diff --git a/backend/Makefile b/backend/Makefile
index 5daf0c4..5ce42b2 100644
--- a/backend/Makefile
+++ b/backend/Makefile
@@ -5,9 +5,7 @@ CXX=g++
 LD=g++
 
 CXXFLAGS = -std=c++23 -pedantic-errors -Wall -Wextra -Wconversion
-LDFLAGS =
-
-# libraries = ""
+LDFLAGS = -lmosquitto
 
 # CXXFLAGS += $(shell pkg-config $(libraries) --cflags)
 # LDFLAGS += $(shell pkg-config $(libraries) --libs)
diff --git a/backend/src/main.cpp b/backend/src/main.cpp
index fa7565f..41ed88b 100644
--- a/backend/src/main.cpp
+++ b/backend/src/main.cpp
@@ -1,14 +1,38 @@
 #include "event_loop.hpp"
+#include "mqtt.hpp"
 #include "server.hpp"
+#include <chrono>
+#include <iostream>
 #include <print>
+#include <span>
+#include <string_view>
 #include <sys/select.h>
 #include <sys/socket.h>
 #include <sys/types.h>
+#include <thread>
 
 #define PORT 8888
 
 int main(void)
 {
+    auto client = mst::mqtt::Client("localhost", 1883, "test", "1234");
+
+    client.subscribe("/", [&](std::string_view text) {
+        std::cout << std::format("Received '{}'\n", text);
+    });
+
+    auto mqtt_thread = std::thread([&]() {
+        try {
+            client.run();
+        } catch (mst::mqtt::Error& ex) {
+            std::cerr << std::format("MQTT Client failed: {}", ex.what());
+            std::abort();
+        }
+    });
+
+    std::this_thread::sleep_for(std::chrono::milliseconds(1000));
+    client.publish("/", "published from c++");
+
     auto mgr = mst::event::Manager::create().value();
     auto x = mst::Server::bind(mgr, "0.0.0.0", PORT);
     if (!x) {
diff --git a/backend/src/mqtt.cpp b/backend/src/mqtt.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..967b592
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/src/mqtt.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,253 @@
+#include "mqtt.hpp"
+#include <cerrno>
+#include <cstdint>
+#include <cstring>
+#include <format>
+#include <iostream>
+#include <mosquitto.h>
+#include <mutex>
+#include <string>
+#include <string_view>
+#include <thread>
+
+namespace mst::mqtt {
+
+static auto static_mx = std::mutex();
+static auto use_count = 0;
+static bool mosquitto_initialized = false;
+
+static void lib_init()
+{
+    auto lock = std::lock_guard(static_mx);
+
+    if (mosquitto_initialized)
+        return;
+
+    int major;
+    int minor;
+    int revision;
+    mosquitto_lib_version(&major, &minor, &revision);
+    std::cout << std::format(
+        "[MQTT] Initializing mosquitto {}.{}.{}\n", major, minor, revision);
+
+    if (mosquitto_lib_init() != MOSQ_ERR_SUCCESS)
+        throw Error("failed to initialize");
+
+    mosquitto_initialized = true;
+    use_count += 1;
+}
+
+static void lib_deinit()
+{
+    auto lock = std::lock_guard(static_mx);
+
+    use_count -= 1;
+
+    if (!mosquitto_initialized || use_count < 0)
+        return;
+
+    std::cout << std::format("[MQTT] Deinitializing mosquitto\n");
+
+    mosquitto_lib_cleanup();
+    mosquitto_initialized = false;
+}
+
+namespace callbacks {
+
+    static void connect(struct mosquitto* mosq, void* obj, int rc)
+    {
+        (void)mosq;
+
+        auto client = static_cast<Client*>(obj);
+        client->cb_connect(rc);
+    }
+    static void disconnect(struct mosquitto* mosq, void* obj, int rc)
+    {
+        (void)mosq;
+        (void)rc;
+
+        auto client = static_cast<Client*>(obj);
+        client->cb_disconnect();
+    }
+    static void publish(struct mosquitto* mosq, void* obj, int mid)
+    {
+        (void)mosq;
+        (void)mid;
+
+        auto client = static_cast<Client*>(obj);
+        client->cb_publish();
+    }
+    static void message(struct mosquitto* mosq,
+        void* obj,
+        const struct mosquitto_message* message)
+    {
+        (void)mosq;
+
+        auto client = static_cast<Client*>(obj);
+        client->cb_message(
+            message->topic, message->payload, (size_t)message->payloadlen);
+    }
+    static void subscribe(struct mosquitto* mosq,
+        void* obj,
+        int mid,
+        int qos_count,
+        const int* granted_qos)
+    {
+        (void)mosq;
+        (void)mid;
+        (void)qos_count;
+        (void)granted_qos;
+
+        auto client = static_cast<Client*>(obj);
+        client->cb_subscribe();
+    }
+    static void unsubscribe(struct mosquitto* mosq, void* obj, int mid)
+    {
+        (void)mosq;
+        (void)mid;
+
+        auto client = static_cast<Client*>(obj);
+        client->cb_unsubscribe();
+    }
+
+}
+
+Client::Client(const std::string& hostname,
+    uint16_t port,
+    const std::string& username,
+    const std::string& password)
+    : m_inst(nullptr)
+{
+    lib_init();
+    m_inst = mosquitto_new(nullptr, true, this);
+    if (!m_inst)
+        throw Error(
+            std::format("failed to create instance({})", strerror(errno)));
+
+    auto inst = static_cast<struct mosquitto*>(m_inst);
+
+    mosquitto_threaded_set(inst, true);
+
+    if (auto status
