diff --git a/lib/brightness.lua b/lib/brightness.lua
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..59c38f2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/brightness.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+-- Handle brightness (with xbacklight)
+
+local awful        = require("awful")
+local naughty      = require("naughty")
+local tonumber     = tonumber
+local string       = string
+local os           = os
+
+module("vbe/brightness")
+
+local nid = nil
+local function change(what)
+   -- We don't really change the brightness, just report the change...
+   local out = awful.util.pread("xbacklight -get")
+   if not out then return end
+
+   out = tonumber(out)
+   local icon = "/usr/share/icons/HighContrast/32x32/status/display-brightness.png"
+
+   nid = naughty.notify({ text = string.format("%3d %%", out),
+			  icon = icon,
+			  font = "Free Sans Bold 24",
+			  replaces_id = nid }).id
+end
+
+function increase()
+   change("+ 5")
+end
+
+function decrease()
+   change("- 5")
+end
diff --git a/rc/bindings.lua b/rc/bindings.lua
index b16f9e2..dd5a109 100644
--- a/rc/bindings.lua
+++ b/rc/bindings.lua
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 config.keys = {}
 config.mouse = {}
 local volume = loadrc("volume", "vbe/volume")
+local brightness = loadrc("brightness", "vbe/brightness")
 
 local function client_info()
     local v = ""
@@ -80,6 +81,8 @@ config.keys.global = awful.util.table.join(
    awful.key({ modkey, "Control" }, "r", awesome.restart),
 
    -- Multimedia keys
+   awful.key({ }, "XF86MonBrightnessUp",   brightness.increase),
+   awful.key({ }, "XF86MonBrightnessDown", brightness.decrease),
    awful.key({ }, "XF86AudioRaiseVolume", volume.increase),
    awful.key({ }, "XF86AudioLowerVolume", volume.decrease),
    awful.key({ }, "XF86AudioMute",        volume.toggle)