diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index fa6ac70..6054b4d 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -91,7 +91,6 @@ Modules and commandline utilities are only required for modules, the core itself
 
 # Required commandline utilities
 
-* xbacklight (for the module 'brightness')
 * xset (for the module 'caffeine')
 * notify-send (for the module 'caffeine')
 * cmus-remote (for the module 'cmus')
diff --git a/bumblebee/modules/brightness.py b/bumblebee/modules/brightness.py
index 716a734..e61be7e 100644
--- a/bumblebee/modules/brightness.py
+++ b/bumblebee/modules/brightness.py
@@ -2,11 +2,9 @@
 
 """Displays the brightness of a display
 
-Requires the following executable:
-    * xbacklight
-
 Parameters:
     * brightness.step: The amount of increase/decrease on scroll in % (defaults to 2)
+    * brightness.device_path: The device path (defaults to /sys/class/backlight/intel_backlight)
 
 """
 
@@ -21,6 +19,7 @@ class Module(bumblebee.engine.Module):
         )
         self._brightness = 0
 
+        self._device_path = self.parameter("device_path", "/sys/class/backlight/intel_backlight")
         step = self.parameter("step", 2)
 
         engine.input.register_callback(self, button=bumblebee.input.WHEEL_UP,
@@ -29,9 +28,19 @@ class Module(bumblebee.engine.Module):
             cmd="xbacklight -{}%".format(step))
 
     def brightness(self, widget):
-        return "{:03.0f}%".format(self._brightness)
+        if isinstance(self._brightness, float):
+            return "{:03.0f}%".format(self._brightness)
+        else:
+            return "n/a"
 
     def update(self, widgets):
-        self._brightness = float(bumblebee.util.execute("xbacklight -get"))
+        try:
+            with open("{}/brightness".format(self._device_path)) as f:
+                backlight = int(f.readline())
+            with open("{}/max_brightness".format(self._device_path)) as f:
+                max_brightness = int(f.readline())
+                self._brightness=float(backlight*100/max_brightness)
+        except:
+            return "Error"
 
 # vim: tabstop=8 expandtab shiftwidth=4 softtabstop=4
diff --git a/tests/modules/test_brightness.py b/tests/modules/test_brightness.py
index b636d44..9b91d8f 100644
--- a/tests/modules/test_brightness.py
+++ b/tests/modules/test_brightness.py
@@ -8,8 +8,14 @@ try:
 except ImportError:
     from io import StringIO
 
+try:
+    FileNotFoundError
+except NameError:
+    FileNotFoundError = IOError
+
 import tests.mocks as mocks
 
+from bumblebee.config import Config
 from bumblebee.input import WHEEL_UP, WHEEL_DOWN
 from bumblebee.modules.brightness import Module
 
@@ -20,9 +26,9 @@ class TestBrightnessModule(unittest.TestCase):
     def tearDown(self):
         mocks.teardown_test(self)
 
-    def test_format(self):
-        for widget in self.module.widgets():
-            self.assertEquals(len(widget.full_text()), len("100%"))
+    # def test_format(self):
+    #     for widget in self.module.widgets():
+    #         self.assertEquals(len(widget.full_text()), len("100%"))
 
     def test_wheel_up(self):
         mocks.mouseEvent(stdin=self.stdin, button=WHEEL_UP, inp=self.input, module=self.module)
@@ -38,10 +44,20 @@ class TestBrightnessModule(unittest.TestCase):
         mocks.mouseEvent(stdin=self.stdin, button=WHEEL_DOWN, inp=self.input, module=module)
         self.popen.assert_call("xbacklight -10%")
 
-    def test_update(self):
-        self.popen.mock.communicate.return_value = ("20.0", None)
+    @mock.patch('bumblebee.modules.brightness.open', create=True)
+    def test_update(self, mock_open):
+        mock_open.side_effect = [
+                mock.mock_open(read_data="20").return_value,
+                mock.mock_open(read_data="100").return_value
+                ]
         self.module.update_all()
         self.assertEquals(self.module.brightness(self.anyWidget), "020%")
+        self.assertEquals(len(self.module.brightness(self.anyWidget)), len("100%"))
 
+    @mock.patch('bumblebee.modules.brightness.open')
+    def test_error(self,mock_open):
+        mock_open.side_effect = FileNotFoundError
+        self.module.update_all()
+        self.assertEquals(self.module.brightness(self.anyWidget), "n/a")
 
 # vim: tabstop=8 expandtab shiftwidth=4 softtabstop=4