--- a/src/player/mpvobject.h
+++ b/src/player/mpvobject.h
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ typedef mpv_opengl_cb_context mpv_context;
 typedef mpv_render_context mpv_context;
 #endif
 
-#include <mpv/qthelper.hpp>
+#include "qthelper.hpp"
 
 class MpvRenderer;

--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/player/qthelper.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,386 @@
+/* Copyright (C) 2017 the mpv developers
+ *
+ * Permission to use, copy, modify, and/or distribute this software for any
+ * purpose with or without fee is hereby granted, provided that the above
+ * copyright notice and this permission notice appear in all copies.
+ *
+ * THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND THE AUTHOR DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES
+ * WITH REGARD TO THIS SOFTWARE INCLUDING ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF
+ * MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHOR BE LIABLE FOR
+ * ANY SPECIAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR ANY DAMAGES
+ * WHATSOEVER RESULTING FROM LOSS OF USE, DATA OR PROFITS, WHETHER IN AN
+ * ACTION OF CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE OR OTHER TORTIOUS ACTION, ARISING OUT OF
+ * OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.
+ */
+
+#ifndef MPV_CLIENT_API_QTHELPER_H_
+#define MPV_CLIENT_API_QTHELPER_H_
+
+#include <mpv/client.h>
+
+#if !MPV_ENABLE_DEPRECATED
+#error "This helper is deprecated. Copy it into your project instead."
+#else
+
+/**
+ * Note: these helpers are provided for convenience for C++/Qt applications.
+ * This is based on the public API in client.h, and it does not encode any
+ * knowledge that is not known or guaranteed outside of the C client API. You
+ * can even copy and modify this code as you like, or implement similar things
+ * for other languages.
+ */
+
+#include <cstring>
+
+#include <QVariant>
+#include <QString>
+#include <QList>
+#include <QHash>
+#include <QSharedPointer>
+#include <QMetaType>
+
+namespace mpv {
+namespace qt {
+
+// Wrapper around mpv_handle. Does refcounting under the hood.
+class Handle
+{
+    struct container {
+        container(mpv_handle *h) : mpv(h) {}
+        ~container() { mpv_terminate_destroy(mpv); }
+        mpv_handle *mpv;
+    };
+    QSharedPointer<container> sptr;
+public:
+    // Construct a new Handle from a raw mpv_handle with refcount 1. If the
+    // last Handle goes out of scope, the mpv_handle will be destroyed with
+    // mpv_terminate_destroy().
+    // Never destroy the mpv_handle manually when using this wrapper. You
+    // will create dangling pointers. Just let the wrapper take care of
+    // destroying the mpv_handle.
+    // Never create multiple wrappers from the same raw mpv_handle; copy the
+    // wrapper instead (that's what it's for).
+    static Handle FromRawHandle(mpv_handle *handle) {
+        Handle h;
+        h.sptr = QSharedPointer<container>(new container(handle));
+        return h;
+    }
+
+    // Return the raw handle; for use with the libmpv C API.
+    operator mpv_handle*() const { return sptr ? (*sptr).mpv : 0; }
+};
+
+static inline QVariant node_to_variant(const mpv_node *node)
+{
+    switch (node->format) {
+    case MPV_FORMAT_STRING:
+        return QVariant(QString::fromUtf8(node->u.string));
+    case MPV_FORMAT_FLAG:
+        return QVariant(static_cast<bool>(node->u.flag));
+    case MPV_FORMAT_INT64:
+        return QVariant(static_cast<qlonglong>(node->u.int64));
+    case MPV_FORMAT_DOUBLE:
+        return QVariant(node->u.double_);
+    case MPV_FORMAT_NODE_ARRAY: {
+        mpv_node_list *list = node->u.list;
+        QVariantList qlist;
+        for (int n = 0; n < list->num; n++)
+            qlist.append(node_to_variant(&list->values[n]));
+        return QVariant(qlist);
+    }
+    case MPV_FORMAT_NODE_MAP: {
+        mpv_node_list *list = node->u.list;
+        QVariantMap qmap;
+        for (int n = 0; n < list->num; n++) {
+            qmap.insert(QString::fromUtf8(list->keys[n]),
+                        node_to_variant(&list->values[n]));
+        }
+        return QVariant(qmap);
+    }
+    default: // MPV_FORMAT_NONE, unknown values (e.g. future extensions)
+        return QVariant();
+    }
+}
+
+struct node_builder {
+    node_builder(const QVariant& v) {
+        set(&node_, v);
+    }
+    ~node_builder() {
+        free_node(&node_);
+    }
+    mpv_node *node() { return &node_; }
+private:
+    Q_DISABLE_COPY(node_builder)
+    mpv_node node_;
+    mpv_node_list *create_list(mpv_node *dst, bool is_map, int num) {
+        dst->format = is_map ? MPV_FORMAT_NODE_MAP : MPV_FORMAT_NODE_ARRAY;
+        mpv_node_list *list = new mpv_node_list();
+        dst->u.list = list;
+        if (!list)
+            goto err;
+        list->values = new mpv_node[num]();
+        if (!list->values)
+            goto err;
+        if (is_map) {
+            list->keys = new char*[num]();
+            if (!list->keys)
+                goto err;
+        }
+        return list;
+    err:
+        free_node(dst);
+        return NULL;
+    }
+    char *dup_qstring(const QString &s) {
+        QByteArray b = s.toUtf8();
+        char *r = new char[b.size() + 1];
+        if (r)
+            std::memcpy(r, b.data(), b.size() + 1);
+        return r;
+    }
+    bool test_type(const QVariant &v, QMetaType::Type t) {
+        // The Qt docs say: "Although this function is declared as returning
+        // "QVariant::Type(obsolete), the return value should be interpreted
+        // as QMetaType::Type."
