diff --git a/src/Makefile.am b/src/Makefile.am
index affafaa5f9b..605c9321203 100644
--- a/src/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/Makefile.am
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ DIST_SUBDIRS = secp256k1 univalue
 AM_LDFLAGS = $(PTHREAD_CFLAGS) $(LIBTOOL_LDFLAGS) $(HARDENED_LDFLAGS) $(GPROF_LDFLAGS) $(SANITIZER_LDFLAGS)
 AM_CXXFLAGS = $(HARDENED_CXXFLAGS) $(ERROR_CXXFLAGS) $(GPROF_CXXFLAGS) $(SANITIZER_CXXFLAGS)
 AM_CPPFLAGS = $(HARDENED_CPPFLAGS)
+AM_LIBTOOLFLAGS = --preserve-dup-deps
 EXTRA_LIBRARIES =
 
 if EMBEDDED_UNIVALUE
@@ -106,6 +107,7 @@ BITCOIN_CORE_H = \
   init.h \
   interface/handler.h \
   interface/node.h \
+  interface/wallet.h \
   key.h \
   key_io.h \
   keystore.h \
@@ -247,6 +249,7 @@ endif
 libbitcoin_wallet_a_CPPFLAGS = $(AM_CPPFLAGS) $(BITCOIN_INCLUDES)
 libbitcoin_wallet_a_CXXFLAGS = $(AM_CXXFLAGS) $(PIE_FLAGS)
 libbitcoin_wallet_a_SOURCES = \
+  interface/wallet.cpp \
   wallet/crypter.cpp \
   wallet/db.cpp \
   wallet/feebumper.cpp \
diff --git a/src/Makefile.qt.include b/src/Makefile.qt.include
index 0bdde067721..38eb12ce0d4 100644
--- a/src/Makefile.qt.include
+++ b/src/Makefile.qt.include
@@ -402,7 +402,7 @@ if TARGET_WINDOWS
 endif
 qt_bitcoin_qt_LDADD = qt/libbitcoinqt.a $(LIBBITCOIN_SERVER)
 if ENABLE_WALLET
-qt_bitcoin_qt_LDADD += $(LIBBITCOIN_WALLET)
+qt_bitcoin_qt_LDADD += $(LIBBITCOIN_UTIL) $(LIBBITCOIN_WALLET)
 endif
 if ENABLE_ZMQ
 qt_bitcoin_qt_LDADD += $(LIBBITCOIN_ZMQ) $(ZMQ_LIBS)
@@ -411,7 +411,7 @@ qt_bitcoin_qt_LDADD += $(LIBBITCOIN_CLI) $(LIBBITCOIN_COMMON) $(LIBBITCOIN_UTIL)
   $(BOOST_LIBS) $(QT_LIBS) $(QT_DBUS_LIBS) $(QR_LIBS) $(PROTOBUF_LIBS) $(BDB_LIBS) $(SSL_LIBS) $(CRYPTO_LIBS) $(MINIUPNPC_LIBS) $(LIBSECP256K1) \
   $(EVENT_PTHREADS_LIBS) $(EVENT_LIBS)
 qt_bitcoin_qt_LDFLAGS = $(RELDFLAGS) $(AM_LDFLAGS) $(QT_LDFLAGS) $(LIBTOOL_APP_LDFLAGS)
-qt_bitcoin_qt_LIBTOOLFLAGS = --tag CXX
+qt_bitcoin_qt_LIBTOOLFLAGS = $(AM_LIBTOOLFLAGS) --tag CXX
 
 #locale/foo.ts -> locale/foo.qm
 QT_QM=$(QT_TS:.ts=.qm)
diff --git a/src/Makefile.qttest.include b/src/Makefile.qttest.include
index ea2ed17472e..12791521987 100644
--- a/src/Makefile.qttest.include
+++ b/src/Makefile.qttest.include
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ nodist_qt_test_test_bitcoin_qt_SOURCES = $(TEST_QT_MOC_CPP)
 
