diff --git a/app/soapbox/actions/apps.js b/app/soapbox/actions/apps.js
index b0824d384..7eb00c98c 100644
--- a/app/soapbox/actions/apps.js
+++ b/app/soapbox/actions/apps.js
@@ -16,10 +16,10 @@ export const APP_VERIFY_CREDENTIALS_REQUEST = 'APP_VERIFY_CREDENTIALS_REQUEST';
 export const APP_VERIFY_CREDENTIALS_SUCCESS = 'APP_VERIFY_CREDENTIALS_SUCCESS';
 export const APP_VERIFY_CREDENTIALS_FAIL    = 'APP_VERIFY_CREDENTIALS_FAIL';
 
-export function createApp(params) {
+export function createApp(params, baseURL) {
   return (dispatch, getState) => {
     dispatch({ type: APP_CREATE_REQUEST, params });
-    return baseClient().post('/api/v1/apps', params).then(({ data: app }) => {
+    return baseClient(null, baseURL).post('/api/v1/apps', params).then(({ data: app }) => {
       dispatch({ type: APP_CREATE_SUCCESS, params, app });
       return app;
     }).catch(error => {
diff --git a/app/soapbox/actions/auth.js b/app/soapbox/actions/auth.js
index 2918d41a2..7b357edfa 100644
--- a/app/soapbox/actions/auth.js
+++ b/app/soapbox/actions/auth.js
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ function createAuthApp() {
       client_name:   sourceCode.displayName,
       redirect_uris: 'urn:ietf:wg:oauth:2.0:oob',
       scopes:        'read write follow push admin',
+      website:       sourceCode.homepage,
     };
 
     return dispatch(createApp(params)).then(app => {
@@ -88,10 +89,8 @@ function createUserToken(username, password) {
       password:      password,
     };
 
-    return dispatch(obtainOAuthToken(params)).then(token => {
-      dispatch(authLoggedIn(token));
-      return token;
-    });
+    return dispatch(obtainOAuthToken(params))
+      .then(token => dispatch(authLoggedIn(token)));
   };
 }
 
@@ -110,9 +109,8 @@ export function refreshUserToken() {
       grant_type:    'refresh_token',
     };
 
-    return dispatch(obtainOAuthToken(params)).then(token => {
-      dispatch(authLoggedIn(token));
-    });
+    return dispatch(obtainOAuthToken(params))
+      .then(token => dispatch(authLoggedIn(token)));
   };
 }
 
@@ -126,10 +124,7 @@ export function otpVerify(code, mfa_token) {
       code: code,
       challenge_type: 'totp',
       redirect_uri: 'urn:ietf:wg:oauth:2.0:oob',
-    }).then(({ data: token }) => {
-      dispatch(authLoggedIn(token));
-      return token;
-    });
+    }).then(({ data: token }) => dispatch(authLoggedIn(token)));
   };
 }
 
@@ -209,12 +204,9 @@ export function register(params) {
   return (dispatch, getState) => {
     params.fullname = params.username;
 
-    return dispatch(createAppAndToken()).then(() => {
-      return dispatch(createAccount(params));
-    }).then(({ token }) => {
-      dispatch(authLoggedIn(token));
-      return token;
-    });
+    return dispatch(createAppAndToken())
+      .then(() => dispatch(createAccount(params)))
+      .then(({ token }) => dispatch(authLoggedIn(token)));
   };
 }
 
