diff --git a/src/Makefile.qt.include b/src/Makefile.qt.include
--- a/src/Makefile.qt.include
+++ b/src/Makefile.qt.include
@@ -295,6 +295,7 @@
 
 BITCOIN_QT_BASE_CPP = \
   qt/bantablemodel.cpp \
+  qt/bitcoin.cpp \
   qt/bitcoinaddressvalidator.cpp \
   qt/bitcoinamountfield.cpp \
   qt/bitcoingui.cpp \
@@ -369,6 +370,9 @@
 
 qt_libbitcoinqt_a_SOURCES = $(BITCOIN_QT_CPP) $(BITCOIN_QT_H) $(QT_FORMS_UI) \
   $(QT_QRC) $(QT_QRC_LOCALE) $(QT_TS) $(PROTOBUF_PROTO) $(RES_ICONS) $(RES_IMAGES) $(RES_MOVIES)
+if TARGET_DARWIN
+  qt_libbitcoinqt_a_SOURCES += $(BITCOIN_MM)
+endif
 
 nodist_qt_libbitcoinqt_a_SOURCES = $(QT_MOC_CPP) $(QT_MOC) $(PROTOBUF_CC) \
   $(PROTOBUF_H) $(QT_QRC_CPP) $(QT_QRC_LOCALE_CPP)
@@ -391,10 +395,7 @@
   $(QT_INCLUDES) $(PROTOBUF_CFLAGS) $(QR_CFLAGS)
 qt_bitcoin_qt_CXXFLAGS = $(AM_CXXFLAGS) $(QT_PIE_FLAGS)
 
-qt_bitcoin_qt_SOURCES = qt/bitcoin.cpp
-if TARGET_DARWIN
-  qt_bitcoin_qt_SOURCES += $(BITCOIN_MM)
-endif
+qt_bitcoin_qt_SOURCES = qt/main.cpp
 if TARGET_WINDOWS
   qt_bitcoin_qt_SOURCES += $(BITCOIN_RC)
 endif
diff --git a/src/Makefile.qttest.include b/src/Makefile.qttest.include
--- a/src/Makefile.qttest.include
+++ b/src/Makefile.qttest.include
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 TESTS += qt/test/test_bitcoin-qt
 
 TEST_QT_MOC_CPP = \
+  qt/test/moc_apptests.cpp \
   qt/test/moc_bitcoinaddressvalidatortests.cpp \
   qt/test/moc_compattests.cpp \
   qt/test/moc_guiutiltests.cpp \
@@ -21,6 +22,7 @@
 
 TEST_QT_H = \
   qt/test/addressbooktests.h \
+  qt/test/apptests.h \
   qt/test/bitcoinaddressvalidatortests.h \
   qt/test/compattests.h \
   qt/test/guiutiltests.h \
@@ -41,6 +43,7 @@
   $(QT_INCLUDES) $(QT_TEST_INCLUDES) $(PROTOBUF_CFLAGS)
 
 qt_test_test_bitcoin_qt_SOURCES = \
+  qt/test/apptests.cpp \
   qt/test/bitcoinaddressvalidatortests.cpp \
   qt/test/compattests.cpp \
   qt/test/guiutiltests.cpp \
diff --git a/src/qt/CMakeLists.txt b/src/qt/CMakeLists.txt
--- a/src/qt/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/qt/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -80,6 +80,7 @@
 
 add_library(bitcoin-qt-base
 	bantablemodel.cpp
+	bitcoin.cpp
 	bitcoinaddressvalidator.cpp
 	bitcoinamountfield.cpp
 	bitcoingui.cpp
@@ -283,7 +284,7 @@
 endif()
 
 # The executable
-add_executable(bitcoin-qt WIN32 bitcoin.cpp)
+add_executable(bitcoin-qt WIN32 main.cpp)
 if(${CMAKE_SYSTEM_NAME} MATCHES "Windows")
 	target_sources(bitcoin-qt PRIVATE res/bitcoin-qt-res.rc)
 endif()
diff --git a/src/qt/bitcoin.h b/src/qt/bitcoin.h
--- a/src/qt/bitcoin.h
+++ b/src/qt/bitcoin.h
@@ -75,6 +75,9 @@
     void createWindow(const Config *, const NetworkStyle *networkStyle);
     /// Create splash screen
     void createSplashScreen(const NetworkStyle *networkStyle);
+    /// Basic initialization, before starting initialization/shutdown thread.
+    /// Return true on success.
+    bool baseInitialize(Config &config);
 
