diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index df8804e..9bd618a 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -52,6 +52,55 @@ dependencies = [
  "libc",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "anstream"
+version = "0.3.2"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "0ca84f3628370c59db74ee214b3263d58f9aadd9b4fe7e711fd87dc452b7f163"
+dependencies = [
+ "anstyle",
+ "anstyle-parse",
+ "anstyle-query",
+ "anstyle-wincon",
+ "colorchoice",
+ "is-terminal",
+ "utf8parse",
+]
+
+[[package]]
+name = "anstyle"
+version = "1.0.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "41ed9a86bf92ae6580e0a31281f65a1b1d867c0cc68d5346e2ae128dddfa6a7d"
+
+[[package]]
+name = "anstyle-parse"
+version = "0.2.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "e765fd216e48e067936442276d1d57399e37bce53c264d6fefbe298080cb57ee"
+dependencies = [
+ "utf8parse",
+]
+
+[[package]]
+name = "anstyle-query"
+version = "1.0.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "5ca11d4be1bab0c8bc8734a9aa7bf4ee8316d462a08c6ac5052f888fef5b494b"
+dependencies = [
+ "windows-sys 0.48.0",
+]
+
+[[package]]
+name = "anstyle-wincon"
+version = "1.0.1"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "180abfa45703aebe0093f79badacc01b8fd4ea2e35118747e5811127f926e188"
+dependencies = [
+ "anstyle",
+ "windows-sys 0.48.0",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "anyhow"
 version = "1.0.71"
@@ -395,6 +444,48 @@ dependencies = [
  "winapi",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "clap"
+version = "4.3.4"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "80672091db20273a15cf9fdd4e47ed43b5091ec9841bf4c6145c9dfbbcae09ed"
+dependencies = [
+ "clap_builder",
+ "clap_derive",
+ "once_cell",
+]
+
+[[package]]
+name = "clap_builder"
+version = "4.3.4"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "c1458a1df40e1e2afebb7ab60ce55c1fa8f431146205aa5f4887e0b111c27636"
+dependencies = [
+ "anstream",
+ "anstyle",
+ "bitflags 1.3.2",
+ "clap_lex",
+ "strsim",
+]
+
+[[package]]
+name = "clap_derive"
+version = "4.3.2"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "b8cd2b2a819ad6eec39e8f1d6b53001af1e5469f8c177579cdaeb313115b825f"
+dependencies = [
+ "heck 0.4.1",
+ "proc-macro2",
+ "quote 1.0.28",
+ "syn 2.0.18",
+]
+
+[[package]]
+name = "clap_lex"
+version = "0.5.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "2da6da31387c7e4ef160ffab6d5e7f00c42626fe39aea70a7b0f1773f7dd6c1b"
+
 [[package]]
 name = "color-eyre"
 version = "0.6.2"
@@ -422,6 +513,12 @@ dependencies = [
  "tracing-error",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "colorchoice"
+version = "1.0.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "acbf1af155f9b9ef647e42cdc158db4b64a1b61f743629225fde6f3e0be2a7c7"
+
 [[package]]
 name = "concurrent-queue"
 version = "2.2.0"
@@ -515,6 +612,16 @@ dependencies = [
  "typenum",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "ctrlc"
+version = "3.4.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "2a011bbe2c35ce9c1f143b7af6f94f29a167beb4cd1d29e6740ce836f723120e"
+dependencies = [
+ "nix 0.26.2",
+ "windows-sys 0.48.0",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "darling"
 version = "0.14.4"
@@ -1453,7 +1560,9 @@ dependencies = [
  "async_once",
  "cfg-if",
  "chrono",
+ "clap",
  "color-eyre",
+ "ctrlc",
  "dirs",
  "futures-lite",
  "futures-util",
@@ -1470,6 +1579,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "regex",
  "reqwest",
  "serde",
+ "serde_json",
  "smithay-client-toolkit",
  "stray",
  "strip-ansi-escapes",
@@ -1489,6 +1599,18 @@ dependencies = [
  "zbus",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "is-terminal"
+version = "0.4.7"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "adcf93614601c8129ddf72e2d5633df827ba6551541c6d8c59520a371475be1f"
+dependencies = [
+ "hermit-abi 0.3.1",
+ "io-lifetimes",
+ "rustix",
+ "windows-sys 0.48.0",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "itoa"
 version = "1.0.6"
diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index d35de71..49486b2 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -4,9 +4,12 @@ version = "0.12.1"
 edition = "2021"
 license = "MIT"
 description = "Customisable GTK Layer Shell wlroots/sway bar"
+repository = "https://github.com/jakestanger/ironbar"
 