@@ -225,8 +217,8 @@ export function fetchCaptcha() {
 }
 
 export function authLoggedIn(token) {
-  return {
-    type: AUTH_LOGGED_IN,
-    token,
+  return (dispatch, getState) => {
+    dispatch({ type: AUTH_LOGGED_IN, token });
+    return token;
   };
 }
diff --git a/app/soapbox/actions/external_auth.js b/app/soapbox/actions/external_auth.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..951f953bb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/soapbox/actions/external_auth.js
@@ -0,0 +1,65 @@
+/**
+ * External Auth: workflow for logging in to remote servers.
+ * @module soapbox/actions/external_auth
+ * @see module:soapbox/actions/auth
+ * @see module:soapbox/actions/apps
+ * @see module:soapbox/actions/oauth
+ */
+
+import { createApp } from 'soapbox/actions/apps';
+import { obtainOAuthToken } from 'soapbox/actions/oauth';
+import { authLoggedIn, verifyCredentials } from 'soapbox/actions/auth';
+import { parseBaseURL } from 'soapbox/utils/auth';
+import sourceCode from 'soapbox/utils/code';
+
+const scopes = 'read write follow push';
+
+export function createAppAndRedirect(host) {
+  return (dispatch, getState) => {
+    const baseURL = parseBaseURL(host) || parseBaseURL(`https://${host}`);
+
+    const params = {
+      client_name:   sourceCode.displayName,
+      redirect_uris: `${window.location.origin}/auth/external`,
+      website:       sourceCode.homepage,
+      scopes,
+    };
+
+    return dispatch(createApp(params, baseURL)).then(app => {
+      const { client_id, redirect_uri } = app;
+
+      const query = new URLSearchParams({
+        client_id,
+        redirect_uri,
+        response_type: 'code',
+        scopes,
+      });
+
+      localStorage.setItem('soapbox:external:app', JSON.stringify(app));
+      localStorage.setItem('soapbox:external:baseurl', baseURL);
+
+      window.location.href = `${baseURL}/oauth/authorize?${query.toString()}`;
+    });
+  };
+}
+
+export function loginWithCode(code) {
+  return (dispatch, getState) => {
+    const { client_id, client_secret, redirect_uri } = JSON.parse(localStorage.getItem('soapbox:external:app'));
+    const baseURL = localStorage.getItem('soapbox:external:baseurl');
+
+    const params = {
+      client_id,
+      client_secret,
+      redirect_uri,
+      grant_type: 'authorization_code',
+      scope: scopes,
+      code,
+    };
+
+    return dispatch(obtainOAuthToken(params, baseURL))
+      .then(token => dispatch(authLoggedIn(token)))
+      .then(({ access_token }) => dispatch(verifyCredentials(access_token, baseURL)))
+      .then(() => window.location.href = '/');
+  };
+}
diff --git a/app/soapbox/actions/oauth.js b/app/soapbox/actions/oauth.js
index e3ee95f3d..fe25d34f0 100644
--- a/app/soapbox/actions/oauth.js
+++ b/app/soapbox/actions/oauth.js
@@ -16,10 +16,10 @@ export const OAUTH_TOKEN_REVOKE_REQUEST = 'OAUTH_TOKEN_REVOKE_REQUEST';
 export const OAUTH_TOKEN_REVOKE_SUCCESS = 'OAUTH_TOKEN_REVOKE_SUCCESS';
 export const OAUTH_TOKEN_REVOKE_FAIL    = 'OAUTH_TOKEN_REVOKE_FAIL';
 
-export function obtainOAuthToken(params) {
+export function obtainOAuthToken(params, baseURL) {
   return (dispatch, getState) => {
     dispatch({ type: OAUTH_TOKEN_CREATE_REQUEST, params });
-    return baseClient().post('/oauth/token', params).then(({ data: token }) => {
+    return baseClient(null, baseURL).post('/oauth/token', params).then(({ data: token }) => {
       dispatch({ type: OAUTH_TOKEN_CREATE_SUCCESS, params, token });
       return token;
     }).catch(error => {
diff --git a/app/soapbox/components/helmet.js b/app/soapbox/components/helmet.js
index e6da9b15e..91cc86c9d 100644
--- a/app/soapbox/components/helmet.js
+++ b/app/soapbox/components/helmet.js
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import { connect } from 'react-redux';
 import PropTypes from 'prop-types';
 import { Helmet } from'react-helmet';
 import { getSettings } from 'soapbox/actions/settings';
+import sourceCode from 'soapbox/utils/code';
 
