diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index c8bd063dd..2ec8b5722 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -702,6 +702,18 @@ endif()
 # setup some Testing support (a macro defined in this file)
 CMAKE_SETUP_TESTING()
 
+# Check whether to build server mode or not:
+set(CMake_HAVE_SERVER_MODE 0)
+if(NOT CMake_TEST_EXTERNAL_CMAKE AND NOT CMAKE_BOOTSTRAP AND CMAKE_USE_LIBUV)
+  list(FIND CMAKE_CXX_COMPILE_FEATURES cxx_auto_type CMake_HAVE_CXX_AUTO_TYPE)
+  list(FIND CMAKE_CXX_COMPILE_FEATURES cxx_range_for CMake_HAVE_CXX_RANGE_FOR)
+  if(CMake_HAVE_CXX_AUTO_TYPE AND CMake_HAVE_CXX_RANGE_FOR)
+    if(CMake_HAVE_CXX_MAKE_UNIQUE)
+      set(CMake_HAVE_SERVER_MODE 1)
+    endif()
+  endif()
+endif()
+
 if(NOT CMake_TEST_EXTERNAL_CMAKE)
   if(NOT CMake_VERSION_IS_RELEASE)
     if(CMAKE_C_COMPILER_ID STREQUAL "GNU" AND
diff --git a/Source/CMakeLists.txt b/Source/CMakeLists.txt
index 39773e15b..a2dead644 100644
--- a/Source/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/Source/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -786,6 +786,17 @@ add_executable(cmake cmakemain.cxx cmcmd.cxx cmcmd.h ${MANIFEST_FILE})
 list(APPEND _tools cmake)
 target_link_libraries(cmake CMakeLib)
 
+if(CMake_HAVE_SERVER_MODE)
+  add_library(CMakeServerLib
+    cmServer.cxx cmServer.h
+    cmServerProtocol.cxx cmServerProtocol.h
+    )
+  target_link_libraries(CMakeServerLib CMakeLib)
+  set_property(SOURCE cmcmd.cxx APPEND PROPERTY COMPILE_DEFINITIONS HAVE_SERVER_MODE=1)
+
+  target_link_libraries(cmake CMakeServerLib)
+endif()
+
 # Build CTest executable
 add_executable(ctest ctest.cxx ${MANIFEST_FILE})
 list(APPEND _tools ctest)
diff --git a/Source/cmServer.cxx b/Source/cmServer.cxx
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7643b4783
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Source/cmServer.cxx
@@ -0,0 +1,352 @@
+/*============================================================================
+  CMake - Cross Platform Makefile Generator
+  Copyright 2015 Stephen Kelly <steveire@gmail.com>
+  Copyright 2016 Tobias Hunger <tobias.hunger@qt.io>
+
+  Distributed under the OSI-approved BSD License (the "License");
+  see accompanying file Copyright.txt for details.
+
+  This software is distributed WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the
+  implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
+  See the License for more information.
