diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index a6967c4..3ed0afe 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # python-eq3bt
 
-Python library and a command line tool for EQ3 Bluetooth smart thermostats, uses bluepy for BTLE communication.
+Python library and a command line tool for EQ3 Bluetooth smart thermostats, uses bluepy or gattlib for BTLE communication.
 
 This library is a simplified version of bluepy_devices from Markus Peter (https://github.com/bimbar/bluepy_devices.git)
 with support for more features and better device handling.
diff --git a/eq3bt/eq3btsmart.py b/eq3bt/eq3btsmart.py
index 4eb19de..5ed2ffa 100644
--- a/eq3bt/eq3btsmart.py
+++ b/eq3bt/eq3btsmart.py
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@
 
 from construct import Byte
 
-from .connection import BTLEConnection
 from .structures import AwayDataAdapter, DeviceId, Schedule, Status
 
 _LOGGER = logging.getLogger(__name__)
@@ -72,7 +71,7 @@ class TemperatureException(Exception):
 class Thermostat:
     """Representation of a EQ3 Bluetooth Smart thermostat."""
 
-    def __init__(self, _mac, _iface=None, connection_cls=BTLEConnection):
+    def __init__(self, _mac, _iface=None, connection_cls=None):
         """Initialize the thermostat."""
 
         self._target_temperature = Mode.Unknown
@@ -95,6 +94,8 @@ def __init__(self, _mac, _iface=None, connection_cls=BTLEConnection):
         self._firmware_version = None
         self._device_serial = None
 
+        if connection_cls is None:
+            from .connection import BTLEConnection as connection_cls
         self._conn = connection_cls(_mac, _iface)
         self._conn.set_callback(PROP_NTFY_HANDLE, self.handle_notification)
 
diff --git a/eq3bt/eq3cli.py b/eq3bt/eq3cli.py
index a2c9cf4..1720545 100644
--- a/eq3bt/eq3cli.py
+++ b/eq3bt/eq3cli.py
@@ -19,15 +19,21 @@ def validate_mac(ctx, param, mac):
 @click.option("--mac", envvar="EQ3_MAC", required=True, callback=validate_mac)
 @click.option("--interface", default=None)
 @click.option("--debug/--normal", default=False)
+@click.option("--backend", type=click.Choice(["bluepy", "gattlib"]), default="bluepy")
 @click.pass_context
-def cli(ctx, mac, interface, debug):
+def cli(ctx, mac, interface, debug, backend):
     """Tool to query and modify the state of EQ3 BT smart thermostat."""
     if debug:
         logging.basicConfig(level=logging.DEBUG)
     else:
         logging.basicConfig(level=logging.INFO)
 
-    thermostat = Thermostat(mac, interface)
+    if backend == "gattlib":
+        from .gattlibconnection import BTLEConnection
+
+        thermostat = Thermostat(mac, interface, BTLEConnection)
+    else:
+        thermostat = Thermostat(mac, interface)
     thermostat.update()
     ctx.obj = thermostat
 
@@ -154,7 +160,7 @@ def offset(dev, offset):
 
 
 @cli.command()
-@click.argument("away_end", type=click.Datetime(), default=None, required=False)
+@click.argument("away_end", type=click.DateTime(), default=None, required=False)
 @click.argument("temperature", type=float, default=None, required=False)
 @pass_dev
 def away(dev, away_end, temperature):
diff --git a/eq3bt/gattlibconnection.py b/eq3bt/gattlibconnection.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..17ba2d3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/eq3bt/gattlibconnection.py
@@ -0,0 +1,95 @@
+"""
+A simple adapter to gattlib.
+Handles Connection duties (reconnecting etc.) transparently.
+"""
+import codecs
+import logging
+import threading
+
+import gattlib
+
+DEFAULT_TIMEOUT = 1
+
+_LOGGER = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+
+class BTLEConnection:
+    """Representation of a BTLE Connection."""
+
+    def __init__(self, mac, iface):
+        """Initialize the connection."""
+
+        self._conn = None
+        self._mac = mac
+        self._iface = iface
+        self._callbacks = {}
+        self._notifyevent = None
+
+    def __enter__(self):
+        """
+        Context manager __enter__ for connecting the device
+        :rtype: BTLEConnection
+        :return:
+        """
+        _LOGGER.debug("Trying to connect to %s", self._mac)
+        if self._iface is None:
+            self._conn = gattlib.GATTRequester(self._mac, False)
+        else:
+            self._conn = gattlib.GATTRequester(self._mac, False, self._iface)
+        self._conn.on_notification = self.on_notification
+        try:
+            self._conn.connect()
+        except gattlib.BTBaseException as ex:
+            _LOGGER.debug(
+                "Unable to connect to the device %s, retrying: %s", self._mac, ex
+            )
+            try:
+                self._conn.connect()
+            except Exception as ex2:
+                _LOGGER.debug("Second connection try to %s failed: %s", self._mac, ex2)
+                raise
+
+        _LOGGER.debug("Connected to %s", self._mac)
+        return self
+
+    def __exit__(self, exc_type, exc_val, exc_tb):
+        if self._conn:
+            self._conn.disconnect()
+            self._conn = None
+
+    def on_notification(self, handle, data):
+        """Handle Callback from a Bluetooth (GATT) request."""
+        _LOGGER.debug(
+            "Got notification from %s: %s", handle, codecs.encode(data, "hex")
+        )
+        if handle in self._callbacks:
+            self._callbacks[handle](data[3:])
+        if self._notifyevent:
+            self._notifyevent.set()
+
+    @property
+    def mac(self):
+        """Return the MAC address of the connected device."""
+        return self._mac
+
+    def set_callback(self, handle, function):
+        """Set the callback for a Notification handle. It will be called with the parameter data, which is binary."""
+        self._callbacks[handle] = function
+
+    def make_request(self, handle, value, timeout=DEFAULT_TIMEOUT, with_response=True):
+        """Write a GATT Command without callback - not utf-8."""
+        try:
+            with self:
+                _LOGGER.debug(
+                    "Writing %s to %s",
+                    codecs.encode(value, "hex"),
+                    handle,
+                )
+                self._notifyevent = threading.Event()
+                self._conn.write_by_handle(handle, value)
+                if timeout:
+                    _LOGGER.debug("Waiting for notifications for %s", timeout)
+                    self._notifyevent.wait(timeout)
+        except gattlib.BTBaseException as ex:
+            _LOGGER.debug("Got exception from gattlib while making a request: %s", ex)
+            raise
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 394e871..23f1007 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -20,6 +20,10 @@ python = "^3.7"
 click = "*"
 bluepy = ">=1.0.5"
 construct = "*"
+gattlib = { version = "*", optional = true }
+
+[tool.poetry.extras]
+gattlib = ["gattlib"]
 
 [tool.poetry.dev-dependencies]
 pytest = "*"