 const getNotifTotals = state => {
   const notifications = state.getIn(['notifications', 'unread'], 0);
@@ -16,7 +17,7 @@ const mapStateToProps = state => {
   const settings = getSettings(state);
 
   return {
-    siteTitle: state.getIn(['instance', 'title']),
+    siteTitle: state.getIn(['instance', 'title'], sourceCode.displayName),
     unreadCount: getNotifTotals(state),
     demetricator: settings.get('demetricator'),
   };
diff --git a/app/soapbox/containers/soapbox.js b/app/soapbox/containers/soapbox.js
index d3c8dbb0f..27f7ef614 100644
--- a/app/soapbox/containers/soapbox.js
+++ b/app/soapbox/containers/soapbox.js
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@ import { Switch, BrowserRouter, Route } from 'react-router-dom';
 import { ScrollContext } from 'react-router-scroll-4';
 import UI from '../features/ui';
 // import Introduction from '../features/introduction';
-import { fetchCustomEmojis } from '../actions/custom_emojis';
 import { preload } from '../actions/preload';
 import { IntlProvider } from 'react-intl';
 import ErrorBoundary from '../components/error_boundary';
@@ -34,7 +33,6 @@ store.dispatch(preload());
 store.dispatch(fetchMe());
 store.dispatch(fetchInstance());
 store.dispatch(fetchSoapboxConfig());
-store.dispatch(fetchCustomEmojis());
 
 const mapStateToProps = (state) => {
   const me = state.get('me');
diff --git a/app/soapbox/features/external_login/components/external_login_form.js b/app/soapbox/features/external_login/components/external_login_form.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..0fa91d590
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/soapbox/features/external_login/components/external_login_form.js
@@ -0,0 +1,79 @@
+import React from 'react';
+import { connect } from 'react-redux';
+import { injectIntl, FormattedMessage, defineMessages } from 'react-intl';
+import ImmutablePureComponent from 'react-immutable-pure-component';
+import { SimpleForm, FieldsGroup, TextInput } from 'soapbox/features/forms';
+import { createAppAndRedirect, loginWithCode } from 'soapbox/actions/external_auth';
+import LoadingIndicator from 'soapbox/components/loading_indicator';
+
+const messages = defineMessages({
+  instanceLabel: { id: 'login.fields.instance_label', defaultMessage: 'Instance' },
+  instancePlaceholder: { id: 'login.fields.instance_placeholder', defaultMessage: 'example.com' },
+});
+
+export default @connect()
+@injectIntl
+class ExternalLoginForm extends ImmutablePureComponent {
+
+  state = {
+    host: '',
+    isLoading: false,
+  }
+
+  handleHostChange = ({ target }) => {
+    this.setState({ host: target.value });
+  }
+
+  handleSubmit = e => {
+    const { dispatch } = this.props;
+    const { host } = this.state;
+
+    this.setState({ isLoading: true });
+
+    dispatch(createAppAndRedirect(host))
+      .then(() => this.setState({ isLoading: false }))
+      .catch(() => this.setState({ isLoading: false }));
+  }
+
+  componentDidMount() {
+    const code = new URLSearchParams(window.location.search).get('code');
+
+    if (code) {
+      this.setState({ code });
+      this.props.dispatch(loginWithCode(code));
+    }
+  }
+
+  render() {
+    const { intl } = this.props;
+    const { isLoading, code } = this.state;
+
+    if (code) {
+      return <LoadingIndicator />;
+    }
+
+    return (
+      <SimpleForm onSubmit={this.handleSubmit}>
+        <fieldset disabled={isLoading}>
+          <FieldsGroup>
+            <TextInput
+              label={intl.formatMessage(messages.instanceLabel)}
+              placeholder={intl.formatMessage(messages.instancePlaceholder)}
+              name='host'
+              value={this.state.host}
+              onChange={this.handleHostChange}
+              autoComplete='off'
+              required
+            />
+          </FieldsGroup>
+        </fieldset>
+        <div className='actions'>
+          <button name='button' type='submit' className='btn button button-primary'>
+            <FormattedMessage id='login.log_in' defaultMessage='Log in' />
+          </button>
+        </div>
+      </SimpleForm>
+    );
+  }
+
+}
diff --git a/app/soapbox/features/external_login/index.js b/app/soapbox/features/external_login/index.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1971b1813
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/soapbox/features/external_login/index.js
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+import React from 'react';
+import ImmutablePureComponent from 'react-immutable-pure-component';
+import ExternalLoginForm from './components/external_login_form';
+
+export default class ExternalLoginPage extends ImmutablePureComponent {
+
+  render() {
+    return <ExternalLoginForm />;
+  }
+
+}
diff --git a/app/soapbox/features/public_layout/index.js b/app/soapbox/features/public_layout/index.js
index 46e1580c6..621e9c25b 100644
--- a/app/soapbox/features/public_layout/index.js
+++ b/app/soapbox/features/public_layout/index.js
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import React from 'react';
 import { connect } from 'react-redux';
 import ImmutablePureComponent from 'react-immutable-pure-component';
-import { Switch, Route } from 'react-router-dom';
+import { Switch, Route, Redirect } from 'react-router-dom';
 import NotificationsContainer from 'soapbox/features/ui/containers/notifications_container';
 import ModalContainer from 'soapbox/features/ui/containers/modal_container';
 import Header from './components/header';
@@ -9,10 +9,23 @@ import Footer from './components/footer';
 import LandingPage from '../landing_page';
 import AboutPage from '../about';
 import { getSoapboxConfig } from 'soapbox/actions/soapbox';
+import { isPrerendered } from 'soapbox/precheck';
+
+const validInstance = state => {
+  const v = state.getIn(['instance', 'version']);
+  return v && typeof v === 'string' && v !== '0.0.0';
+};
+
+const isStandalone = state => {
+  const hasInstance = validInstance(state);
+  const instanceFetchFailed = state.getIn(['meta', 'instance_fetch_failed']);
+
+  return !isPrerendered && !hasInstance && instanceFetchFailed;
+};
 