+============================================================================*/
+
+#include "cmServer.h"
+
+#include "cmServerProtocol.h"
+#include "cmVersionMacros.h"
+#include "cmake.h"
+
+#if defined(CMAKE_BUILD_WITH_CMAKE)
+#include "cm_jsoncpp_reader.h"
+#include "cm_jsoncpp_value.h"
+#endif
+
+const char kTYPE_KEY[] = "type";
+const char kCOOKIE_KEY[] = "cookie";
+const char REPLY_TO_KEY[] = "inReplyTo";
+const char ERROR_MESSAGE_KEY[] = "errorMessage";
+
+const char ERROR_TYPE[] = "error";
+const char REPLY_TYPE[] = "reply";
+const char PROGRESS_TYPE[] = "progress";
+
+const char START_MAGIC[] = "[== CMake Server ==[";
+const char END_MAGIC[] = "]== CMake Server ==]";
+
+typedef struct
+{
+  uv_write_t req;
+  uv_buf_t buf;
+} write_req_t;
+
+void alloc_buffer(uv_handle_t* handle, size_t suggested_size, uv_buf_t* buf)
+{
+  (void)handle;
+  *buf = uv_buf_init(static_cast<char*>(malloc(suggested_size)),
+                     static_cast<unsigned int>(suggested_size));
+}
+
+void free_write_req(uv_write_t* req)
+{
+  write_req_t* wr = reinterpret_cast<write_req_t*>(req);
+  free(wr->buf.base);
+  free(wr);
+}
+
+void on_stdout_write(uv_write_t* req, int status)
+{
+  (void)status;
+  auto server = reinterpret_cast<cmServer*>(req->data);
+  free_write_req(req);
+  server->PopOne();
+}
+
+void write_data(uv_stream_t* dest, std::string content, uv_write_cb cb)
+{
+  write_req_t* req = static_cast<write_req_t*>(malloc(sizeof(write_req_t)));
+  req->req.data = dest->data;
+  req->buf = uv_buf_init(static_cast<char*>(malloc(content.size())),
+                         static_cast<unsigned int>(content.size()));
+  memcpy(req->buf.base, content.c_str(), content.size());
+  uv_write(reinterpret_cast<uv_write_t*>(req), static_cast<uv_stream_t*>(dest),
+           &req->buf, 1, cb);
+}
+
+void read_stdin(uv_stream_t* stream, ssize_t nread, const uv_buf_t* buf)
+{
+  if (nread > 0) {
+    auto server = reinterpret_cast<cmServer*>(stream->data);
+    std::string result = std::string(buf->base, buf->base + nread);
+    server->handleData(result);
+  }
+
+  if (buf->base)
+    free(buf->base);
+}
+
+cmServer::cmServer()
+{
+}
+
+cmServer::~cmServer()
+{
+  if (!this->Protocol) // Daemon was never fully started!
+    return;
+
+  uv_close(reinterpret_cast<uv_handle_t*>(this->InputStream), NULL);
+  uv_close(reinterpret_cast<uv_handle_t*>(this->OutputStream), NULL);
+  uv_loop_close(this->Loop);
+
+  for (cmServerProtocol* p : this->SupportedProtocols) {
+    delete p;
+  }
+}
+
+void cmServer::PopOne()
+{
+  this->Writing = false;
+  if (this->Queue.empty()) {
+    return;
+  }
+
+  Json::Reader reader;
+  Json::Value value;
+  const std::string input = this->Queue.front();
+  this->Queue.erase(this->Queue.begin());
+
+  if (!reader.parse(input, value)) {
+    this->WriteParseError("Failed to parse JSON input.");
+    return;
+  }
+
+  const cmServerRequest request(this, value[kTYPE_KEY].asString(),
+                                value[kCOOKIE_KEY].asString(), value);
+
+  if (request.Type == "") {
+    cmServerResponse response(request);
+    response.SetError("No type given in request.");
+    this->WriteResponse(response);
+    return;
+  }
+
+  this->WriteResponse(this->Protocol ? this->Protocol->Process(request)
+                                     : this->SetProtocolVersion(request));
+}
+
+void cmServer::handleData(const std::string& data)
+{
+  this->DataBuffer += data;
+
+  for (;;) {
+    auto needle = this->DataBuffer.find('\n');
+
+    if (needle == std::string::npos) {
+      return;
+    }
+    std::string line = this->DataBuffer.substr(0, needle);
+    const auto ls = line.size();