 qt_test_test_bitcoin_qt_LDADD = $(LIBBITCOINQT) $(LIBBITCOIN_SERVER)
 if ENABLE_WALLET
-qt_test_test_bitcoin_qt_LDADD += $(LIBBITCOIN_WALLET)
+qt_test_test_bitcoin_qt_LDADD += $(LIBBITCOIN_UTIL) $(LIBBITCOIN_WALLET)
 endif
 if ENABLE_ZMQ
 qt_test_test_bitcoin_qt_LDADD += $(LIBBITCOIN_ZMQ) $(ZMQ_LIBS)
diff --git a/src/interface/node.cpp b/src/interface/node.cpp
index 43bdfbaebc9..5f4f0f2fa76 100644
--- a/src/interface/node.cpp
+++ b/src/interface/node.cpp
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 #include <chainparams.h>
 #include <init.h>
 #include <interface/handler.h>
+#include <interface/wallet.h>
 #include <net.h>
 #include <netaddress.h>
 #include <netbase.h>
@@ -15,8 +16,19 @@
 #include <util.h>
 #include <warnings.h>
 
+#if defined(HAVE_CONFIG_H)
+#include <config/bitcoin-config.h>
+#endif
+#ifdef ENABLE_WALLET
+#define CHECK_WALLET(x) x
+#else
+#define CHECK_WALLET(x) throw std::logic_error("Wallet function called in non-wallet build.")
+#endif
+
 #include <boost/thread/thread.hpp>
 
+class CWallet;
+
 namespace interface {
 namespace {
 
@@ -69,6 +81,15 @@ class NodeImpl : public Node
     {
         return MakeHandler(::uiInterface.ThreadSafeQuestion.connect(fn));
     }
+    std::unique_ptr<Handler> handleShowProgress(ShowProgressFn fn) override
+    {
+        return MakeHandler(::uiInterface.ShowProgress.connect(fn));
+    }
+    std::unique_ptr<Handler> handleLoadWallet(LoadWalletFn fn) override
+    {
+        CHECK_WALLET(
+            return MakeHandler(::uiInterface.LoadWallet.connect([fn](CWallet* wallet) { fn(MakeWallet(*wallet)); })));
+    }
 };
 
 } // namespace
diff --git a/src/interface/node.h b/src/interface/node.h
index 60ef9cce1b1..d1749871bf0 100644
--- a/src/interface/node.h
+++ b/src/interface/node.h
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ class proxyType;
 namespace interface {
 
 class Handler;
+class Wallet;
 
 //! Top-level interface for a bitcoin node (bitcoind process).
 class Node
@@ -87,6 +88,14 @@ public:
         const std::string& caption,
         unsigned int style)>;
     virtual std::unique_ptr<Handler> handleQuestion(QuestionFn fn) = 0;
+
+    //! Register handler for progress messages.
+    using ShowProgressFn = std::function<void(const std::string& title, int progress, bool resume_possible)>;
+    virtual std::unique_ptr<Handler> handleShowProgress(ShowProgressFn fn) = 0;
+
+    //! Register handler for load wallet messages.
+    using LoadWalletFn = std::function<void(std::unique_ptr<Wallet> wallet)>;
+    virtual std::unique_ptr<Handler> handleLoadWallet(LoadWalletFn fn) = 0;
 };
 