     /// Request core initialization
     void requestInitialize(Config &config, RPCServer &rpcServer,
@@ -106,6 +109,7 @@
     void requestedShutdown();
     void stopThread();
     void splashFinished(QWidget *window);
+    void windowShown(BitcoinGUI *window);
 
 private:
     QThread *coreThread;
@@ -126,4 +130,6 @@
     void startThread();
 };
 
+int GuiMain(int argc, char *argv[]);
+
 #endif // BITCOIN_QT_BITCOIN_H
diff --git a/src/qt/bitcoin.cpp b/src/qt/bitcoin.cpp
--- a/src/qt/bitcoin.cpp
+++ b/src/qt/bitcoin.cpp
@@ -76,14 +76,6 @@
     LogPrintf("init message: %s\n", message);
 }
 
-/**
- * Translate string to current locale using Qt.
- */
-const std::function<std::string(const char *)> G_TRANSLATION_FUN =
-    [](const char *psz) {
-        return QCoreApplication::translate("bitcoin-abc", psz).toStdString();
-    };
-
 static QString GetLangTerritory() {
     QSettings settings;
     // Get desired locale (e.g. "de_DE")
@@ -273,6 +265,10 @@
             &QWidget::close);
 }
 
+bool BitcoinApplication::baseInitialize(Config &config) {
+    return m_node.baseInitialize(config);
+}
+
 void BitcoinApplication::startThread() {
     if (coreThread) {
         return;
@@ -401,7 +397,9 @@
     qWarning() << "Platform customization:" << platformStyle->getName();
 #ifdef ENABLE_WALLET
     PaymentServer::LoadRootCAs();
-    paymentServer->setOptionsModel(optionsModel);
+    if (paymentServer) {
+        paymentServer->setOptionsModel(optionsModel);
+    }
 #endif
 
     clientModel = new ClientModel(m_node, optionsModel);
@@ -432,19 +430,23 @@
         window->show();
     }
     Q_EMIT splashFinished(window);
+    Q_EMIT windowShown(window);
 
 #ifdef ENABLE_WALLET
     // Now that initialization/startup is done, process any command-line
     // bitcoincash: URIs or payment requests:
-    connect(paymentServer, &PaymentServer::receivedPaymentRequest, window,
-            &BitcoinGUI::handlePaymentRequest);
-    connect(window, &BitcoinGUI::receivedURI, paymentServer,
-            &PaymentServer::handleURIOrFile);
-    connect(
-        paymentServer, &PaymentServer::message,
-        [this](const QString &title, const QString &message,
-               unsigned int style) { window->message(title, message, style); });
-    QTimer::singleShot(100, paymentServer, &PaymentServer::uiReady);
+    if (paymentServer) {
+        connect(paymentServer, &PaymentServer::receivedPaymentRequest, window,
+                &BitcoinGUI::handlePaymentRequest);
+        connect(window, &BitcoinGUI::receivedURI, paymentServer,
+                &PaymentServer::handleURIOrFile);
+        connect(paymentServer, &PaymentServer::message,
+                [this](const QString &title, const QString &message,
+                       unsigned int style) {
+                    window->message(title, message, style);
+                });
+        QTimer::singleShot(100, paymentServer, &PaymentServer::uiReady);
+    }
 #endif
 