+    if (ls > 1 && line.at(ls - 1) == '\r')
+      line.erase(ls - 1, 1);
+    this->DataBuffer.erase(this->DataBuffer.begin(),
+                           this->DataBuffer.begin() + needle + 1);
+    if (line == START_MAGIC) {
+      this->JsonData.clear();
+      continue;
+    }
+    if (line == END_MAGIC) {
+      this->Queue.push_back(this->JsonData);
+      this->JsonData.clear();
+      if (!this->Writing) {
+        this->PopOne();
+      }
+    } else {
+      this->JsonData += line;
+      this->JsonData += "\n";
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+void cmServer::RegisterProtocol(cmServerProtocol* protocol)
+{
+  auto version = protocol->ProtocolVersion();
+  assert(version.first >= 0);
+  assert(version.second >= 0);
+  auto it = std::find_if(this->SupportedProtocols.begin(),
+                         this->SupportedProtocols.end(),
+                         [version](cmServerProtocol* p) {
+                           return p->ProtocolVersion() == version;
+                         });
+  if (it == this->SupportedProtocols.end())
+    this->SupportedProtocols.push_back(protocol);
+}
+
+void cmServer::PrintHello() const
+{
+  Json::Value hello = Json::objectValue;
+  hello[kTYPE_KEY] = "hello";
+
+  Json::Value& protocolVersions = hello["supportedProtocolVersions"] =
+    Json::arrayValue;
+
+  for (auto const& proto : this->SupportedProtocols) {
+    auto version = proto->ProtocolVersion();
+    Json::Value tmp = Json::objectValue;
+    tmp["major"] = version.first;
+    tmp["minor"] = version.second;
+    protocolVersions.append(tmp);
+  }
+
+  this->WriteJsonObject(hello);
+}
+
+cmServerResponse cmServer::SetProtocolVersion(const cmServerRequest& request)
+{
+  if (request.Type != "handshake")
+    return request.ReportError("Waiting for type \"handshake\".");
+
+  Json::Value requestedProtocolVersion = request.Data["protocolVersion"];
+  if (requestedProtocolVersion.isNull())
+    return request.ReportError(
+      "\"protocolVersion\" is required for \"handshake\".");
+
+  if (!requestedProtocolVersion.isObject())
+    return request.ReportError("\"protocolVersion\" must be a JSON object.");
+
+  Json::Value majorValue = requestedProtocolVersion["major"];
+  if (!majorValue.isInt())
+    return request.ReportError("\"major\" must be set and an integer.");
+
+  Json::Value minorValue = requestedProtocolVersion["minor"];
+  if (!minorValue.isNull() && !minorValue.isInt())
+    return request.ReportError("\"minor\" must be unset or an integer.");
+
+  const int major = majorValue.asInt();
+  const int minor = minorValue.isNull() ? -1 : minorValue.asInt();
+  if (major < 0)
+    return request.ReportError("\"major\" must be >= 0.");
+  if (!minorValue.isNull() && minor < 0)
+    return request.ReportError("\"minor\" must be >= 0 when set.");
+
+  this->Protocol =
+    this->FindMatchingProtocol(this->SupportedProtocols, major, minor);
+  if (!this->Protocol) {
+    return request.ReportError("Protocol version not supported.");
+  }
+
+  std::string errorMessage;
+  if (!this->Protocol->Activate(request, &errorMessage)) {
+    this->Protocol = CM_NULLPTR;
+    return request.ReportError("Failed to activate protocol version: " +
+                               errorMessage);
+  }
+  return request.Reply(Json::objectValue);
+}
+
+void cmServer::Serve()
+{
+  assert(!this->Protocol);
+
+  this->Loop = uv_default_loop();
+
+  if (uv_guess_handle(1) == UV_TTY) {
+    uv_tty_init(this->Loop, &this->Input.tty, 0, 1);
+    uv_tty_set_mode(&this->Input.tty, UV_TTY_MODE_NORMAL);
+    this->Input.tty.data = this;
+    InputStream = reinterpret_cast<uv_stream_t*>(&this->Input.tty);
+