+        // So a cast really seems to be needed to avoid warnings (urgh).
+        return static_cast<int>(v.type()) == static_cast<int>(t);
+    }
+    void set(mpv_node *dst, const QVariant &src) {
+        if (test_type(src, QMetaType::QString)) {
+            dst->format = MPV_FORMAT_STRING;
+            dst->u.string = dup_qstring(src.toString());
+            if (!dst->u.string)
+                goto fail;
+        } else if (test_type(src, QMetaType::Bool)) {
+            dst->format = MPV_FORMAT_FLAG;
+            dst->u.flag = src.toBool() ? 1 : 0;
+        } else if (test_type(src, QMetaType::Int) ||
+                   test_type(src, QMetaType::LongLong) ||
+                   test_type(src, QMetaType::UInt) ||
+                   test_type(src, QMetaType::ULongLong))
+        {
+            dst->format = MPV_FORMAT_INT64;
+            dst->u.int64 = src.toLongLong();
+        } else if (test_type(src, QMetaType::Double)) {
+            dst->format = MPV_FORMAT_DOUBLE;
+            dst->u.double_ = src.toDouble();
+        } else if (src.canConvert<QVariantList>()) {
+            QVariantList qlist = src.toList();
+            mpv_node_list *list = create_list(dst, false, qlist.size());
+            if (!list)
+                goto fail;
+            list->num = qlist.size();
+            for (int n = 0; n < qlist.size(); n++)
+                set(&list->values[n], qlist[n]);
+        } else if (src.canConvert<QVariantMap>()) {
+            QVariantMap qmap = src.toMap();
+            mpv_node_list *list = create_list(dst, true, qmap.size());
+            if (!list)
+                goto fail;
+            list->num = qmap.size();
+            for (int n = 0; n < qmap.size(); n++) {
+                list->keys[n] = dup_qstring(qmap.keys()[n]);
+                if (!list->keys[n]) {
+                    free_node(dst);
+                    goto fail;
+                }
+                set(&list->values[n], qmap.values()[n]);
+            }
+        } else {
+            goto fail;
+        }
+        return;
+    fail:
+        dst->format = MPV_FORMAT_NONE;
+    }
+    void free_node(mpv_node *dst) {
+        switch (dst->format) {
+        case MPV_FORMAT_STRING:
+            delete[] dst->u.string;
+            break;
+        case MPV_FORMAT_NODE_ARRAY:
+        case MPV_FORMAT_NODE_MAP: {
+            mpv_node_list *list = dst->u.list;
+            if (list) {
+                for (int n = 0; n < list->num; n++) {
+                    if (list->keys)
+                        delete[] list->keys[n];
+                    if (list->values)
+                        free_node(&list->values[n]);
+                }
+                delete[] list->keys;
+                delete[] list->values;
+            }
+            delete list;
+            break;
+        }
+        default: ;
+        }
+        dst->format = MPV_FORMAT_NONE;
+    }
+};
+
+/**
+ * RAII wrapper that calls mpv_free_node_contents() on the pointer.
+ */
+struct node_autofree {
+    mpv_node *ptr;
+    node_autofree(mpv_node *a_ptr) : ptr(a_ptr) {}
+    ~node_autofree() { mpv_free_node_contents(ptr); }
+};
+
+#if MPV_ENABLE_DEPRECATED
+
+/**
+ * Return the given property as mpv_node converted to QVariant, or QVariant()
+ * on error.