 [features]
 default = [
+    "cli",
+    "ipc",
     "http",
     "config+all",
     "clipboard",
@@ -17,8 +20,11 @@ default = [
     "upower",
     "workspaces+all"
 ]
+
+cli = ["dep:clap", "ipc"]
+ipc = ["dep:serde_json"]
+
 http = ["dep:reqwest"]
-upower = ["upower_dbus", "zbus", "futures-lite"]
 
 "config+all" = ["config+json", "config+yaml", "config+toml", "config+corn", "config+ron"]
 "config+json" = ["universal-config/json"]
@@ -40,6 +46,8 @@ sys_info = ["sysinfo", "regex"]
 
 tray = ["stray"]
 
+upower = ["upower_dbus", "zbus", "futures-lite"]
+
 workspaces = ["futures-util"]
 "workspaces+all" = ["workspaces", "workspaces+sway", "workspaces+hyprland"]
 "workspaces+sway" = ["workspaces", "swayipc-async"]
@@ -67,11 +75,18 @@ wayland-protocols = { version = "0.30.0", features = ["unstable", "client"] }
 wayland-protocols-wlr = { version = "0.1.0", features = ["client"] }
 smithay-client-toolkit = { version = "0.17.0", default-features = false, features = ["calloop"] }
 universal-config = { version = "0.4.0", default_features = false }
+ctrlc = "3.4.0"
 
 lazy_static = "1.4.0"
 async_once = "0.2.6"
 cfg-if = "1.0.0"
 
+# cli
+clap = { version = "4.2.7", optional = true, features = ["derive"] }
+
+# ipc
+serde_json = { version = "1.0.96", optional = true }
+
 # http
 reqwest = { version = "0.11.18", optional = true }
 
diff --git a/src/bridge_channel.rs b/src/bridge_channel.rs
index 2208e0c..101eb10 100644
--- a/src/bridge_channel.rs
+++ b/src/bridge_channel.rs
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ use crate::send;
 use tokio::spawn;
 use tokio::sync::mpsc;
 