+    uv_tty_init(this->Loop, &this->Output.tty, 1, 0);
+    uv_tty_set_mode(&this->Output.tty, UV_TTY_MODE_NORMAL);
+    this->Output.tty.data = this;
+    OutputStream = reinterpret_cast<uv_stream_t*>(&this->Output.tty);
+  } else {
+    uv_pipe_init(this->Loop, &this->Input.pipe, 0);
+    uv_pipe_open(&this->Input.pipe, 0);
+    this->Input.pipe.data = this;
+    InputStream = reinterpret_cast<uv_stream_t*>(&this->Input.pipe);
+
+    uv_pipe_init(this->Loop, &this->Output.pipe, 0);
+    uv_pipe_open(&this->Output.pipe, 1);
+    this->Output.pipe.data = this;
+    OutputStream = reinterpret_cast<uv_stream_t*>(&this->Output.pipe);
+  }
+
+  this->PrintHello();
+
+  uv_read_start(this->InputStream, alloc_buffer, read_stdin);
+
+  uv_run(this->Loop, UV_RUN_DEFAULT);
+}
+
+void cmServer::WriteJsonObject(const Json::Value& jsonValue) const
+{
+  Json::FastWriter writer;
+
+  std::string result = std::string("\n") + std::string(START_MAGIC) +
+    std::string("\n") + writer.write(jsonValue) + std::string(END_MAGIC) +
+    std::string("\n");
+
+  this->Writing = true;
+  write_data(this->OutputStream, result, on_stdout_write);
+}
+
+cmServerProtocol* cmServer::FindMatchingProtocol(
+  const std::vector<cmServerProtocol*>& protocols, int major, int minor)
+{
+  cmServerProtocol* bestMatch = nullptr;
+  for (auto protocol : protocols) {
+    auto version = protocol->ProtocolVersion();
+    if (major != version.first)
+      continue;
+    if (minor == version.second)
+      return protocol;
+    if (!bestMatch || bestMatch->ProtocolVersion().second < version.second)
+      bestMatch = protocol;
+  }
+  return minor < 0 ? bestMatch : nullptr;
+}
+
+void cmServer::WriteProgress(const cmServerRequest& request, int min,
+                             int current, int max,
+                             const std::string& message) const
+{
+  assert(min <= current && current <= max);
+  assert(message.length() != 0);
+
+  Json::Value obj = Json::objectValue;
+  obj[kTYPE_KEY] = PROGRESS_TYPE;
+  obj[REPLY_TO_KEY] = request.Type;
+  obj[kCOOKIE_KEY] = request.Cookie;
+  obj["progressMessage"] = message;
+  obj["progressMinimum"] = min;
+  obj["progressMaximum"] = max;
+  obj["progressCurrent"] = current;
+
+  this->WriteJsonObject(obj);
+}
+
+void cmServer::WriteParseError(const std::string& message) const
+{
+  Json::Value obj = Json::objectValue;
+  obj[kTYPE_KEY] = ERROR_TYPE;
+  obj[ERROR_MESSAGE_KEY] = message;
+  obj[REPLY_TO_KEY] = "";
+  obj[kCOOKIE_KEY] = "";
+
+  this->WriteJsonObject(obj);
+}
+
+void cmServer::WriteResponse(const cmServerResponse& response) const
+{
+  assert(response.IsComplete());
+
+  Json::Value obj = response.Data();
+  obj[kCOOKIE_KEY] = response.Cookie;
+  obj[kTYPE_KEY] = response.IsError() ? ERROR_TYPE : REPLY_TYPE;
+  obj[REPLY_TO_KEY] = response.Type;
+  if (response.IsError()) {
+    obj[ERROR_MESSAGE_KEY] = response.ErrorMessage();
+  }
+
+  this->WriteJsonObject(obj);
+}
diff --git a/Source/cmServer.h b/Source/cmServer.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..0ef1e17e5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Source/cmServer.h
@@ -0,0 +1,85 @@
+/*============================================================================
+  CMake - Cross Platform Makefile Generator
+  Copyright 2015 Stephen Kelly <steveire@gmail.com>
+  Copyright 2016 Tobias Hunger <tobias.hunger@qt.io>
+
+  Distributed under the OSI-approved BSD License (the "License");
+  see accompanying file Copyright.txt for details.
+
+  This software is distributed WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the
+  implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
+  See the License for more information.
