diff --git a/dgl/ntk/NtkApp.hpp b/dgl/ntk/NtkApp.hpp
index 5dc7b2d4..2c32d56b 100644
--- a/dgl/ntk/NtkApp.hpp
+++ b/dgl/ntk/NtkApp.hpp
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@
 #define DGL_NTK_APP_HPP_INCLUDED
 
 #include "../Base.hpp"
+#include "../../distrho/DistrhoUI.hpp"
+#include "../../distrho/extra/d_thread.hpp"
 
 #ifdef override
 # define override_defined
@@ -35,36 +37,65 @@
 # undef override_defined
 #endif
 
+struct ScopedDisplayLock {
+    ScopedDisplayLock()
+    {
+#ifdef DISTRHO_OS_LINUX
+        XLockDisplay(fl_display);
+#endif
+    }
+
+    ~ScopedDisplayLock()
+    {
+#ifdef DISTRHO_OS_LINUX
+        XUnlockDisplay(fl_display);
+#endif
+    }
+};
+
+// -----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+namespace DISTRHO_NAMESPACE {
+  class UI;
+}
+
 START_NAMESPACE_DGL
 
 class NtkWindow;
 
+typedef DISTRHO_NAMESPACE::Mutex       d_Mutex;
+typedef DISTRHO_NAMESPACE::MutexLocker d_MutexLocker;
+typedef DISTRHO_NAMESPACE::Thread      d_Thread;
+typedef DISTRHO_NAMESPACE::UI          d_UI;
+
 // -----------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 /**
    DGL compatible App class that uses NTK instead of OpenGL.
    @see App
  */
-class NtkApp
+class NtkApp : d_Thread
 {
 public:
    /**
       Constructor.
     */
     NtkApp()
-        : fIsRunning(true),
-          fWindows()
+        : d_Thread("NtkApp"),
+          fWindows(),
+          fWindowMutex(),
+          fNextUI(),
+          fDoNextUI(false),
+          fInitialized(false)
     {
-        static bool initialized = false;
-
-        if (! initialized)
-        {
-            initialized = true;
-            fl_register_images();
 #ifdef DISTRHO_OS_LINUX
-            fl_open_display();
+        //XInitThreads();
 #endif
-        }
+
+        startThread();
+
+        for (; ! fInitialized;)
+            d_msleep(10);
     }
 
    /**
@@ -72,20 +103,15 @@ public:
     */
     ~NtkApp()
     {
-        DISTRHO_SAFE_ASSERT(! fIsRunning);
-
+        stopThread(-1);
         fWindows.clear();
     }
 
    /**
       Idle function.
-      This calls the NTK event-loop once (and all idle callbacks).
+      This calls does nothing.
     */
-    void idle()
-    {
-        Fl::check();
-        Fl::flush();
-    }
+    void idle() {}
 
    /**
       Run the application event-loop until all Windows are closed.
@@ -93,9 +119,8 @@ public:
     */
     void exec()
     {
-        fIsRunning = true;
-        Fl::run();
-        fIsRunning = false;
+        while (isThreadRunning() && ! shouldThreadExit())
+            d_sleep(1);
     }
 
    /**
@@ -104,13 +129,7 @@ public:
     */
     void quit()
     {
-        fIsRunning = false;
-
-        for (std::list<Fl_Double_Window*>::reverse_iterator rit = fWindows.rbegin(), rite = fWindows.rend(); rit != rite; ++rit)
-        {
-            Fl_Double_Window* const window(*rit);
-            window->hide();
-        }
+        signalThreadShouldExit();
     }
 
    /**
@@ -119,23 +138,91 @@ public:
     */
     bool isQuiting() const noexcept
     {
-        return !fIsRunning;
+        if (isThreadRunning() && ! shouldThreadExit())
+            return false;
+        return true;
+    }
+
+    // -------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+   /**
+      Create UI on our separate thread.
+      Blocks until the UI is created and returns it.
+    */
+    d_UI* createUI(void* const func)
+    {
+        DISTRHO_SAFE_ASSERT_RETURN(isThreadRunning(), nullptr);
+        DISTRHO_SAFE_ASSERT_RETURN(! fDoNextUI, nullptr);
+
+        fNextUI.create = true;
+        fNextUI.func   = (NextUI::UiFunc)func;
+        fDoNextUI      = true;
+
+        for (; fDoNextUI;)
+            d_msleep(10);
+
+        return fNextUI.ui;
+    }
+
+   /**
+      Delete UI on our separate thread.
+      Blocks until the UI is deleted.
+    */
+    void deleteUI(d_UI* const ui)
+    {
+        DISTRHO_SAFE_ASSERT_RETURN(! fDoNextUI,);
+
+        fNextUI.create = false;
+        fNextUI.ui     = ui;
+        fDoNextUI      = true;
+
+        if (isThreadRunning())
+        {
+            for (; fDoNextUI;)
+                d_msleep(10);
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            fNextUI.run();
+            fDoNextUI = false;
+        }
     }
 