-/// MPSC async -> sync channel.
+/// MPSC async -> GTK sync channel.
 /// The sender uses `tokio::sync::mpsc`
 /// while the receiver uses `glib::MainContext::channel`.
 ///
diff --git a/src/cli/mod.rs b/src/cli/mod.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..feb2933
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/cli/mod.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+use crate::ipc::commands::Command;
+use crate::ipc::responses::Response;
+use clap::Parser;
+use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
+
+#[derive(Parser, Debug, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+#[command(version)]
+pub struct Args {
+    #[command(subcommand)]
+    pub command: Option<Command>,
+}
+
+pub fn handle_response(response: Response) {
+    match response {
+        Response::Ok => println!("ok"),
+        Response::OkValue { value } => println!("ok\n{value}"),
+        Response::Err { message } => eprintln!("error\n{}", message.unwrap_or_default()),
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/ipc/client.rs b/src/ipc/client.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b7e1da9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/ipc/client.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+use super::Ipc;
+use crate::ipc::{Command, Response};
+use color_eyre::Result;
+use color_eyre::{Help, Report};
+use tokio::io::{AsyncReadExt, AsyncWriteExt};
+use tokio::net::UnixStream;
+
+impl Ipc {
+    /// Sends a command to the IPC server.
+    /// The server response is returned.
+    pub async fn send(&self, command: Command) -> Result<Response> {
+        let mut stream = match UnixStream::connect(&self.path).await {
+            Ok(stream) => Ok(stream),
+            Err(err) => Err(Report::new(err)
+                .wrap_err("Failed to connect to Ironbar IPC server")
+                .suggestion("Is Ironbar running?")),
+        }?;
+
+        let write_buffer = serde_json::to_vec(&command)?;
+        stream.write_all(&write_buffer).await?;
+
+        let mut read_buffer = vec![0; 1024];
+        let bytes = stream.read(&mut read_buffer).await?;
+
+        let response = serde_json::from_slice(&read_buffer[..bytes])?;
+        Ok(response)
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/ipc/commands.rs b/src/ipc/commands.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..51fc4d3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/ipc/commands.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+use clap::Subcommand;
+use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
+use std::path::PathBuf;
+
+#[derive(Subcommand, Debug, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+#[serde(tag = "type")]
+pub enum Command {
+    /// Return "ok"
+    Ping,
+
+    /// Open the GTK inspector
+    Inspect,
+}
+
diff --git a/src/ipc/mod.rs b/src/ipc/mod.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..87aab89
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/ipc/mod.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+mod client;
+pub mod commands;
+pub mod responses;
+mod server;
+
+use std::path::PathBuf;
+use tracing::warn;
+
+pub use commands::Command;
+pub use responses::Response;
+
+#[derive(Debug)]
+pub struct Ipc {
+    path: PathBuf,
+}
+
+impl Ipc {
+    /// Creates a new IPC instance.
+    /// This can be used as both a server and client.
+    pub fn new() -> Self {
+        let ipc_socket_file = std::env::var("XDG_RUNTIME_DIR")
+            .map_or_else(|_| PathBuf::from("/tmp"), PathBuf::from)
+            .join("ironbar-ipc.sock");
+
+        if format!("{}", ipc_socket_file.display()).len() > 100 {
+            warn!("The IPC socket file's absolute path exceeds 100 bytes, the socket may fail to create.");
+        }
+
+        Self {
+            path: ipc_socket_file,
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/ipc/responses.rs b/src/ipc/responses.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..506732c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/ipc/responses.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
+
+#[derive(Debug, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+#[serde(tag = "type")]
+pub enum Response {
+    Ok,
+    Err { message: Option<String> },
+}
+
+impl Response {
+    /// Creates a new `Response::Error`.
+    pub fn error(message: &str) -> Self {
+        Self::Err {
+            message: Some(message.to_string()),
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/ipc/server.rs b/src/ipc/server.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d24ed48
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/ipc/server.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,119 @@
+use super::Ipc;
+use crate::bridge_channel::BridgeChannel;
+use crate::ipc::{Command, Response};
+use crate::ironvar::get_variable_manager;
+use crate::{read_lock, send_async, try_send, write_lock};
+use color_eyre::{Report, Result};
+use glib::Continue;
+use std::fs;
+use tokio::io::{AsyncReadExt, AsyncWriteExt};
+use tokio::net::{UnixListener, UnixStream};
+use tokio::spawn;
+use tokio::sync::mpsc;
+use tokio::sync::mpsc::{Receiver, Sender};
+use tracing::{debug, error, info, warn};
+
+impl Ipc {
+    /// Starts the IPC server on its socket.
+    ///
+    /// Once started, the server will begin accepting connections.
+    pub fn start(&self) {
+        let bridge = BridgeChannel::<Command>::new();
+        let cmd_tx = bridge.create_sender();
+        let (res_tx, mut res_rx) = mpsc::channel(32);
+
+        let path = self.path.clone();
+
+        if path.exists() {
+            warn!("Socket already exists. Did Ironbar exit abruptly?");
+            warn!("Attempting IPC shutdown to allow binding to address");
+            self.shutdown();
+        }
+
+        spawn(async move {
+            info!("Starting IPC on {}", path.display());
+
+            let listener = match UnixListener::bind(&path) {
+                Ok(listener) => listener,
+                Err(err) => {
+                    error!(
+                        "{:?}",
+                        Report::new(err).wrap_err("Unable to start IPC server")
+                    );
+                    return;
+                }
+            };
+
+            loop {
+                match listener.accept().await {
+                    Ok((stream, _addr)) => {
+                        if let Err(err) =
+                            Self::handle_connection(stream, &cmd_tx, &mut res_rx).await
+                        {
+                            error!("{err:?}");
+                        }
+                    }
+                    Err(err) => {
+                        error!("{err:?}");
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+        });
+
+        bridge.recv(move |command| {
+            let res = Self::handle_command(command);
+            try_send!(res_tx, res);
+            Continue(true)
+        });
+    }
+
+    /// Takes an incoming connections,
+    /// reads the command message, and sends the response.
+    ///
+    /// The connection is closed once the response has been written.
+    async fn handle_connection(
+        mut stream: UnixStream,
+        cmd_tx: &Sender<Command>,
+        res_rx: &mut Receiver<Response>,
+    ) -> Result<()> {
+        let (mut stream_read, mut stream_write) = stream.split();
+
+        let mut read_buffer = vec![0; 1024];
+        let bytes = stream_read.read(&mut read_buffer).await?;
+
+        let command = serde_json::from_slice::<Command>(&read_buffer[..bytes])?;
+
+        debug!("Received command: {command:?}");
+
+        send_async!(cmd_tx, command);
+        let res = res_rx
+            .recv()
+            .await
+            .unwrap_or(Response::Err { message: None });
+        let res = serde_json::to_vec(&res)?;
+
+        stream_write.write_all(&res).await?;
+        stream_write.shutdown().await?;
+
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
+    /// Takes an input command, runs it and returns with the appropriate response.
+    ///
+    /// This runs on the main thread, allowing commands to interact with GTK.
+    fn handle_command(command: Command) -> Response {
+        match command {
+            Command::Inspect => {
+                gtk::Window::set_interactive_debugging(true);
+                Response::Ok
+            }
+            Command::Ping => Response::Ok,
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Shuts down the IPC server,
+    /// removing the socket file in the process.
+    pub fn shutdown(&self) {
+        fs::remove_file(&self.path).ok();
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index 8523a52..6ddcfb0 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
 
