OTHER TORTIOUS ACTION, ARISING OUT OF
+ * OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.
+ */
+
+#ifndef __STREAM_H__
+#define __STREAM_H__
+
+int	stream_init(void);
+void	stream_exit(void);
+
+#endif /* __STREAM_H__ */
diff --git a/tests/Makefile.am b/tests/Makefile.am
index ffc2c15..3f04b4f 100644
--- a/tests/Makefile.am
+++ b/tests/Makefile.am
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ TESTS		 = \
 	check_cmdline \
 	check_log \
 	check_playlist \
+	check_stream \
 	check_xalloc
 check_PROGRAMS	 = $(TESTS)
 
@@ -34,6 +35,11 @@ check_playlist_SOURCES = \
 check_playlist_DEPENDENCIES = $(top_builddir)/src/libezstream.la
 check_playlist_LDADD = $(check_playlist_DEPENDENCIES) @CHECK_LIBS@
 
+check_stream_SOURCES = \
+	check_stream.c
+check_stream_DEPENDENCIES = $(top_builddir)/src/libezstream.la
+check_stream_LDADD = $(check_stream_DEPENDENCIES) @CHECK_LIBS@
+
 check_xalloc_SOURCES = \
 	check_xalloc.c
 check_xalloc_DEPENDENCIES = $(top_builddir)/src/libezstream.la
diff --git a/tests/check_stream.c b/tests/check_stream.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1e6000e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/check_stream.c
@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+#include <check.h>
+
+#include "stream.h"
+
+Suite * stream_suite(void);
+void	setup_checked(void);
+void	teardown_checked(void);
+
+START_TEST(test_stream)
+{
+}
+END_TEST
+
+Suite *
+stream_suite(void)
+{
+	Suite	*s;
+	TCase	*tc_stream;
+
+	s = suite_create("Stream");
+
+	tc_stream = tcase_create("Stream");
+	tcase_add_checked_fixture(tc_stream, setup_checked, teardown_checked);
+	tcase_add_test(tc_stream, test_stream);
+	suite_add_tcase(s, tc_stream);
+
+	return (s);
+}
+
+void
+setup_checked(void)
+{
+	if (0 < stream_init())
+		ck_abort_msg("setup_checked failed");
+}
+
+void
+teardown_checked(void)
+{
+	stream_exit();
+}
+
+int
+main(void)
+{
+	unsigned int	 num_failed;
+	Suite           *s;
+	SRunner         *sr;
+
+	s = stream_suite();
+	sr = srunner_create(s);
+
+	srunner_run_all(sr, CK_NORMAL);
+	num_failed = srunner_ntests_failed(sr);
+	srunner_free(sr);
+
+	if (num_failed)
+		return (1);
+	return (0);
+}