diff --git a/gomuks.el b/gomuks.el
index 01ce092..b2331bf 100644
--- a/gomuks.el
+++ b/gomuks.el
@@ -30,12 +30,24 @@
 
 (defvar client-state (make-gomuks-state :rooms '() :spaces '()))
 
-(defvar gomuks-server-buffer (get-buffer-create "*gomuks-server*"))
+(defvar gomuks-server-buffer "*gomuks-server*")
 (defvar gomuks-socket-buffer "*gomuks-socket-frame*")
 (defvar gomuks-server-name "*gomuks-server*")
-(defvar gomuks-server-bin "~/Downloads/gomuks")
-(defvar gomuks-server-proc
-  (start-process gomuks-server-name gomuks-server-buffer gomuks-server-bin))
+
+(defcustom gomuks-server-binary "~/Downloads/gomuks"
+  "The Gomuks backend binary."
+  :type 'string
+  :group 'gomuks)
+
+(defun gomuks-server-start ()
+  "Start the gomuks server process"
+  (interactive)
+  (start-process gomuks-server-name (get-buffer-create gomuks-server-buffer) gomuks-server-bin))
+
+(defun gomuks-server-kill ()
+  "Kill the gomuks server process"
+  (interactive)
+  (kill-process gomuks-server-name))
 
 (defvar gomuks-url "http://localhost:29325")
 (defvar gomuks-auth-endpoint (concat gomuks-url "/_gomuks/auth"))