diff --git a/libdc/CMakeLists.txt b/libdc/CMakeLists.txt
index 6601c79..180e1f5 100644
--- a/libdc/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/libdc/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -11,11 +11,13 @@ SET(SOURCES
   "include/dc/account.h"
   "include/dc/api.h"
   "include/dc/apisync.h"
+  "include/dc/loop.h"
   "include/dc/refable.h"
   "include/dc/util.h"
   "src/account.c"
   "src/api.c"
   "src/apisync.c"
+  "src/loop.c"
   "src/refable.c"
   "src/util.c"
   )
diff --git a/libdc/include/dc/loop.h b/libdc/include/dc/loop.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6588dc7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libdc/include/dc/loop.h
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+#ifndef DC_LOOP_H
+#define DC_LOOP_H
+
+#include <dc/api.h>
+
+#include <event.h>
+#include <curl/curl.h>
+
+#include <stdint.h>
+
+struct dc_loop_;
+typedef struct dc_loop_ *dc_loop_t;
+
+/**
+ * A simple CURLM <--> libevent2 loop and handler if you don't want
+ * to bother rolling your own.
+ */
+dc_loop_t dc_loop_new(void);
+
+/**
+ * If you already have either the CURL multi handle, or the event
+ * base handle, use this function. Either can be NULL. If both are
+ * NULL both are allocated for you.
+ */
+dc_loop_t dc_loop_new_full(struct event_base *base, CURLM *multi);
+
+/**
+ * Returns the CURL multi handle in use by this loop.
+ */
+CURLM *dc_loop_curl(dc_loop_t l);
+
+/**
+ * Returns the event base used by this loop.
+ */
+struct event_base *dc_loop_event_base(dc_loop_t l);
+
+/**
+ * Add an API handle that this loop should feed.
+ */
+void dc_loop_add_api(dc_loop_t loop, dc_api_t api);
+
+/**
+ * Loop once, and process one message in the queues of the event
+ * base, and one message from the queue of the CURL multi events.
+ */
+bool dc_loop_once(dc_loop_t l);
+
+#endif
diff --git a/libdc/src/loop.c b/libdc/src/loop.c
index ac4d5dc..cef5c6b 100644
--- a/libdc/src/loop.c
+++ b/libdc/src/loop.c
@@ -1,6 +1,223 @@
 #include <dc/loop.h>
+#include <dc/refable.h>
 