+ *
+ * @deprecated use get_property() instead
+ *
+ * @param name the property name
+ */
+static inline QVariant get_property_variant(mpv_handle *ctx, const QString &name)
+{
+    mpv_node node;
+    if (mpv_get_property(ctx, name.toUtf8().data(), MPV_FORMAT_NODE, &node) < 0)
+        return QVariant();
+    node_autofree f(&node);
+    return node_to_variant(&node);
+}
+
+/**
+ * Set the given property as mpv_node converted from the QVariant argument.
+
+ * @deprecated use set_property() instead
+ */
+static inline int set_property_variant(mpv_handle *ctx, const QString &name,
+                                       const QVariant &v)
+{
+    node_builder node(v);
+    return mpv_set_property(ctx, name.toUtf8().data(), MPV_FORMAT_NODE, node.node());
+}
+
+/**
+ * Set the given option as mpv_node converted from the QVariant argument.
+ *
+ * @deprecated use set_property() instead
+ */
+static inline int set_option_variant(mpv_handle *ctx, const QString &name,
+                                     const QVariant &v)
+{
+    node_builder node(v);
+    return mpv_set_option(ctx, name.toUtf8().data(), MPV_FORMAT_NODE, node.node());
+}
+
+/**
+ * mpv_command_node() equivalent. Returns QVariant() on error (and
+ * unfortunately, the same on success).
+ *
+ * @deprecated use command() instead
+ */
+static inline QVariant command_variant(mpv_handle *ctx, const QVariant &args)
+{
+    node_builder node(args);
+    mpv_node res;
+    if (mpv_command_node(ctx, node.node(), &res) < 0)
+        return QVariant();
+    node_autofree f(&res);
+    return node_to_variant(&res);
+}
+
+#endif
+
+/**
+ * This is used to return error codes wrapped in QVariant for functions which
+ * return QVariant.
+ *
+ * You can use get_error() or is_error() to extract the error status from a
+ * QVariant value.
+ */
+struct ErrorReturn
+{
+    /**
+     * enum mpv_error value (or a value outside of it if ABI was extended)
+     */
+    int error;
+
+    ErrorReturn() : error(0) {}
+    explicit ErrorReturn(int err) : error(err) {}
+};
+
+/**
+ * Return the mpv error code packed into a QVariant, or 0 (success) if it's not
+ * an error value.
+ *
+ * @return error code (<0) or success (>=0)
+ */
+static inline int get_error(const QVariant &v)
+{
+    if (!v.canConvert<ErrorReturn>())
+        return 0;
+    return v.value<ErrorReturn>().error;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Return whether the QVariant carries a mpv error code.
+ */
+static inline bool is_error(const QVariant &v)
+{
+    return get_error(v) < 0;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Return the given property as mpv_node converted to QVariant, or QVariant()
+ * on error.
+ *
+ * @param name the property name
+ * @return the property value, or an ErrorReturn with the error code
+ */
+static inline QVariant get_property(mpv_handle *ctx, const QString &name)
+{
+    mpv_node node;
+    int err = mpv_get_property(ctx, name.toUtf8().data(), MPV_FORMAT_NODE, &node);
+    if (err < 0)
+        return QVariant::fromValue(ErrorReturn(err));
+    node_autofree f(&node);
+    return node_to_variant(&node);
+}
+
+/**
+ * Set the given property as mpv_node converted from the QVariant argument.
+ *
+ * @return mpv error code (<0 on error, >= 0 on success)
+ */
+static inline int set_property(mpv_handle *ctx, const QString &name,
+                                       const QVariant &v)
+{
+    node_builder node(v);
+    return mpv_set_property(ctx, name.toUtf8().data(), MPV_FORMAT_NODE, node.node());
+}
+
+/**
+ * mpv_command_node() equivalent.
+ *
+ * @param args command arguments, with args[0] being the command name as string
+ * @return the property value, or an ErrorReturn with the error code
+ */
+static inline QVariant command(mpv_handle *ctx, const QVariant &args)
+{
+    node_builder node(args);
+    mpv_node res;
+    int err = mpv_command_node(ctx, node.node(), &res);
+    if (err < 0)
+        return QVariant::fromValue(ErrorReturn(err));
+    node_autofree f(&res);
+    return node_to_variant(&res);
+}
+
+}
+}
+
+Q_DECLARE_METATYPE(mpv::qt::ErrorReturn)
+
+#endif /* else #if MPV_ENABLE_DEPRECATED */
+
+#endif
