diff --git a/api/src/dooris_api/__init__.py b/api/src/dooris_api/__init__.py
index cd488a6..8ee8809 100644
--- a/api/src/dooris_api/__init__.py
+++ b/api/src/dooris_api/__init__.py
@@ -52,6 +52,12 @@ def main():
         default=os.environ.get("DOORIS_CCUJACK_URL", "https://hmdooris-ccu.ccchh.net:2122"),
         help="The URL under which a CCUJACK instance is hosted that actually operates the locks",
     )
+    argp.add_argument(
+        "--ccujack-mqtt",
+        required=False,
+        default=os.environ.get("DOORIS_CCUJACK_MQTT", "hmdooris-ccu.ccchh.net:1883"),
+        help="The $HOSTNAME:$PORT of the CCUJack embedded MQTT server",
+    )
     argp.add_argument(
         "--ccujack-user",
         required="DOORIS_CCUJACK_USER" not in os.environ,
diff --git a/api/src/dooris_api/app.py b/api/src/dooris_api/app.py
index 3bcd848..3b53d35 100644
--- a/api/src/dooris_api/app.py
+++ b/api/src/dooris_api/app.py
@@ -36,11 +36,14 @@ async def lifespan(app: FastAPI):
         scope=app_cfg.openid_scope,
     )
 
+    # TODO: regularly re-query CCUJACK to discover new locks
     app.extra["ccujack"] = CCUJackClient(
         base_uri=app_cfg.ccujack_url,
-        auth=BasicAuth(app_cfg.ccujack_user, app_cfg.ccujack_password)
+        auth=BasicAuth(app_cfg.ccujack_user, app_cfg.ccujack_password),
+        mqtt_conn=app_cfg.ccujack_mqtt,
     )
     await app.extra["ccujack"].find_locks()
+    await app.extra["ccujack"].connect_mqtt()
 
     yield
 
diff --git a/api/src/dooris_api/ccujack.py b/api/src/dooris_api/ccujack.py
index 5d5eca0..78c9e00 100644
--- a/api/src/dooris_api/ccujack.py
+++ b/api/src/dooris_api/ccujack.py
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@ import logging
 import asyncio
 from pydantic import BaseModel, Field
 
+from dooris_api.mqtt_client import AsyncMqttClient
+
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
@@ -69,7 +71,7 @@ class CCUJackClient:
     base_uri: str
     locks: LockData
 
-    def __init__(self, base_uri: str, auth: BasicAuth):
+    def __init__(self, base_uri: str, auth: BasicAuth, mqtt_conn: str):
         self.http = ClientSession(
             base_url=base_uri,
             auth=auth,
@@ -77,6 +79,10 @@ class CCUJackClient:
             connector=TCPConnector(ssl=False),
         )
         self.locks = None
+        self.mqtt = AsyncMqttClient(mqtt_conn, auth.login, auth.password)
+
+    async def connect_mqtt(self):
+        await self.mqtt.connect()
 
     async def find_locks(self):
         logger.debug("Inspecting lock devices present in CCUJack")