 //! Return implementation of Node interface.
diff --git a/src/interface/wallet.cpp b/src/interface/wallet.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..01639aa37fd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/interface/wallet.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+// 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 <interface/wallet.h>
+
+#include <interface/handler.h>
+#include <wallet/wallet.h>
+
+#include <memory>
+
+namespace interface {
+namespace {
+
+class WalletImpl : public Wallet
+{
+public:
+    WalletImpl(CWallet& wallet) : m_wallet(wallet) {}
+
+    std::unique_ptr<Handler> handleShowProgress(ShowProgressFn fn) override
+    {
+        return MakeHandler(m_wallet.ShowProgress.connect(fn));
+    }
+
+    CWallet& m_wallet;
+};
+
+} // namespace
+
+std::unique_ptr<Wallet> MakeWallet(CWallet& wallet) { return MakeUnique<WalletImpl>(wallet); }
+
+} // namespace interface
diff --git a/src/interface/wallet.h b/src/interface/wallet.h
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..bf68df4e7d6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/interface/wallet.h
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+// 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_INTERFACE_WALLET_H
+#define BITCOIN_INTERFACE_WALLET_H
+
+#include <functional>
+#include <memory>
+#include <string>
+
+class CWallet;
+
+namespace interface {
+
+class Handler;
+
+//! Interface for accessing a wallet.
+class Wallet
+{
+public:
+    virtual ~Wallet() {}
+
+    //! Register handler for show progress messages.
+    using ShowProgressFn = std::function<void(const std::string& title, int progress)>;
+    virtual std::unique_ptr<Handler> handleShowProgress(ShowProgressFn fn) = 0;
+};
+
+//! Return implementation of Wallet interface. This function will be undefined
+//! in builds where ENABLE_WALLET is false.
+std::unique_ptr<Wallet> MakeWallet(CWallet& wallet);
+
+} // namespace interface
+
+#endif // BITCOIN_INTERFACE_WALLET_H
diff --git a/src/qt/bitcoin.cpp b/src/qt/bitcoin.cpp
index 8ccdaff651e..07fac934fbf 100644
--- a/src/qt/bitcoin.cpp
+++ b/src/qt/bitcoin.cpp
@@ -375,7 +375,7 @@ void BitcoinApplication::createWindow(const NetworkStyle *networkStyle)
 
 void BitcoinApplication::createSplashScreen(const NetworkStyle *networkStyle)
 {
-    SplashScreen *splash = new SplashScreen(0, networkStyle);
+    SplashScreen *splash = new SplashScreen(m_node, 0, networkStyle);
     // We don't hold a direct pointer to the splash screen after creation, but the splash
     // screen will take care of deleting itself when slotFinish happens.
     splash->show();
diff --git a/src/qt/splashscreen.cpp b/src/qt/splashscreen.cpp
index 66e9dd0465b..2475a82ef90 100644
--- a/src/qt/splashscreen.cpp
+++ b/src/qt/splashscreen.cpp
@@ -12,22 +12,21 @@
 
 #include <clientversion.h>
 #include <init.h>
+#include <interface/handler.h>
+#include <interface/node.h>
+#include <interface/wallet.h>
 #include <util.h>
 #include <ui_interface.h>
 #include <version.h>
 
-#ifdef ENABLE_WALLET
-#include <wallet/wallet.h>
-#endif
-
 #include <QApplication>
 #include <QCloseEvent>
 #include <QDesktopWidget>
 #include <QPainter>
 #include <QRadialGradient>
 
-SplashScreen::SplashScreen(Qt::WindowFlags f, const NetworkStyle *networkStyle) :
-    QWidget(0, f), curAlignment(0)
+SplashScreen::SplashScreen(interface::Node& node, Qt::WindowFlags f, const NetworkStyle *networkStyle) :
+    QWidget(0, f), curAlignment(0), m_node(node)
 {
     // set reference point, paddings
     int paddingRight            = 50;
@@ -143,7 +142,7 @@ bool SplashScreen::eventFilter(QObject * obj, QEvent * ev) {
     if (ev->type() == QEvent::KeyPress) {
         QKeyEvent *keyEvent = static_cast<QKeyEvent *>(ev);
         if(keyEvent->text()[0] == 'q') {
-            StartShutdown();
+            m_node.startShutdown();
         }
     }
     return QObject::eventFilter(obj, ev);
@@ -177,35 +176,34 @@ static void ShowProgress(SplashScreen *splash, const std::string &title, int nPr
                                 : _("press q to shutdown")) +
             strprintf("\n%d", nProgress) + "%");
 }
-
 #ifdef ENABLE_WALLET
-void SplashScreen::ConnectWallet(CWallet* wallet)
+void SplashScreen::ConnectWallet(std::unique_ptr<interface::Wallet> wallet)
 {
-    wallet->ShowProgress.connect(boost::bind(ShowProgress, this, _1, _2, false));
-    connectedWallets.push_back(wallet);
+    m_connected_wallet_handlers.emplace_back(wallet->handleShowProgress(boost::bind(ShowProgress, this, _1, _2, false)));
+    m_connected_wallets.emplace_back(std::move(wallet));
 }
 #endif
 
