diff --git a/homeassistant/components/mqtt/__init__.py b/homeassistant/components/mqtt/__init__.py
index 01956a85c36..86896e8309e 100644
--- a/homeassistant/components/mqtt/__init__.py
+++ b/homeassistant/components/mqtt/__init__.py
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import homeassistant.helpers.config_validation as cv
 from homeassistant.const import (
     EVENT_HOMEASSISTANT_START, EVENT_HOMEASSISTANT_STOP,
     CONF_PLATFORM, CONF_SCAN_INTERVAL, CONF_VALUE_TEMPLATE)
+from homeassistant.util.async import run_callback_threadsafe
 
 _LOGGER = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
@@ -165,6 +166,18 @@ def publish_template(hass, topic, payload_template, qos=None, retain=None):
 
 
 def subscribe(hass, topic, callback, qos=DEFAULT_QOS):
+    """Subscribe to an MQTT topic."""
+    async_remove = run_callback_threadsafe(
+        hass.loop, async_subscribe, hass, topic, callback, qos).result()
+
+    def remove_mqtt():
+        """Remove MQTT subscription."""
+        run_callback_threadsafe(hass.loop, async_remove).result()
+
+    return remove_mqtt
+
+
+def async_subscribe(hass, topic, callback, qos=DEFAULT_QOS):
     """Subscribe to an MQTT topic."""
     @asyncio.coroutine
     def mqtt_topic_subscriber(event):
@@ -181,13 +194,13 @@ def subscribe(hass, topic, callback, qos=DEFAULT_QOS):
                          event.data[ATTR_PAYLOAD], event.data[ATTR_QOS],
                          priority=JobPriority.EVENT_CALLBACK)
 
-    remove = hass.bus.listen(EVENT_MQTT_MESSAGE_RECEIVED,
-                             mqtt_topic_subscriber)
+    async_remove = hass.bus.async_listen(EVENT_MQTT_MESSAGE_RECEIVED,
+                                         mqtt_topic_subscriber)
 
     # Future: track subscriber count and unsubscribe in remove
     MQTT_CLIENT.subscribe(topic, qos)
 
-    return remove
+    return async_remove
 
 
 def _setup_server(hass, config):