diff --git a/include/maxscale/mainworker.hh b/include/maxscale/mainworker.hh
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b122e1843
--- /dev/null
+++ b/include/maxscale/mainworker.hh
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (c) 2018 MariaDB Corporation Ab
+ *
+ * Use of this software is governed by the Business Source License included
+ * in the LICENSE.TXT file and at www.mariadb.com/bsl11.
+ *
+ * Change Date: 2022-01-01
+ *
+ * On the date above, in accordance with the Business Source License, use
+ * of this software will be governed by version 2 or later of the General
+ * Public License.
+ */
+#pragma once
+
+#include <maxscale/ccdefs.hh>
+
+#include <maxbase/worker.hh>
+
+namespace maxscale
+{
+
+class MainWorker : public mxb::Worker
+{
+    MainWorker(const MainWorker&) = delete;
+    MainWorker& operator=(const MainWorker&) = delete;
+
+public:
+    /**
+     * Construct the main worker.
+     *
+     * @note There can be exactly one instance of @c MainWorker.
+     */
+    MainWorker();
+
+    ~MainWorker();
+
+    /**
+     * Return the main worker.
+     *
+     * @return The main worker.
+     */
+    static MainWorker& get();
+
+private:
+    bool pre_run() override;
+    void post_run() override;
+    void epoll_tick() override;
+};
+
+}
diff --git a/server/core/CMakeLists.txt b/server/core/CMakeLists.txt
index fab931f5b..78e46561d 100644
--- a/server/core/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/server/core/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ add_library(maxscale-common SHARED
   listener.cc
   load_utils.cc
   log.cc
+  mainworker.cc
   mariadb.cc
   maxscale_pcre2.cc
   misc.cc
diff --git a/server/core/mainworker.cc b/server/core/mainworker.cc
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..fb65240d0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/core/mainworker.cc
@@ -0,0 +1,65 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (c) 2018 MariaDB Corporation Ab
+ *
+ * Use of this software is governed by the Business Source License included
+ * in the LICENSE.TXT file and at www.mariadb.com/bsl11.
+ *
+ * Change Date: 2022-01-01
+ *
+ * On the date above, in accordance with the Business Source License, use
+ * of this software will be governed by version 2 or later of the General
+ * Public License.
+ */
+
+#include <maxscale/mainworker.hh>
+#include <signal.h>
+
+namespace
+{
+
+static struct ThisUnit
+{
+    maxscale::MainWorker* pThis;
+} this_unit;
+
+}
+
+namespace maxscale
+{
+
+MainWorker::MainWorker()
+{
+    mxb_assert(!this_unit.pThis);
+
+    this_unit.pThis = this;
+}
+
+MainWorker::~MainWorker()
+{
+    mxb_assert(this_unit.pThis);
+
+    this_unit.pThis = nullptr;
+}
+
+//static
+MainWorker& MainWorker::get()
+{
+    mxb_assert(this_unit.pThis);
+
+    return *this_unit.pThis;
+}
+
+bool MainWorker::pre_run()
+{
+    return true;
+}
+
+void MainWorker::post_run()
+{
+}
+
+void MainWorker::epoll_tick()
+{
+}
+
+}