     pollShutdownTimer->start(200);
@@ -555,7 +557,7 @@
     }
 }
 
-int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
+int GuiMain(int argc, char *argv[]) {
 #ifdef WIN32
     util::WinCmdLineArgs winArgs;
     std::tie(argc, argv) = winArgs.get();
@@ -764,7 +766,7 @@
         // initialization/shutdown thread. This is acceptable because this
         // function only contains steps that are quick to execute, so the GUI
         // thread won't be held up.
-        if (!node->baseInitialize(config)) {
+        if (!app.baseInitialize(config)) {
             // A dialog with detailed error will have been shown by InitError()
             return EXIT_FAILURE;
         }
diff --git a/src/qt/bitcoingui.h b/src/qt/bitcoingui.h
--- a/src/qt/bitcoingui.h
+++ b/src/qt/bitcoingui.h
@@ -187,6 +187,8 @@
 Q_SIGNALS:
     /** Signal raised when a URI was entered or dragged to the GUI */
     void receivedURI(const QString &uri);
+    /** Signal raised when RPC console shown */
+    void consoleShown(RPCConsole *console);
 
 public Q_SLOTS:
     /** Set number of connections shown in the UI */
diff --git a/src/qt/bitcoingui.cpp b/src/qt/bitcoingui.cpp
--- a/src/qt/bitcoingui.cpp
+++ b/src/qt/bitcoingui.cpp
@@ -109,6 +109,7 @@
          * central widget is the rpc console.
          */
         setCentralWidget(rpcConsole);
+        Q_EMIT consoleShown(rpcConsole);
     }
 
     // Accept D&D of URIs
@@ -379,6 +380,7 @@
         tr("Open debugging and diagnostic console"));
     // initially disable the debug window menu item
     openRPCConsoleAction->setEnabled(false);
+    openRPCConsoleAction->setObjectName("openRPCConsoleAction");
 
     usedSendingAddressesAction =
         new QAction(platformStyle->TextColorIcon(":/icons/address-book"),
@@ -679,10 +681,13 @@
     assert(QSystemTrayIcon::isSystemTrayAvailable());
 
 #ifndef Q_OS_MAC
-    trayIcon = new QSystemTrayIcon(networkStyle->getTrayAndWindowIcon(), this);
-    QString toolTip = tr("%1 client").arg(tr(PACKAGE_NAME)) + " " +
-                      networkStyle->getTitleAddText();
-    trayIcon->setToolTip(toolTip);
+    if (QSystemTrayIcon::isSystemTrayAvailable()) {
+        trayIcon =
+            new QSystemTrayIcon(networkStyle->getTrayAndWindowIcon(), this);
+        QString toolTip = tr("%1 client").arg(tr(PACKAGE_NAME)) + " " +
+                          networkStyle->getTitleAddText();
+        trayIcon->setToolTip(toolTip);
+    }
 #endif
 }
 
@@ -756,6 +761,7 @@
 
 void BitcoinGUI::showDebugWindow() {
     GUIUtil::bringToFront(rpcConsole);
+    Q_EMIT consoleShown(rpcConsole);
 }
 