+============================================================================*/
+
+#pragma once
+
+#include "cmListFileCache.h"
+#include "cmState.h"
+
+#if defined(CMAKE_BUILD_WITH_CMAKE)
+#include "cm_jsoncpp_value.h"
+#include "cm_uv.h"
+#endif
+
+#include <string>
+#include <vector>
+
+class cmServerProtocol;
+class cmServerRequest;
+class cmServerResponse;
+
+class cmServer
+{
+public:
+  cmServer();
+  ~cmServer();
+
+  void Serve();
+
+  // for callbacks:
+  void PopOne();
+  void handleData(std::string const& data);
+
+private:
+  void RegisterProtocol(cmServerProtocol* protocol);
+
+  // Handle requests:
+  cmServerResponse SetProtocolVersion(const cmServerRequest& request);
+
+  void PrintHello() const;
+
+  // Write responses:
+  void WriteProgress(const cmServerRequest& request, int min, int current,
+                     int max, const std::string& message) const;
+  void WriteResponse(const cmServerResponse& response) const;
+  void WriteParseError(const std::string& message) const;
+
+  void WriteJsonObject(Json::Value const& jsonValue) const;
+
+  static cmServerProtocol* FindMatchingProtocol(
+    const std::vector<cmServerProtocol*>& protocols, int major, int minor);
+
+  cmServerProtocol* Protocol = nullptr;
+  std::vector<cmServerProtocol*> SupportedProtocols;
+  std::vector<std::string> Queue;
+
+  std::string DataBuffer;
+  std::string JsonData;
+
+  uv_loop_t* Loop = nullptr;
+
+  typedef union
+  {
+    uv_tty_t tty;
+    uv_pipe_t pipe;
+  } InOutUnion;
+
+  InOutUnion Input;
+  InOutUnion Output;
+  uv_stream_t* InputStream = nullptr;
+  uv_stream_t* OutputStream = nullptr;
+
+  mutable bool Writing = false;
+
+  friend class cmServerRequest;
+};
diff --git a/Source/cmServerProtocol.cxx b/Source/cmServerProtocol.cxx
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..659aa0f00
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Source/cmServerProtocol.cxx
@@ -0,0 +1,129 @@
+/*============================================================================
+  CMake - Cross Platform Makefile Generator
+  Copyright 2016 Tobias Hunger <tobias.hunger@qt.io>
+
+  Distributed under the OSI-approved BSD License (the "License");
+  see accompanying file Copyright.txt for details.
+
+  This software is distributed WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the
+  implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
+  See the License for more information.
+============================================================================*/
+
+#include "cmServerProtocol.h"
+
+#include "cmExternalMakefileProjectGenerator.h"
+#include "cmServer.h"
+#include "cmake.h"
+
+#if defined(CMAKE_BUILD_WITH_CMAKE)
+#include "cm_jsoncpp_reader.h"
+#include "cm_jsoncpp_value.h"
+#endif
+
+namespace {
+// Vocabulary:
+
+const std::string kCOOKIE_KEY = "cookie";
+const std::string kTYPE_KEY = "type";
+
+} // namespace
+
+cmServerRequest::cmServerRequest(cmServer* server, const std::string& t,
+                                 const std::string& c, const Json::Value& d)
+  : Type(t)
+  , Cookie(c)
+  , Data(d)
+  , m_Server(server)
+{
+}
+
+void cmServerRequest::ReportProgress(int min, int current, int max,
+                                     const std::string& message) const
+{
+  this->m_Server->WriteProgress(*this, min, current, max, message);
+}
+
+cmServerResponse cmServerRequest::Reply(const Json::Value& data) const
+{
+  cmServerResponse response(*this);
+  response.SetData(data);
+  return response;
+}
+
+cmServerResponse cmServerRequest::ReportError(const std::string& message) const
+{
+  cmServerResponse response(*this);
+  response.SetError(message);
+  return response;
+}
+
+cmServerResponse::cmServerResponse(const cmServerRequest& request)
+  : Type(request.Type)
+  , Cookie(request.Cookie)
+{
+}
+
+void cmServerResponse::SetData(const Json::Value& data)
+{
+  assert(this->m_Payload == PAYLOAD_UNKNOWN);
+  if (!data[kCOOKIE_KEY].isNull() || !data[kTYPE_KEY].isNull()) {
