diff --git a/sanic/sanic.py b/sanic/sanic.py
index 337c486a..3cfdaf4b 100644
--- a/sanic/sanic.py
+++ b/sanic/sanic.py
@@ -46,7 +46,6 @@ class Sanic:
         self._blueprint_order = []
         self.debug = None
         self.sock = None
-        self.processes = None
         self.listeners = defaultdict(list)
 
         # Register alternative method names
@@ -63,6 +62,22 @@ class Sanic:
     # Registration
     # -------------------------------------------------------------------- #
 
+    def add_task(self, task):
+        """
+        Schedule a task to run later, after the loop has started.
+        Different from asyncio.ensure_future in that it does not
+        also return a future, and the actual ensure_future call
+        is delayed until before server start.
+
+        :param task: A future, couroutine or awaitable.
+        """
+        @self.listener('before_server_start')
+        def run(app, loop):
+            if callable(task):
+                loop.create_task(task())
+            else:
+                loop.create_task(task)
+
     # Decorator
     def listener(self, event):
         """
diff --git a/tests/test_create_task.py b/tests/test_create_task.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ff685620
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_create_task.py
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+import sanic
+from sanic.utils import sanic_endpoint_test
+from sanic.response import text
+from threading import Event
+import asyncio
+
+def test_create_task():
+    e = Event()
+    async def coro():
+        await asyncio.sleep(0.05)
+        e.set()
+
+    app = sanic.Sanic()
+    app.add_task(coro)
+
+    @app.route('/early')
+    def not_set(request):
+        return text(e.is_set())
+
+    @app.route('/late')
+    async def set(request):
+        await asyncio.sleep(0.1)
+        return text(e.is_set())
+
+
+    request, response = sanic_endpoint_test(app, uri='/early')
+    assert response.body == b'False'
+
+    request, response = sanic_endpoint_test(app, uri='/late')
+    assert response.body == b'True'