 void BitcoinGUI::showDebugWindowActivateConsole() {
diff --git a/src/qt/main.cpp b/src/qt/main.cpp
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/qt/main.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2018 The Bitcoin Core developers
+// Distributed under the MIT software license, see the accompanying
+// file COPYING or http://www.opensource.org/licenses/mit-license.php.
+
+#include <qt/bitcoin.h>
+
+#include <QCoreApplication>
+
+#include <functional>
+#include <string>
+
+/** Translate string to current locale using Qt. */
+extern const std::function<std::string(const char *)> G_TRANSLATION_FUN =
+    [](const char *psz) {
+        return QCoreApplication::translate("bitcoin-abc", psz).toStdString();
+    };
+
+int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
+    return GuiMain(argc, argv);
+}
diff --git a/src/qt/test/CMakeLists.txt b/src/qt/test/CMakeLists.txt
--- a/src/qt/test/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/qt/test/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 
 add_test_to_suite(bitcoin-qt test_bitcoin-qt
 	addressbooktests.cpp
+	apptests.cpp
 	bitcoinaddressvalidatortests.cpp
 	compattests.cpp
 	guiutiltests.cpp
diff --git a/src/qt/test/apptests.h b/src/qt/test/apptests.h
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/qt/test/apptests.h
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2018 The Bitcoin Core developers
+// Distributed under the MIT software license, see the accompanying
+// file COPYING or http://www.opensource.org/licenses/mit-license.php.
+
+#ifndef BITCOIN_QT_TEST_APPTESTS_H
+#define BITCOIN_QT_TEST_APPTESTS_H
+
+#include <QObject>
+
+#include <set>
+#include <string>
+#include <utility>
+
+class BitcoinApplication;
+class BitcoinGUI;
+class RPCConsole;
+
+class AppTests : public QObject {
+    Q_OBJECT
+public:
+    explicit AppTests(BitcoinApplication &app) : m_app(app) {}
+
+private Q_SLOTS:
+    void appTests();
+    void guiTests(BitcoinGUI *window);
+    void consoleTests(RPCConsole *console);
+
+private:
+    //! Add expected callback name to list of pending callbacks.
+    void expectCallback(std::string callback) {
+        m_callbacks.emplace(std::move(callback));
+    }
+
+    //! RAII helper to remove no-longer-pending callback.
+    struct HandleCallback {
+        std::string m_callback;
+        AppTests &m_app_tests;
+        ~HandleCallback();
+    };
+
+    //! Bitcoin application.
+    BitcoinApplication &m_app;
+
+    //! Set of pending callback names. Used to track expected callbacks and shut
+    //! down the app after the last callback has been handled and all tests have
+    //! either run or thrown exceptions. This could be a simple int counter
+    //! instead of a set of names, but the names might be useful for debugging.
+    std::multiset<std::string> m_callbacks;
+};
+
+#endif // BITCOIN_QT_TEST_APPTESTS_H
diff --git a/src/qt/test/apptests.cpp b/src/qt/test/apptests.cpp
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/qt/test/apptests.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,130 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2018 The Bitcoin Core developers
+// Distributed under the MIT software license, see the accompanying
+// file COPYING or http://www.opensource.org/licenses/mit-license.php.
+
+#include <qt/test/apptests.h>
+
+#include <chainparams.h>
+#include <config.h>
+#include <httprpc.h>
+#include <qt/bitcoin.h>
+#include <qt/bitcoingui.h>
+#include <qt/networkstyle.h>
+#include <qt/rpcconsole.h>
+#include <rpc/server.h>
+#include <shutdown.h>
+#include <validation.h>
+
+#if defined(HAVE_CONFIG_H)
+#include <config/bitcoin-config.h>
+#endif
+#ifdef ENABLE_WALLET
+#include <wallet/db.h>
+#endif
+
+#include <QAction>
+#include <QEventLoop>
+#include <QLineEdit>
+#include <QScopedPointer>
+#include <QTest>
+#include <QTextEdit>
+#include <QtGlobal>
+#if QT_VERSION >= 0x050000
+#include <QtTest/QtTestWidgets>
+#endif
+#include <QtTest/QtTestGui>
+
+#include <univalue.h>
+
+#include <new>
+#include <string>
+
+namespace {
+//! Call getblockchaininfo RPC and check first field of JSON output.
+void TestRpcCommand(RPCConsole *console) {
+    QEventLoop loop;
+    QTextEdit *messagesWidget =
+        console->findChild<QTextEdit *>("messagesWidget");
+    QObject::connect(messagesWidget, &QTextEdit::textChanged, &loop,
+                     &QEventLoop::quit);
+    QLineEdit *lineEdit = console->findChild<QLineEdit *>("lineEdit");
+    QTest::keyClicks(lineEdit, "getblockchaininfo");
+    QTest::keyClick(lineEdit, Qt::Key_Return);
+    loop.exec();
+    QString output = messagesWidget->toPlainText();
+    UniValue value;
+    value.read(
+        output
+            .right(output.size() -
+                   output.lastIndexOf(QChar::ObjectReplacementCharacter) - 1)
+            .toStdString());
+    QCOMPARE(value["chain"].get_str(), std::string("regtest"));
+}
+} // namespace
+
+//! Entry point for BitcoinApplication tests.
+void AppTests::appTests() {
+#ifdef Q_OS_MAC
+    if (QApplication::platformName() == "minimal") {
+        // Disable for mac on "minimal" platform to avoid crashes inside the Qt
+        // framework when it tries to look up unimplemented cocoa functions,
+        // and fails to handle returned nulls
+        // (https://bugreports.qt.io/browse/QTBUG-49686).
+        QWARN("Skipping AppTests on mac build with 'minimal' platform set due "
+              "to Qt bugs. To run AppTests, invoke "
+              "with 'test_bitcoin-qt -platform cocoa' on mac, or else use a "
+              "linux or windows build.");
+        return;
+    }
+#endif
+
+    Config &config = const_cast<Config &>(GetConfig());
+
+    m_app.parameterSetup();
+    m_app.createOptionsModel(true /* reset settings */);
+    QScopedPointer<const NetworkStyle> style(NetworkStyle::instantiate(
+        QString::fromStdString(Params().NetworkIDString())));
+    m_app.setupPlatformStyle();
+    m_app.createWindow(&config, style.data());
+    connect(&m_app, &BitcoinApplication::windowShown, this,
+            &AppTests::guiTests);
+    expectCallback("guiTests");
+    m_app.baseInitialize(config);
+
+    RPCServer rpcServer;
+    HTTPRPCRequestProcessor httpRPCRequestProcessor(config, rpcServer);
+    m_app.requestInitialize(config, rpcServer, httpRPCRequestProcessor);
+    m_app.exec();
+    m_app.requestShutdown(config);
+    m_app.exec();
+
+    // Reset global state to avoid interfering with later tests.
+    AbortShutdown();
+    UnloadBlockIndex();
+}
+
+//! Entry point for BitcoinGUI tests.
+void AppTests::guiTests(BitcoinGUI *window) {
+    HandleCallback callback{"guiTests", *this};
+    connect(window, &BitcoinGUI::consoleShown, this, &AppTests::consoleTests);
+    expectCallback("consoleTests");
+    QAction *action = window->findChild<QAction *>("openRPCConsoleAction");
+    action->activate(QAction::Trigger);
+}
+
+//! Entry point for RPCConsole tests.
+void AppTests::consoleTests(RPCConsole *console) {
+    HandleCallback callback{"consoleTests", *this};
+    TestRpcCommand(console);
+}
+
+//! Destructor to shut down after the last expected callback completes.
+AppTests::HandleCallback::~HandleCallback() {
+    auto &callbacks = m_app_tests.m_callbacks;
+    auto it = callbacks.find(m_callback);
+    assert(it != callbacks.end());
+    callbacks.erase(it);
+    if (callbacks.empty()) {
+        m_app_tests.m_app.quit();
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/qt/test/test_main.cpp b/src/qt/test/test_main.cpp
--- a/src/qt/test/test_main.cpp
+++ b/src/qt/test/test_main.cpp
@@ -8,9 +8,12 @@
 