 const mapStateToProps = (state, props) => ({
-  instance: state.get('instance'),
   soapbox: getSoapboxConfig(state),
+  standalone: isStandalone(state),
 });
 
 const wave = (
@@ -24,8 +37,11 @@ const wave = (
 class PublicLayout extends ImmutablePureComponent {
 
   render() {
-    const { instance } = this.props;
-    if (instance.isEmpty()) return null;
+    const { standalone } = this.props;
+
+    if (standalone) {
+      return <Redirect to='/auth/external' />;
+    }
 
     return (
       <div className='public-layout'>
diff --git a/app/soapbox/features/ui/index.js b/app/soapbox/features/ui/index.js
index 45d77a466..35c768593 100644
--- a/app/soapbox/features/ui/index.js
+++ b/app/soapbox/features/ui/index.js
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ import { isStaff, isAdmin } from 'soapbox/utils/accounts';
 import ProfileHoverCard from 'soapbox/components/profile_hover_card';
 import { getAccessToken } from 'soapbox/utils/auth';
 import { getFeatures } from 'soapbox/utils/features';
+import { fetchCustomEmojis } from 'soapbox/actions/custom_emojis';
 
 import {
   Status,
@@ -79,6 +80,7 @@ import {
   // GroupCreate,
   // GroupEdit,
   LoginPage,
+  ExternalLogin,
   Preferences,
   EditProfile,
   SoapboxConfig,
@@ -195,6 +197,7 @@ class SwitchingColumnsArea extends React.PureComponent {
       <Switch>
         <WrappedRoute path='/auth/sign_in' component={LoginPage} publicRoute exact />
         <WrappedRoute path='/auth/reset_password' component={PasswordReset} publicRoute exact />
+        <WrappedRoute path='/auth/external' component={ExternalLogin} publicRoute exact />
         <WrappedRoute path='/auth/edit' page={DefaultPage} component={SecurityForm} exact />
         <WrappedRoute path='/auth/mfa' page={DefaultPage} component={MfaForm} exact />
 
