diff --git a/include/sway/server.h b/include/sway/server.h
index 0b7c8ba28..a19618319 100644
--- a/include/sway/server.h
+++ b/include/sway/server.h
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ struct sway_server {
 
 struct sway_server server;
 
-bool server_init(struct sway_server *server);
+bool server_init(struct sway_server *server, bool headless);
 void server_fini(struct sway_server *server);
 void server_run(struct sway_server *server);
 
diff --git a/sway/main.c b/sway/main.c
index f2f24be35..a9e92d45b 100644
--- a/sway/main.c
+++ b/sway/main.c
@@ -251,12 +251,14 @@ static void drop_permissions(bool keep_caps) {
 
 int main(int argc, char **argv) {
 	static int verbose = 0, debug = 0, validate = 0;
+	bool headless = false;
 
 	static struct option long_options[] = {
 		{"help", no_argument, NULL, 'h'},
 		{"config", required_argument, NULL, 'c'},
 		{"validate", no_argument, NULL, 'C'},
 		{"debug", no_argument, NULL, 'd'},
+		{"headless", no_argument, NULL, 'H'},
 		{"version", no_argument, NULL, 'v'},
 		{"verbose", no_argument, NULL, 'V'},
 		{"get-socketpath", no_argument, NULL, 'p'},
@@ -272,6 +274,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv) {
 		"  -c, --config <config>  Specify a config file.\n"
 		"  -C, --validate         Check the validity of the config file, then exit.\n"
 		"  -d, --debug            Enables full logging, including debug information.\n"
+		"  -H, --headless         Starts sway with the headless backend.\n"
 		"  -v, --version          Show the version number and quit.\n"
 		"  -V, --verbose          Enables more verbose logging.\n"
 		"      --get-socketpath   Gets the IPC socket path and prints it, then exits.\n"
@@ -288,7 +291,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv) {
 	int c;
 	while (1) {
 		int option_index = 0;
-		c = getopt_long(argc, argv, "hCdvVc:", long_options, &option_index);
+		c = getopt_long(argc, argv, "hCHdvVc:", long_options, &option_index);
 		if (c == -1) {
 			break;
 		}
@@ -306,6 +309,9 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv) {
 		case 'd': // debug
 			debug = 1;
 			break;
+		case 'H':
+			headless = true;
+			break;
 		case 'v': // version
 			fprintf(stdout, "sway version " SWAY_VERSION "\n");
 			exit(EXIT_SUCCESS);
@@ -384,7 +390,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv) {
 
 	init_layout();
 
-	if (!server_init(&server)) {
+	if (!server_init(&server, headless)) {
 		return 1;
 	}
 
diff --git a/sway/server.c b/sway/server.c
index a2933680a..5772b8522 100644
--- a/sway/server.c
+++ b/sway/server.c
@@ -39,17 +39,28 @@ static void server_ready(struct wl_listener *listener, void *data) {
 	}
 }
 
-bool server_init(struct sway_server *server) {
+bool server_init(struct sway_server *server, bool headless) {
 	wlr_log(L_DEBUG, "Initializing Wayland server");
 
 	server->wl_display = wl_display_create();
 	server->wl_event_loop = wl_display_get_event_loop(server->wl_display);
-	server->backend = wlr_backend_autocreate(server->wl_display);
+
 	wl_list_init(&server->subbackends);
 
-	server->renderer = wlr_gles2_renderer_create(server->backend);
+	if (headless) {
+		server->backend = wlr_multi_backend_create(server->wl_display);
+		struct sway_subbackend *subbackend =
+			sway_subbackend_create(SWAY_SUBBACKEND_HEADLESS, "headless");
+		sway_server_add_subbackend(server, subbackend);
+	} else {
+		// TODO add whatever this function creates to the subbackends
+		server->backend = wlr_backend_autocreate(server->wl_display);
+	}
+
 	wl_display_init_shm(server->wl_display);
 
+	server->renderer = wlr_backend_get_renderer(server->backend);
+
 	server->compositor = wlr_compositor_create(
 			server->wl_display, server->renderer);
 
@@ -181,13 +192,9 @@ static struct wlr_backend *x11_backend_create(struct sway_server *server) {
 
 static struct wlr_backend *headless_backend_create(
 		struct sway_server *server) {
-	wlr_log(L_DEBUG, "TODO: create headless backend");
-	return NULL;
-	/*
 	struct wlr_backend *backend =
 		wlr_headless_backend_create(server->wl_display);
 	return backend;
-	*/
 }
 
 static struct wlr_backend *drm_backend_create(struct sway_server *server) {