diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index dae71c209..5baffd018 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -713,6 +713,7 @@ OUTPUT_API_SRC = \
 	src/output_state.c \
 	src/output_print.c \
 	src/output_command.c \
+	src/output_finish.c \
 	src/output_init.c
 
 OUTPUT_SRC = \
@@ -1133,7 +1134,7 @@ test_run_output_SOURCES = test/run_output.c \
 	src/fifo_buffer.c \
 	src/page.c \
 	src/socket_util.c \
-	src/output_init.c src/output_list.c \
+	src/output_init.c src/output_finish.c src/output_list.c \
 	$(ENCODER_SRC) \
 	src/mixer_api.c \
 	src/mixer_control.c \
diff --git a/src/output_control.c b/src/output_control.c
index 8efe08f05..22c63b822 100644
--- a/src/output_control.c
+++ b/src/output_control.c
@@ -312,23 +312,8 @@ void audio_output_finish(struct audio_output *ao)
 	if (ao->thread != NULL) {
 		ao_lock_command(ao, AO_COMMAND_KILL);
 		g_thread_join(ao->thread);
+		ao->thread = NULL;
 	}
 
-	if (ao->mixer != NULL)
-		mixer_free(ao->mixer);
-
-	ao_plugin_finish(ao->plugin, ao->data);
-
-	g_cond_free(ao->cond);
-	g_mutex_free(ao->mutex);
-
-	if (ao->replay_gain_filter != NULL)
-		filter_free(ao->replay_gain_filter);
-
-	if (ao->other_replay_gain_filter != NULL)
-		filter_free(ao->other_replay_gain_filter);
-
-	filter_free(ao->filter);
-
-	pcm_buffer_deinit(&ao->cross_fade_buffer);
+	audio_output_destruct(ao);
 }
diff --git a/src/output_finish.c b/src/output_finish.c
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ac7f7e0c2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/output_finish.c
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (C) 2003-2011 The Music Player Daemon Project
+ * http://www.musicpd.org
+ *
+ * This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+ * the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or
+ * (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along
+ * with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc.,
+ * 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301 USA.
+ */
+
+#include "config.h"
+#include "output_internal.h"
+#include "output_plugin.h"
+#include "mixer_control.h"
+#include "filter_plugin.h"
+
+#include <assert.h>
+
+void
+audio_output_destruct(struct audio_output *ao)
+{
+	assert(!ao->open);
+	assert(ao->fail_timer == NULL);
+	assert(ao->thread == NULL);
+
+	if (ao->mixer != NULL)
+		mixer_free(ao->mixer);
+
+	ao_plugin_finish(ao->plugin, ao->data);
+
+	g_cond_free(ao->cond);
+	g_mutex_free(ao->mutex);
+
+	if (ao->replay_gain_filter != NULL)
+		filter_free(ao->replay_gain_filter);
+
+	if (ao->other_replay_gain_filter != NULL)
+		filter_free(ao->other_replay_gain_filter);
+
+	filter_free(ao->filter);
+
+	pcm_buffer_deinit(&ao->cross_fade_buffer);
+}
diff --git a/src/output_internal.h b/src/output_internal.h
index 384b8791f..873ec8532 100644
--- a/src/output_internal.h
+++ b/src/output_internal.h
@@ -245,4 +245,7 @@ audio_output_command_is_finished(const struct audio_output *ao)
 	return ao->command == AO_COMMAND_NONE;
 }
 
+void
+audio_output_destruct(struct audio_output *ao);
+
 #endif
diff --git a/test/run_output.c b/test/run_output.c
index 59a14fae3..c1d7a8120 100644
--- a/test/run_output.c
+++ b/test/run_output.c
@@ -233,8 +233,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 
 	/* cleanup and exit */
 
-	ao_plugin_finish(ao.plugin, ao.data);
-	g_mutex_free(ao.mutex);
+	audio_output_destruct(&ao);
 
 	io_thread_deinit();