@@ -458,6 +461,8 @@ class UI extends React.PureComponent {
 
       setTimeout(() => this.props.dispatch(fetchScheduledStatuses()), 900);
     }
+
+    this.props.dispatch(fetchCustomEmojis());
     this.connectStreaming();
   }
 
@@ -588,7 +593,10 @@ class UI extends React.PureComponent {
     const { draggingOver, mobile } = this.state;
     const { intl, children, location, dropdownMenuIsOpen, me } = this.props;
 
-    if (me === null || !streamingUrl) return null;
+    // Wait for login to succeed or fail
+    if (me === null) return null;
+    // If login didn't fail, wait for streaming to become available
+    if (me !== false && !streamingUrl) return null;
 
     const handlers = me ? {
       help: this.handleHotkeyToggleHelp,
diff --git a/app/soapbox/features/ui/util/async-components.js b/app/soapbox/features/ui/util/async-components.js
index 1e5645869..1fe50212c 100644
--- a/app/soapbox/features/ui/util/async-components.js
+++ b/app/soapbox/features/ui/util/async-components.js
@@ -170,6 +170,10 @@ export function LoginPage() {
   return import(/* webpackChunkName: "features/auth_login" */'../../auth_login/components/login_page');
 }
 
+export function ExternalLogin() {
+  return import(/* webpackChunkName: "features/external_login" */'../../external_login');
+}
+
 export function Preferences() {
   return import(/* webpackChunkName: "features/preferences" */'../../preferences');
 }
diff --git a/app/soapbox/main.js b/app/soapbox/main.js
index 537ad5b40..a65b65c67 100644
--- a/app/soapbox/main.js
+++ b/app/soapbox/main.js
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 'use strict';
 
 import './wdyr';
+import './precheck';
 // FIXME: Push notifications are temporarily removed
 // import * as registerPushNotifications from './actions/push_notifications';
 // import { default as Soapbox, store } from './containers/soapbox';
diff --git a/app/soapbox/precheck.js b/app/soapbox/precheck.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..9b03a3f76
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/soapbox/precheck.js
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+/**
+ * Precheck: information about the site before anything renders.
+ * @module soapbox/precheck
+ */
+
+const hasTitle = Boolean(document.querySelector('title'));
+
+const hasPrerenderPleroma  = Boolean(document.getElementById('initial-results'));
+const hasPrerenderMastodon = Boolean(document.getElementById('initial-state'));
+
+export const isPrerendered = hasTitle || hasPrerenderPleroma || hasPrerenderMastodon;
diff --git a/app/soapbox/reducers/meta.js b/app/soapbox/reducers/meta.js
index 858b22547..eac95187d 100644
--- a/app/soapbox/reducers/meta.js
+++ b/app/soapbox/reducers/meta.js
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 'use strict';
 
 import { ME_FETCH_SUCCESS, ME_PATCH_SUCCESS } from 'soapbox/actions/me';
+import { INSTANCE_FETCH_FAIL } from 'soapbox/actions/instance';
 import { Map as ImmutableMap, fromJS } from 'immutable';
 
 const initialState = ImmutableMap();
@@ -19,6 +20,8 @@ export default function meta(state = initialState, action) {
   case ME_FETCH_SUCCESS:
   case ME_PATCH_SUCCESS:
     return importAccount(state, fromJS(action.me));
+  case INSTANCE_FETCH_FAIL:
+    return state.set('instance_fetch_failed', true);
   default:
     return state;
   }
diff --git a/app/soapbox/utils/code.js b/app/soapbox/utils/code.js
index 9e7237066..01786a2ff 100644
--- a/app/soapbox/utils/code.js
+++ b/app/soapbox/utils/code.js
@@ -37,4 +37,5 @@ module.exports = {
   url: pkg.repository.url,
   repository: shortRepoName(pkg.repository.url),
   version: version(pkg),
+  homepage: pkg.homepage,
 };