diff --git a/buildPy2exe.py b/buildPy2exe.py
index a4e7da3..0131519 100644
--- a/buildPy2exe.py
+++ b/buildPy2exe.py
@@ -654,7 +654,8 @@ guiIcons = ['resources/accept.png', 'resources/arrow_undo.png', 'resources/clock
      'resources/user_key.png', 'resources/lock.png', 'resources/key_go.png', 'resources/page_white_key.png',
      'resources/tick.png', 'resources/lock_open.png', 'resources/empty_checkbox.png', 'resources/tick_checkbox.png',
      'resources/world_explore.png', 'resources/application_get.png', 'resources/cog.png',
-     'resources/film_go.png', 'resources/world_go.png', 'resources/arrow_refresh.png'
+     'resources/film_go.png', 'resources/world_go.png',
+     'resources/arrow_refresh.png', 'resources/spinner.mng'
     ]
 resources = ["resources/icon.ico", "resources/syncplay.png"]
 resources.extend(guiIcons)
diff --git a/resources/spinner.mng b/resources/spinner.mng
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..435d749
Binary files /dev/null and b/resources/spinner.mng differ
diff --git a/syncplay/constants.py b/syncplay/constants.py
index a39ec6a..5cc9e6a 100644
--- a/syncplay/constants.py
+++ b/syncplay/constants.py
@@ -181,4 +181,4 @@ SYNCPLAY_UPDATE_URL = u"http://syncplay.pl/checkforupdate?{}" # Params
 SYNCPLAY_DOWNLOAD_URL = "http://syncplay.pl/download/"
 SYNCPLAY_PUBLIC_SERVER_LIST_URL = u"http://syncplay.pl/listpublicservers?{}" # Params
 
-PRIVATE_FILE_FIELDS = ["path"]
\ No newline at end of file
+PRIVATE_FILE_FIELDS = ["path"]
diff --git a/syncplay/ui/GuiConfiguration.py b/syncplay/ui/GuiConfiguration.py
index bfa92ec..9029f5f 100644
--- a/syncplay/ui/GuiConfiguration.py
+++ b/syncplay/ui/GuiConfiguration.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ from datetime import datetime
 from syncplay import utils
 import os
 import sys
+import threading
 from syncplay.messages import getMessage, getLanguages, setLanguage, getInitialLanguage
 from syncplay import constants
 
@@ -31,6 +32,39 @@ class GuiConfiguration:
     class WindowClosed(Exception):
         pass
 
+
+class GetPlayerIconThread(threading.Thread, QtCore.QObject):
+    daemon = True
+    done = QtCore.Signal(str, str)
+
+    def __init__(self):
+        threading.Thread.__init__(self, name='GetPlayerIcon')
+        QtCore.QObject.__init__(self)
+        self.condvar = threading.Condition()
+        self.playerpath = None
+
+    def setPlayerPath(self, playerpath):
+        self.condvar.acquire()
+        was_none = self.playerpath is None
+        self.playerpath = playerpath
+        if was_none:
+            self.condvar.notify()
+        self.condvar.release()
+
+    def run(self):
+        while True:
+            self.condvar.acquire()
+            if self.playerpath is None:
+                self.condvar.wait()
+            playerpath = self.playerpath
+            self.playerpath = None
+            self.condvar.release()
+
+            self.done.emit('spinner.mng', '')
+            iconpath = PlayerFactory().getPlayerIconByPath(playerpath)
+            self.done.emit(iconpath, playerpath)
+
+
 class ConfigDialog(QtGui.QDialog):
 
     pressedclosebutton = False
@@ -140,15 +174,32 @@ class ConfigDialog(QtGui.QDialog):
             settings.endGroup()
         return foundpath
 
-    def updateExecutableIcon(self):
-        currentplayerpath = unicode(self.executablepathCombobox.currentText())
-        iconpath = PlayerFactory().getPlayerIconByPath(currentplayerpath)
-        if iconpath != None and iconpath != "":
-            self.executableiconImage.load(self.resourcespath + iconpath)
-            self.executableiconLabel.setPixmap(QtGui.QPixmap.fromImage(self.executableiconImage))
+    @QtCore.Slot(str, str)
+    def _updateExecutableIcon(self, iconpath, playerpath):
+        if iconpath is not None and iconpath != "":
+            if iconpath.endswith('.mng'):
+                movie = QtGui.QMovie(self.resourcespath + iconpath)
+                movie.setCacheMode(QtGui.QMovie.CacheMode.CacheAll)
+                self.executableiconLabel.setMovie(movie)
+                movie.start()
+            else:
+                self.executableiconImage.load(self.resourcespath + iconpath)
+                self.executableiconLabel.setPixmap(QtGui.QPixmap.fromImage(self.executableiconImage))
         else:
             self.executableiconLabel.setPixmap(QtGui.QPixmap.fromImage(QtGui.QImage()))
-        self.updatePlayerArguments(currentplayerpath)
+        self.updatePlayerArguments(playerpath)
+
+    def updateExecutableIcon(self):
+        """
+        Start getting the icon path in another thread, which will set the GUI
+        icon if valid.
+
+        This is performed outside the main thread because networked players may
+        take a long time to perform their checks and hang the GUI while doing
+        so.
+        """
+        currentplayerpath = unicode(self.executablepathCombobox.currentText())
+        self._playerProbeThread.setPlayerPath(currentplayerpath)
 
     def updatePlayerArguments(self, currentplayerpath):
         argumentsForPath = utils.getPlayerArgumentsByPathAsText(self.perPlayerArgs, currentplayerpath)
@@ -924,7 +975,6 @@ class ConfigDialog(QtGui.QDialog):
                 self.hostCombobox.setEditText(currentServer)
         
     def __init__(self, config, playerpaths, error, defaultConfig):
-
         self.config = config
         self.defaultConfig = defaultConfig
         self.playerpaths = playerpaths
@@ -933,6 +983,10 @@ class ConfigDialog(QtGui.QDialog):
         self.subitems = {}
         self.publicServers = None
 
+        self._playerProbeThread = GetPlayerIconThread()
+        self._playerProbeThread.done.connect(self._updateExecutableIcon)
+        self._playerProbeThread.start()
+
         if self.config['clearGUIData'] == True:
             self.config['clearGUIData'] = False
             self.clearGUIData()
@@ -996,4 +1050,4 @@ class ConfigDialog(QtGui.QDialog):
             self.processWidget(self, lambda w: self.loadTooltips(w))
         self.processWidget(self, lambda w: self.loadValues(w))
         self.processWidget(self, lambda w: self.connectChildren(w))
-        self.populateEmptyServerList()
\ No newline at end of file
+        self.populateEmptyServerList()