+        = mosquitto_username_pw_set(inst, username.c_str(), password.c_str());
+        status != MOSQ_ERR_SUCCESS) {
+
+        throw Error(std::format("could not set username and password ({})",
+            mosquitto_strerror(status)));
+    }
+
+    mosquitto_connect_callback_set(inst, callbacks::connect);
+    mosquitto_disconnect_callback_set(inst, callbacks::disconnect);
+    mosquitto_publish_callback_set(inst, callbacks::publish);
+    mosquitto_message_callback_set(inst, callbacks::message);
+    mosquitto_subscribe_callback_set(inst, callbacks::subscribe);
+    mosquitto_unsubscribe_callback_set(inst, callbacks::unsubscribe);
+
+    if (auto status = mosquitto_connect(inst, hostname.c_str(), port, 5);
+        status != MOSQ_ERR_SUCCESS) {
+        if (status == MOSQ_ERR_ERRNO) {
+            throw Error(std::format("could not connect ({})", strerror(errno)));
+        } else {
+            throw Error(std::format(
+                "could not connect ({})", mosquitto_strerror(status)));
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+Client::~Client()
+{
+    auto inst = static_cast<struct mosquitto*>(m_inst);
+    mosquitto_disconnect(inst);
+    mosquitto_destroy(inst);
+    lib_deinit();
+}
+
+void Client::subscribe(
+    std::string topic, std::function<void(std::string_view)> func)
+{
+    auto inst = static_cast<struct mosquitto*>(m_inst);
+
+    m_subscriptions.emplace_back(topic, std::move(func));
+
+    if (auto status = mosquitto_subscribe(inst, NULL, topic.c_str(), 0);
+        status != MOSQ_ERR_SUCCESS) {
+
+        throw Error(std::format(
+            "could not subscribe ({})", mosquitto_strerror(status)));
+    }
+}
+
+void Client::run()
+{
+
+    auto inst = static_cast<struct mosquitto*>(m_inst);
+
+    if (auto status = mosquitto_loop_forever(inst, -1, 1);
+        status != MOSQ_ERR_SUCCESS) {
+
+        if (status == MOSQ_ERR_ERRNO) {
+            throw Error(std::format("lost connection ({})", strerror(errno)));
+        } else {
+            throw Error(std::format(
+                "lost connection ({})", mosquitto_strerror(status)));
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+void Client::cb_connect(int rc)
+{
+    if (rc != 0) {
+        throw Error(std::format(
+            "client could not connect ({})", mosquitto_reason_string(rc)));
+    }
+
+    std::cout << std::format("[MQTT] Client connected\n");
+}
+
+void Client::cb_disconnect()
+{
+    std::cout << std::format("[MQTT] Client disconnected\n");
+}
+
+void Client::cb_publish()
+{
+    std::cout << std::format("[MQTT] Message published\n");
+}
+
+void Client::cb_message(std::string_view topic, const void* data, size_t size)
+{
+    std::cout << std::format("[MQTT] Message received\n");
+
+    auto text = std::string_view(static_cast<const char*>(data), size);
+
+    for (auto sub : m_subscriptions) {
+        if (sub.topic == topic) {
+            sub.func(text);
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+void Client::cb_subscribe()
+{
+    std::cout << std::format("[MQTT] Client subscribed\n");
+}
+
+void Client::cb_unsubscribe()
+{
+    std::cout << std::format("[MQTT] Client unsubscribed\n");
+}
+
+void Client::publish_raw(
+    const std::string& topic, const void* data, size_t size)
+{
+    auto inst = static_cast<struct mosquitto*>(m_inst);
+
+    if (auto status = mosquitto_publish(
+            inst, nullptr, topic.c_str(), (int)size, data, 0, false);
+        status != MOSQ_ERR_SUCCESS) {
+
+        throw Error(
+            std::format("could not publish ({})", mosquitto_strerror(status)));
+    }
+}
+}
diff --git a/backend/src/mqtt.hpp b/backend/src/mqtt.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..53a6f7f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/src/mqtt.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include <cstddef>
+#include <cstdint>
+#include <functional>
+#include <stdexcept>
+#include <string>
+#include <string_view>
+
+namespace mst::mqtt {
+
+struct Error : public std::runtime_error {
+    using std::runtime_error::runtime_error;
+};
+
+struct Subscription {
+    std::string topic;
+    std::function<void(std::string_view)> func;
+};
+
+class Client {
+public:
+    explicit Client(const std::string& hostname,
+        uint16_t port,
+        const std::string& username,
+        const std::string& password);
+
+    ~Client();
+
+    void publish(const std::string& topic, std::string_view text)
+    {
+        publish_raw(topic, text.data(), text.size());
+    }
+
+    void subscribe(
+        std::string topic, std::function<void(std::string_view)> func);
+
+    void run();
+
+    void cb_connect(int rc);
+    void cb_disconnect();
+    void cb_publish();
+    void cb_message(std::string_view topic, const void* data, size_t size);
+    void cb_subscribe();
+    void cb_unsubscribe();
+
+private:
+    void publish_raw(const std::string& topic, const void* data, size_t size);
+
+    void* m_inst;
+    std::vector<Subscription> m_subscriptions;
+};
+
+};