diff --git a/backend.py b/backend.py
index 5b60d3e..3eaeaf1 100755
--- a/backend.py
+++ b/backend.py
@@ -11,7 +11,8 @@ from datetime import datetime
 import networkx as nx
 from networkx.readwrite import json_graph
 
-from lib import alfred, graph, nodes
+from lib import graph, nodes
+from lib.alfred import Alfred
 from lib.batman import Batman
 from lib.rrddb import RRD
 
@@ -34,6 +35,8 @@ def main(params):
     for node_id, node in nodedb['nodes'].items():
         node['flags']['online'] = False
 
+    alfred = Alfred(unix_sockpath=params['alfred_sock'])
+
     nodes.import_nodeinfo(nodedb['nodes'], alfred.nodeinfo(),
                           now, assume_online=True)
 
@@ -91,6 +94,9 @@ if __name__ == '__main__':
     parser.add_argument('-m', '--mesh', action='append',
                         default=['bat0'],
                         help='batman mesh interface (defaults to bat0)')
+    parser.add_argument('-s', '--alfred-sock',
+                        default=None,
+                        help='alfred unix socket path')
     parser.add_argument('-d', '--dest-dir', action='store',
                         help='destination directory for generated files',
                         required=True)
diff --git a/lib/alfred.py b/lib/alfred.py
index 0467316..1b9b220 100644
--- a/lib/alfred.py
+++ b/lib/alfred.py
@@ -1,20 +1,35 @@
 import subprocess
 import json
+import os
 
 
-def _fetch(data_type):
-    output = subprocess.check_output(
-        ["alfred-json", "-z", "-f", "json", "-r", str(data_type)])
-    return json.loads(output.decode("utf-8")).values()
+class Alfred(object):
+    """
+    Bindings for the alfred-json utility
+    """
+    def __init__(self, unix_sockpath=None):
+        if unix_sockpath:
+            if os.path.exists(unix_sockpath):
+                self.unix_sock = unix_sockpath
+            else:
+                raise RuntimeError('alfred: invalid unix socket path given')
 
+    def _fetch(self, data_type):
+        cmd = ['alfred-json',
+               '-z',
+               '-f', 'json',
+               '-r', data_type]
+        if self.unix_sock:
+            cmd.extend(['-s', self.unix_sock])
 
-def nodeinfo():
-    return _fetch(158)
+        output = subprocess.check_output(cmd)
+        return json.loads(output.decode("utf-8")).values()
 
+    def nodeinfo(self):
+        return self._fetch(158)
 
-def statistics():
-    return _fetch(159)
+    def statistics(self):
+        return self._fetch(159)
 
-
-def vis():
-    return _fetch(160)
+    def vis(self):
+        return self._fetch(160)