-struct nc_loop_
+#include "internal.h"
+
+struct dc_loop_
 {
-    nc_refable_t ref;
+    dc_refable_t ref;
+
+    struct event_base *base;
+    struct event *timer;
+    CURLM *multi;
+
+    bool base_owner;
+    bool multi_owner;
+
+    GPtrArray *apis;
 };
+
+static void dc_loop_free(dc_loop_t p)
+{
+    return_if_true(p == NULL,);
+
+    if (p->timer != NULL) {
+        evtimer_del(p->timer);
+        event_free(p->timer);
+        p->timer = NULL;
+    }
+
+    if (p->multi_owner && p->multi != NULL) {
+        curl_multi_cleanup(p->multi);
+        p->multi = NULL;
+    }
+
+    if (p->base_owner && p->base != NULL) {
+        event_base_free(p->base);
+        p->base = NULL;
+    }
+
+    if (p->apis != NULL) {
+        g_ptr_array_unref(p->apis);
+        p->apis = NULL;
+    }
+
+    free(p);
+}
+
+static void socket_handler(int sock, short what, void *data)
+{
+    int unused = 0;
+    dc_loop_t loop = (dc_loop_t)data;
+
+    if ((what & EV_READ) == EV_READ) {
+        curl_multi_socket_action(loop->multi, sock, CURL_CSELECT_IN, &unused);
+    } else if ((what & EV_WRITE) == EV_WRITE) {
+        curl_multi_socket_action(loop->multi, sock, CURL_CSELECT_OUT, &unused);
+    }
+}
+
+static int
+mcurl_handler(CURL *easy, curl_socket_t s, int what, void *userp, void *socketp)
+{
+    struct event *event = (struct event *)socketp;
+    dc_loop_t loop = (dc_loop_t)userp;
+
+    if (what == CURL_POLL_REMOVE) {
+        if (event != NULL) {
+            event_del(event);
+            event_free(event);
+            curl_multi_assign(loop->multi, s, NULL);
+        }
+    } else {
+        int stat =
+            ((what & CURL_POLL_IN) ? EV_READ : 0) |
+            ((what & CURL_POLL_OUT) ? EV_WRITE : 0) |
+            EV_PERSIST
+            ;
+
+        if (event == NULL) {
+            event = event_new(loop->base, s, stat, socket_handler, loop);
+            if (event == NULL) {
+                return 0;
+            }
+            curl_multi_assign(loop->multi, s, event);
+        } else {
+            event_del(event);
+            event_assign(event, loop->base, s, stat, socket_handler,loop);
+            event_add(event, NULL);
+        }
+    }
+
+    return 0;
+}
+
+static void timer_handler(int sock, short what, void *data)
+{
+    int running = 0;
+    dc_loop_t loop = (dc_loop_t)data;
+    curl_multi_socket_action(loop->multi, CURL_SOCKET_TIMEOUT, 0, &running);
+}
+
+static int mcurl_timer(CURLM *curl, long timeout, void *ptr)
+{
+    int running = 0;
+    struct timeval tm;
+    dc_loop_t loop = (dc_loop_t)ptr;
+
+    if (timeout == -1) {
+        evtimer_del(loop->timer);
+    } else if (timeout == 0) {
+        curl_multi_socket_action(loop->multi, CURL_SOCKET_TIMEOUT, 0, &running);
+    } else if (timeout > 0) {
+        tm.tv_sec = timeout / 1000;
+        tm.tv_usec = (timeout % 1000) * 1000;