+    // -------------------------------------------------------------------
+
 private:
-    bool fIsRunning;
-    std::list<Fl_Double_Window*> fWindows;
+    struct NextUI {
+        typedef d_UI* (*UiFunc)();
 
-    friend class NtkWindow;
+        bool create;
+
+        union {
+            UiFunc func;
+            d_UI*  ui;
+        };
+
+        NextUI()
+            : create(false),
+              func(nullptr) {}
+
+        void run();
+    };
+
+    std::list<Fl_Double_Window*> fWindows;
+    d_Mutex       fWindowMutex;
+    NextUI        fNextUI;
+    volatile bool fDoNextUI;
+    volatile bool fInitialized;
 
    /** @internal used by NtkWindow. */
     void addWindow(Fl_Double_Window* const window)
     {
         DISTRHO_SAFE_ASSERT_RETURN(window != nullptr,);
 
-        if (fWindows.size() == 0)
-            fIsRunning = true;
+        if (fWindows.size() == 0 && ! isThreadRunning())
+            startThread();
 
+        const d_MutexLocker sl(fWindowMutex);
         fWindows.push_back(window);
     }
 
@@ -144,15 +231,59 @@ private:
     {
         DISTRHO_SAFE_ASSERT_RETURN(window != nullptr,);
 
+        const d_MutexLocker sl(fWindowMutex);
         fWindows.remove(window);
 
         if (fWindows.size() == 0)
-            fIsRunning = false;
+            signalThreadShouldExit();
+    }
+
+   /** @internal */
+    void run() override
+    {
+        static bool initialized = false;
+
+        if (! initialized)
+        {
+            initialized = true;
+            fl_register_images();
+#ifdef DISTRHO_OS_LINUX
+            fl_open_display();
+#endif
+        }
+
+        fInitialized = true;
+
+        for (; ! shouldThreadExit();)
+        {
+            if (fDoNextUI)
+            {
+                const ScopedDisplayLock csdl;
+                fNextUI.run();
+                fDoNextUI = false;
+            }
+
+            const ScopedDisplayLock csdl;
+            Fl::check();
+            Fl::flush();
+
+            d_msleep(20);
+        }
+
+        const d_MutexLocker sl(fWindowMutex);
+        const ScopedDisplayLock csdl;
+
+        for (std::list<Fl_Double_Window*>::reverse_iterator rit = fWindows.rbegin(), rite = fWindows.rend(); rit != rite; ++rit)
+        {
+            Fl_Double_Window* const window(*rit);
+            window->hide();
+        }
     }
 
+    friend class NtkWindow;
+
     DISTRHO_DECLARE_NON_COPYABLE_WITH_LEAK_DETECTOR(NtkApp)
 };
-
 // -----------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 END_NAMESPACE_DGL
diff --git a/distrho/DistrhoUIMain.cpp b/distrho/DistrhoUIMain.cpp
index cb1cb6e7..3bc09713 100644
--- a/distrho/DistrhoUIMain.cpp
+++ b/distrho/DistrhoUIMain.cpp
@@ -27,3 +27,28 @@
 #elif defined(DISTRHO_PLUGIN_TARGET_VST)
 // nothing
 #endif
+
+#ifdef DGL_NTK_APP_HPP_INCLUDED
+
+START_NAMESPACE_DGL
+
+void NtkApp::NextUI::run()
+{
+    if (create)
+    {
+        d_stdout("Creating NTK UI in separate thread...");
+        d_UI* const ui2 = (func)();
+        ui = ui2;
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        d_stdout("Destroying NTK UI in separate thread...");
+        d_UI* const ui2 = ui;
+        ui = nullptr;
+        delete ui2;
+    }
+}
+
+END_NAMESPACE_DGL
+
+#endif
diff --git a/distrho/src/DistrhoUIInternal.hpp b/distrho/src/DistrhoUIInternal.hpp
index e5b53762..6bd421c0 100644
--- a/distrho/src/DistrhoUIInternal.hpp
+++ b/distrho/src/DistrhoUIInternal.hpp
@@ -141,7 +141,11 @@ UI* createUiWrapper(void* const dspPtr, UIWindow* const window)
 {
     d_lastUiDspPtr = dspPtr;
     d_lastUiWindow = window;
+#if DISTRHO_UI_USE_NTK
+    UI* const ret  = window->getApp().createUI((void*)createUI);
+#else
     UI* const ret  = createUI();
+#endif
     d_lastUiDspPtr = nullptr;
     d_lastUiWindow = nullptr;
     return ret;
@@ -164,7 +168,11 @@ public:
 
     ~UIExporterWindow()
     {
+#if DISTRHO_UI_USE_NTK
+        getApp().deleteUI(fUI);
+#else
         delete fUI;
+#endif
     }
 
     UI* getUI() const noexcept