+    this->SetError("Response contains cookie or type field.");
+    return;
+  }
+  this->m_Payload = PAYLOAD_DATA;
+  this->m_Data = data;
+}
+
+void cmServerResponse::SetError(const std::string& message)
+{
+  assert(this->m_Payload == PAYLOAD_UNKNOWN);
+  this->m_Payload = PAYLOAD_ERROR;
+  this->m_ErrorMessage = message;
+}
+
+bool cmServerResponse::IsComplete() const
+{
+  return this->m_Payload != PAYLOAD_UNKNOWN;
+}
+
+bool cmServerResponse::IsError() const
+{
+  assert(this->m_Payload != PAYLOAD_UNKNOWN);
+  return this->m_Payload == PAYLOAD_ERROR;
+}
+
+std::string cmServerResponse::ErrorMessage() const
+{
+  if (this->m_Payload == PAYLOAD_ERROR)
+    return this->m_ErrorMessage;
+  else
+    return std::string();
+}
+
+Json::Value cmServerResponse::Data() const
+{
+  assert(this->m_Payload != PAYLOAD_UNKNOWN);
+  return this->m_Data;
+}
+
+bool cmServerProtocol::Activate(const cmServerRequest& request,
+                                std::string* errorMessage)
+{
+  this->m_CMakeInstance = std::make_unique<cmake>();
+  const bool result = this->DoActivate(request, errorMessage);
+  if (!result)
+    this->m_CMakeInstance = CM_NULLPTR;
+  return result;
+}
+
+cmake* cmServerProtocol::CMakeInstance() const
+{
+  return this->m_CMakeInstance.get();
+}
+
+bool cmServerProtocol::DoActivate(const cmServerRequest& /*request*/,
+                                  std::string* /*errorMessage*/)
+{
+  return true;
+}
diff --git a/Source/cmServerProtocol.h b/Source/cmServerProtocol.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e086f7252
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Source/cmServerProtocol.h
@@ -0,0 +1,97 @@
+/*============================================================================
+  CMake - Cross Platform Makefile Generator
+  Copyright 2016 Tobias Hunger <tobias.hunger@qt.io>
+
+  Distributed under the OSI-approved BSD License (the "License");
+  see accompanying file Copyright.txt for details.
+
+  This software is distributed WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the
+  implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
+  See the License for more information.
+============================================================================*/
+
+#pragma once
+
+#include "cmListFileCache.h"
+
+#if defined(CMAKE_BUILD_WITH_CMAKE)
+#include "cm_jsoncpp_writer.h"
+#endif
+
+#include <memory>
+#include <string>
+
+class cmake;
+class cmServer;
+
+class cmServerRequest;
+
+class cmServerResponse
+{
+public:
+  explicit cmServerResponse(const cmServerRequest& request);
+
+  void SetData(const Json::Value& data);
+  void SetError(const std::string& message);
+
+  bool IsComplete() const;
+  bool IsError() const;
+  std::string ErrorMessage() const;
+  Json::Value Data() const;
+
+  const std::string Type;
+  const std::string Cookie;
+
+private:
+  enum PayLoad
+  {
+    PAYLOAD_UNKNOWN,
+    PAYLOAD_ERROR,
+    PAYLOAD_DATA
+  };
+  PayLoad m_Payload = PAYLOAD_UNKNOWN;
+  std::string m_ErrorMessage;
+  Json::Value m_Data;
+};
+
+class cmServerRequest
+{
+public:
+  void ReportProgress(int min, int current, int max,
+                      const std::string& message) const;
+
+  cmServerResponse Reply(const Json::Value& data) const;
+  cmServerResponse ReportError(const std::string& message) const;
+
+  const std::string Type;
+  const std::string Cookie;
+  const Json::Value Data;
+
+private:
+  cmServerRequest(cmServer* server, const std::string& t, const std::string& c,
+                  const Json::Value& d);
+
+  cmServer* m_Server;
+
+  friend class cmServer;
+};
+
+class cmServerProtocol
+{
+public:
+  virtual ~cmServerProtocol() {}
+
+  virtual std::pair<int, int> ProtocolVersion() const = 0;
+  virtual const cmServerResponse Process(const cmServerRequest& request) = 0;
+
+  bool Activate(const cmServerRequest& request, std::string* errorMessage);
+
+protected:
+  cmake* CMakeInstance() const;
+  // Implement protocol specific activation tasks here. Called from Activate().
