diff --git a/frontend/device/dummy/device.lua b/frontend/device/dummy/device.lua
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a10397d00
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/device/dummy/device.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+local Generic = require("device/generic/device")
+local logger = require("logger")
+
+local function yes() return true end
+local function no() return false end
+
+local Device = Generic:new{
+    model = "dummy",
+    hasKeyboard = no,
+    hasKeys = no,
+    isTouchDevice = no,
+    needsScreenRefreshAfterResume = no,
+    hasColorScreen = yes,
+    hasEinkScreen = no,
+}
+
+function Device:init()
+    self.screen = require("ffi/framebuffer_SDL2_0"):new{
+        dummy = true,
+        device = self,
+        debug = logger.dbg,
+    }
+    Generic.init(self)
+end
+
+return Device
diff --git a/frontend/runtimectl.lua b/frontend/runtimectl.lua
index 718d76691..088d2927a 100644
--- a/frontend/runtimectl.lua
+++ b/frontend/runtimectl.lua
@@ -6,7 +6,20 @@ local Runtimectl = {
     is_bgr = false,
 }
 
-function Runtimectl:setDevice(device)
+--[[
+Initialize runtimectl with settings from device.
+
+The following key is required for a device object:
+
+* hasBGRFrameBuffer: function() -> boolean
+* screen: object with following methods:
+    * getWidth() -> int
+    * getHeight() -> int
+    * getDPI() -> int
+    * getSize() -> Rect
+    * scaleBySize(int) -> int
+]]--
+function Runtimectl:init(device)
     self.screen = device.screen
     self.isAndroid = device.isAndroid
     self.isKindle = device.isKindle
diff --git a/reader.lua b/reader.lua
index 4164824df..9a4eeb9b8 100755
--- a/reader.lua
+++ b/reader.lua
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ end
 -- setup various runtime control
 local Runtimectl = require("runtimectl")
 local Device = require("device")
-Runtimectl:setDevice(Device)
+Runtimectl:init(Device)
 
 local Font = require("ui/font")
 Font:setScreen(Device.screen)