+        evtimer_add(loop->timer, &tm);
+    }
+
+    return 0;
+}
+
+dc_loop_t dc_loop_new(void)
+{
+    return dc_loop_new_full(NULL, NULL);
+}
+
+dc_loop_t dc_loop_new_full(struct event_base *base, CURLM *multi)
+{
+    dc_loop_t ptr = calloc(1, sizeof(struct dc_loop_));
+    return_if_true(ptr == NULL, NULL);
+
+    ptr->ref.cleanup = (dc_cleanup_t)dc_loop_free;
+
+    if (base != NULL) {
+        ptr->base = base;
+        ptr->base_owner = false;
+    } else {
+        ptr->base = event_base_new();
+        goto_if_true(ptr->base == NULL, fail);
+        ptr->base_owner = true;
+    }
+
+    if (multi != NULL) {
+        ptr->multi = multi;
+        ptr->multi_owner = false;
+    } else {
+        ptr->multi = curl_multi_init();
+        goto_if_true(ptr->multi == NULL, fail);
+        ptr->multi_owner = true;
+    }
+
+    ptr->apis = g_ptr_array_new();
+    goto_if_true(ptr->apis == NULL, fail);
+
+    ptr->timer = evtimer_new(ptr->base, timer_handler, ptr);
+    goto_if_true(ptr->timer == NULL, fail);
+
+    curl_multi_setopt(ptr->multi, CURLMOPT_SOCKETDATA, ptr);
+    curl_multi_setopt(ptr->multi, CURLMOPT_SOCKETFUNCTION, mcurl_handler);
+
+    curl_multi_setopt(ptr->multi, CURLMOPT_TIMERDATA, ptr);
+    curl_multi_setopt(ptr->multi, CURLMOPT_TIMERFUNCTION, mcurl_timer);
+
+    return ptr;
+
+fail:
+
+    dc_loop_free(ptr);
+    return NULL;
+}
+
+CURLM *dc_loop_curl(dc_loop_t l)
+{
+    return_if_true(l == NULL, NULL);
+    return l->multi;
+}
+
+struct event_base *dc_loop_event_base(dc_loop_t l)
+{
+    return_if_true(l == NULL, NULL);
+    return l->base;
+}
+
+void dc_loop_add_api(dc_loop_t l, dc_api_t a)
+{
+    return_if_true(l == NULL || a == NULL,);
+    dc_api_t p = dc_ref(a);
+
+    dc_api_set_event_base(p, l->base);
+    dc_api_set_curl_multi(p, l->multi);
+
+    g_ptr_array_add(l->apis, p);
+}
+
+bool dc_loop_once(dc_loop_t l)
+{
+    return_if_true(l == NULL, false);
+
+    int ret = 0, remain = 0;
+    struct CURLMsg *msg = NULL;
+    size_t i = 0;
+
+    ret = event_base_loop(l->base, EVLOOP_ONCE|EVLOOP_NONBLOCK);
+    if (ret < 0) {
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    msg = curl_multi_info_read(l->multi, &remain);
+    if (msg != NULL) {
+        if (remain <= 0) {
+            if (evtimer_pending(l->timer, NULL)) {
+                evtimer_del(l->timer);
+            }
+        }
+        if (msg->msg == CURLMSG_DONE) {
+            for (i = 0; i < l->apis->len; i++) {
+                dc_api_t api = g_ptr_array_index(l->apis, i);
+                dc_api_signal(api, msg->easy_handle, msg->data.result);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    return true;
+}
diff --git a/ncdc/src/ncdc.c b/ncdc/src/ncdc.c
index 571e18a..256ffb0 100644
--- a/ncdc/src/ncdc.c
+++ b/ncdc/src/ncdc.c
@@ -1,14 +1,15 @@
 #include <ncdc/ncdc.h>
+
+#include <dc/refable.h>
 #include <dc/api.h>
+#include <dc/loop.h>
 