 void SplashScreen::subscribeToCoreSignals()
 {
     // Connect signals to client
-    uiInterface.InitMessage.connect(boost::bind(InitMessage, this, _1));
-    uiInterface.ShowProgress.connect(boost::bind(ShowProgress, this, _1, _2, _3));
+    m_handler_init_message = m_node.handleInitMessage(boost::bind(InitMessage, this, _1));
+    m_handler_show_progress = m_node.handleShowProgress(boost::bind(ShowProgress, this, _1, _2, _3));
 #ifdef ENABLE_WALLET
-    uiInterface.LoadWallet.connect(boost::bind(&SplashScreen::ConnectWallet, this, _1));
+    m_handler_load_wallet = m_node.handleLoadWallet([this](std::unique_ptr<interface::Wallet> wallet) { ConnectWallet(std::move(wallet)); });
 #endif
 }
 
 void SplashScreen::unsubscribeFromCoreSignals()
 {
     // Disconnect signals from client
-    uiInterface.InitMessage.disconnect(boost::bind(InitMessage, this, _1));
-    uiInterface.ShowProgress.disconnect(boost::bind(ShowProgress, this, _1, _2, _3));
-#ifdef ENABLE_WALLET
-    for (CWallet* const & pwallet : connectedWallets) {
-        pwallet->ShowProgress.disconnect(boost::bind(ShowProgress, this, _1, _2, false));
+    m_handler_init_message->disconnect();
+    m_handler_show_progress->disconnect();
+    for (auto& handler : m_connected_wallet_handlers) {
+        handler->disconnect();
     }
-#endif
+    m_connected_wallet_handlers.clear();
+    m_connected_wallets.clear();
 }
 
 void SplashScreen::showMessage(const QString &message, int alignment, const QColor &color)
@@ -227,6 +225,6 @@ void SplashScreen::paintEvent(QPaintEvent *event)
 
 void SplashScreen::closeEvent(QCloseEvent *event)
 {
-    StartShutdown(); // allows an "emergency" shutdown during startup
+    m_node.startShutdown(); // allows an "emergency" shutdown during startup
     event->ignore();
 }
diff --git a/src/qt/splashscreen.h b/src/qt/splashscreen.h
index e1568e406bf..419f36f6418 100644
--- a/src/qt/splashscreen.h
+++ b/src/qt/splashscreen.h
@@ -8,9 +8,16 @@
 #include <functional>
 #include <QSplashScreen>
 
-class CWallet;
+#include <memory>
+
 class NetworkStyle;
 
+namespace interface {
+class Handler;
+class Node;
+class Wallet;
+};
+
 /** Class for the splashscreen with information of the running client.
  *
  * @note this is intentionally not a QSplashScreen. Bitcoin Core initialization
@@ -22,7 +29,7 @@ class SplashScreen : public QWidget
     Q_OBJECT
 
 public:
-    explicit SplashScreen(Qt::WindowFlags f, const NetworkStyle *networkStyle);
+    explicit SplashScreen(interface::Node& node, Qt::WindowFlags f, const NetworkStyle *networkStyle);
     ~SplashScreen();
 
 protected:
@@ -45,14 +52,19 @@ private:
     /** Disconnect core signals to splash screen */
     void unsubscribeFromCoreSignals();
     /** Connect wallet signals to splash screen */
-    void ConnectWallet(CWallet*);
+    void ConnectWallet(std::unique_ptr<interface::Wallet> wallet);
 
     QPixmap pixmap;
     QString curMessage;
     QColor curColor;
     int curAlignment;
 
-    QList<CWallet*> connectedWallets;
+    interface::Node& m_node;
+    std::unique_ptr<interface::Handler> m_handler_init_message;
+    std::unique_ptr<interface::Handler> m_handler_show_progress;
+    std::unique_ptr<interface::Handler> m_handler_load_wallet;
+    std::list<std::unique_ptr<interface::Wallet>> m_connected_wallets;
+    std::list<std::unique_ptr<interface::Handler>> m_connected_wallet_handlers;
 };
 
 #endif // BITCOIN_QT_SPLASHSCREEN_H