diff --git a/src/rt/sync/sync.cpp b/src/rt/sync/sync.cpp
index 09a6f291c70..70e5077cf98 100644
--- a/src/rt/sync/sync.cpp
+++ b/src/rt/sync/sync.cpp
@@ -10,3 +10,46 @@ void sync::yield() {
     pthread_yield();
 #endif
 }
+
+#if defined(__WIN32__)
+static DWORD WINAPI
+#elif defined(__GNUC__)
+static void *
+#else
+#error "Platform not supported"
+#endif
+rust_thread_start(void *ptr) {
+    rust_thread *thread = (rust_thread *) ptr;
+    thread->run();
+    thread->thread = 0;
+    return 0;
+}
+
+void
+rust_thread::start() {
+#if defined(__WIN32__)
+   thread = CreateThread(NULL, 0, rust_thread_start, this, 0, NULL);
+#else
+   pthread_attr_t attr;
+   pthread_attr_init(&attr);
+   pthread_attr_setstacksize(&attr, 1024 * 1024);
+   pthread_attr_setdetachstate(&attr, PTHREAD_CREATE_JOINABLE);
+   pthread_create(&thread, &attr, rust_thread_start, (void *) this);
+#endif
+}
+
+void
+rust_thread::join() {
+#if defined(__WIN32__)
+   WaitForSingleObject(thread, INFINITE);
+#else
+   pthread_join(thread, NULL);
+#endif
+   thread = 0;
+}
+
+bool
+rust_thread::is_running() {
+    // TODO: This may be broken because of possible races.
+    return thread;
+}
diff --git a/src/rt/sync/sync.h b/src/rt/sync/sync.h
index 8c9a13f0f4a..562d2a1b7cd 100644
--- a/src/rt/sync/sync.h
+++ b/src/rt/sync/sync.h
@@ -11,4 +11,25 @@ public:
     }
 };
 
+/**
+ * Thread utility class. Derive and implement your own run() method.
+ */
+class rust_thread {
+public:
+#if defined(__WIN32__)
+    HANDLE thread;
+#else
+    pthread_t thread;
+#endif
+    void start();
+
+    virtual void run() {
+        return;
+    }
+
+    void join();
+
+    bool is_running();
+};
+
 #endif /* SYNC_H */