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <unistd.h>
 
 /* event base for libevent
  */
-struct event_base *base = NULL;
 struct event *stdin_ev = NULL;
-struct event *timer = NULL;
 
 /* we loop in a different thread
  */
@@ -20,14 +21,9 @@ char *dc_config_file = NULL;
 
 static GKeyFile *config = NULL;
 
-/* global curl multi for API access
- */
-CURLM *curl = NULL;
-
+dc_loop_t loop = NULL;
 dc_api_t api = NULL;
 
-static void handle_multi_info(void);
-
 static void sighandler(int sig)
 {
     exit(3);
@@ -41,128 +37,39 @@ static void cleanup(void)
         stdin_ev = NULL;
     }
 
-    if (timer != NULL) {
-        evtimer_del(timer);
-        event_free(timer);
-        timer = NULL;
-    }
-
     done = true;
     pthread_join(looper, NULL);
 
-    curl_multi_cleanup(curl);
-    curl = NULL;
-
-    event_base_free(base);
-    base = NULL;
+    dc_unref(api);
+    dc_unref(loop);
 }
 
 static void stdin_handler(int sock, short what, void *data)
 {
 }
 
-static void mcurl_socket_handler(int sock, short what, void *data)
-{
-    int unused = 0;
-
-    if ((what & EV_READ) == EV_READ) {
-        curl_multi_socket_action(curl, sock, CURL_CSELECT_IN, &unused);
-    } else if ((what & EV_WRITE) == EV_WRITE) {
-        curl_multi_socket_action(curl, sock, CURL_CSELECT_OUT, &unused);
-    }
-}
-
-static void timer_handler(int sock, short what, void *data)
-{
-    int running = 0;
-    curl_multi_socket_action(curl, CURL_SOCKET_TIMEOUT, 0, &running);
-}
-
-static int mcurl_timer(CURLM *curl, long timeout, void *ptr)
-{
-    int running = 0;
-    struct timeval tm;
-
-    if (timeout == -1) {
-        evtimer_del(timer);
-    } else if (timeout == 0) {
-        curl_multi_socket_action(curl, CURL_SOCKET_TIMEOUT, 0, &running);
-    } else if (timeout > 0) {
-        tm.tv_sec = timeout / 1000;
-        tm.tv_usec = (timeout % 1000) * 1000;
-        evtimer_add(timer, &tm);
-    }
-
-    return 0;
-}
-
-static int
-mcurl_handler(CURL *easy, curl_socket_t s, int what, void *userp, void *socketp)
-{
-    struct event *event = (struct event *)socketp;
-
-    if (what == CURL_POLL_REMOVE) {
-        if (event != NULL) {
-            event_del(event);
-            event_free(event);
-            curl_multi_assign(curl, s, NULL);
-        }
-    } else {
-        int stat =
-            ((what & CURL_POLL_IN) ? EV_READ : 0) |
-            ((what & CURL_POLL_OUT) ? EV_WRITE : 0) |
-            EV_PERSIST
-            ;
-
-        if (event == NULL) {
-            event = event_new(base, s, stat, mcurl_socket_handler, NULL);
-            if (event == NULL) {
-                return 0;
-            }
-            curl_multi_assign(curl, s, event);
-        } else {
-            event_del(event);
-            event_assign(event, base, s, stat, mcurl_socket_handler, NULL);
-            event_add(event, NULL);
-        }
-    }
-
-    return 0;
-}
-
 static bool init_everything(void)
 {
     evthread_use_pthreads();
 
-    base = event_base_new();
-    return_if_true(base == NULL, false);
+    loop = dc_loop_new();
+    return_if_true(loop == NULL, false);
 
     /* add handle for STDIN, this info will then be fed to the UI
      */
-    stdin_ev = event_new(base, 0 /* stdin */, EV_READ|EV_PERSIST,
+    stdin_ev = event_new(dc_loop_event_base(loop), 0 /* stdin */,
+                         EV_READ|EV_PERSIST,
                          stdin_handler, NULL
         );
     return_if_true(stdin_ev == NULL, false);
     event_add(stdin_ev, NULL);
 
-    timer = evtimer_new(base, timer_handler, NULL);
-    return_if_true(timer == NULL, false);
-
-    /* create curl multi and feed that to the API too
-     */
-    curl = curl_multi_init();
-    return_if_true(curl == NULL, false);
-
-    curl_multi_setopt(curl, CURLMOPT_SOCKETFUNCTION, mcurl_handler);
-    curl_multi_setopt(curl, CURLMOPT_TIMERFUNCTION, mcurl_timer);
-
     /* initialise event
      */
     api = dc_api_new();
     return_if_true(api == NULL, false);
 
-    dc_api_set_event_base(api, base);
-    dc_api_set_curl_multi(api, curl);
+    dc_loop_add_api(loop, api);
 
     config = g_key_file_new();
     return_if_true(config == NULL, false);
@@ -172,39 +79,14 @@ static bool init_everything(void)
     return true;
 }
 
-static void handle_multi_info(void)
-{
-    struct CURLMsg *msg = NULL;
-    int remain = 0;
-
-    /* check for finished multi curls
-     */
-    msg = curl_multi_info_read(curl, &remain);
-    if (msg != NULL) {
-        if (remain <= 0) {
-            if (evtimer_pending(timer, NULL)) {
-                evtimer_del(timer);
-            }
-        }
-        if (msg->msg == CURLMSG_DONE) {
-            dc_api_signal(api, msg->easy_handle, msg->data.result);
-        }
-    } else {
-        usleep(10 * 1000);
-    }
-}
-
 static void *loop_thread(void *arg)
 {
-    int ret = 0;
-
     while (!done) {
-        ret = event_base_loop(base, EVLOOP_ONCE|EVLOOP_NONBLOCK);
-        if (ret < 0) {
+        if (!dc_loop_once(loop)) {
             break;
         }
 
-        handle_multi_info();
+        usleep(10 * 1000);
     }
 
     return NULL;