+  virtual bool DoActivate(const cmServerRequest& request,
+                          std::string* errorMessage);
+
+private:
+  std::unique_ptr<cmake> m_CMakeInstance;
+};
diff --git a/Source/cmcmd.cxx b/Source/cmcmd.cxx
index 3b385ab2e..c09ea8bb9 100644
--- a/Source/cmcmd.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmcmd.cxx
@@ -23,6 +23,10 @@
 #include "cm_auto_ptr.hxx"
 #include "cmake.h"
 
+#if defined(HAVE_SERVER_MODE) && HAVE_SERVER_MODE
+#include "cmServer.h"
+#endif
+
 #if defined(CMAKE_BUILD_WITH_CMAKE)
 #include "cmDependsFortran.h" // For -E cmake_copy_f90_mod callback.
 #endif
@@ -91,6 +95,7 @@ void CMakeCommandUsage(const char* program)
     << "  remove_directory dir      - remove a directory and its contents\n"
     << "  rename oldname newname    - rename a file or directory "
        "(on one volume)\n"
+    << "  server                    - start cmake in server mode\n"
     << "  sleep <number>...         - sleep for given number of seconds\n"
     << "  tar [cxt][vf][zjJ] file.tar [file/dir1 file/dir2 ...]\n"
     << "                            - create or extract a tar or zip archive\n"
@@ -907,6 +912,19 @@ int cmcmd::ExecuteCMakeCommand(std::vector<std::string>& args)
 #endif
       }
       return 0;
+    } else if (args[1] == "server") {
+      if (args.size() > 2) {
+        cmSystemTools::Error("Too many arguments to start server mode");
+        return 1;
+      }
+#if defined(HAVE_SERVER_MODE) && HAVE_SERVER_MODE
+      cmServer server;
+      server.Serve();
+      return 0;
+#else
+      cmSystemTools::Error("CMake was not built with server mode enabled");
+      return 1;
+#endif
     }
 
 #if defined(CMAKE_BUILD_WITH_CMAKE)
diff --git a/Tests/RunCMake/CommandLine/E_server-arg-result.txt b/Tests/RunCMake/CommandLine/E_server-arg-result.txt
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d00491fd7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Tests/RunCMake/CommandLine/E_server-arg-result.txt
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+1
diff --git a/Tests/RunCMake/CommandLine/E_server-arg-stderr.txt b/Tests/RunCMake/CommandLine/E_server-arg-stderr.txt
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7877c01c3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Tests/RunCMake/CommandLine/E_server-arg-stderr.txt
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+^CMake Error: Too many arguments to start server mode$
diff --git a/Tests/RunCMake/CommandLine/RunCMakeTest.cmake b/Tests/RunCMake/CommandLine/RunCMakeTest.cmake
index 6ae47a8f1..9f76ad910 100644
--- a/Tests/RunCMake/CommandLine/RunCMakeTest.cmake
+++ b/Tests/RunCMake/CommandLine/RunCMakeTest.cmake
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ run_cmake_command(E_capabilities ${CMAKE_COMMAND} -E capabilities)
 run_cmake_command(E_capabilities-arg ${CMAKE_COMMAND} -E capabilities --extra-arg)
 run_cmake_command(E_echo_append ${CMAKE_COMMAND} -E echo_append)
 run_cmake_command(E_rename-no-arg ${CMAKE_COMMAND} -E rename)
+run_cmake_command(E_server-arg ${CMAKE_COMMAND} -E server --extra-arg)
 run_cmake_command(E_touch_nocreate-no-arg ${CMAKE_COMMAND} -E touch_nocreate)
 
 run_cmake_command(E_time ${CMAKE_COMMAND} -E time ${CMAKE_COMMAND} -E echo "hello  world")