 #include <chainparams.h>
 #include <compat/setenv.h>
+#include <interfaces/node.h>
 #include <key.h>
 #include <util/system.h>
 
+#include <qt/bitcoin.h>
+#include <qt/test/apptests.h>
 #include <qt/test/bitcoinaddressvalidatortests.h>
 #include <qt/test/compattests.h>
 #include <qt/test/guiutiltests.h>
@@ -48,7 +51,7 @@
 int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
     SetupEnvironment();
     SetupNetworking();
-    SelectParams(CBaseChainParams::MAIN);
+    SelectParams(CBaseChainParams::REGTEST);
     noui_connect();
     ClearDatadirCache();
     fs::path pathTemp =
@@ -57,6 +60,7 @@
                                               (int)GetRand(100000));
     fs::create_directories(pathTemp);
     gArgs.ForceSetArg("-datadir", pathTemp.string());
+    auto node = interfaces::MakeNode();
 
     bool fInvalid = false;
 
@@ -67,13 +71,17 @@
 
     // Don't remove this, it's needed to access
     // QApplication:: and QCoreApplication:: in the tests
-    QApplication app(argc, argv);
+    BitcoinApplication app(*node, argc, argv);
     app.setApplicationName("BitcoinABC-Qt-test");
 
     // This is necessary to initialize openssl on the test framework
     // (at least on Darwin).
     SSL_library_init();
 
+    AppTests app_tests(app);
+    if (QTest::qExec(&app_tests) != 0) {
+        fInvalid = true;
+    }
     URITests test1;
     if (QTest::qExec(&test1) != 0) {
         fInvalid = true;