 mod bar;
 mod bridge_channel;
+#[cfg(feature = "cli")]
+mod cli;
 mod clients;
 mod config;
 mod desktop_file;
@@ -9,6 +11,8 @@ mod dynamic_string;
 mod error;
 mod gtk_helpers;
 mod image;
+#[cfg(feature = "ipc")]
+mod ipc;
 mod logging;
 mod macros;
 mod modules;
@@ -20,6 +24,9 @@ mod unique_id;
 use crate::bar::create_bar;
 use crate::config::{Config, MonitorConfig};
 use crate::style::load_css;
+use cfg_if::cfg_if;
+#[cfg(feature = "cli")]
+use clap::Parser;
 use color_eyre::eyre::Result;
 use color_eyre::Report;
 use dirs::config_dir;
@@ -32,8 +39,9 @@ use std::future::Future;
 use std::path::PathBuf;
 use std::process::exit;
 use std::rc::Rc;
+use std::sync::mpsc;
 use tokio::runtime::Handle;
-use tokio::task::block_in_place;
+use tokio::task::{block_in_place, spawn_blocking};
 
 use crate::error::ExitCode;
 use clients::wayland::{self, WaylandClient};
@@ -47,6 +55,32 @@ const VERSION: &str = env!("CARGO_PKG_VERSION");
 async fn main() {
     let _guard = logging::install_logging();
 
+    cfg_if! {
+        if #[cfg(feature = "cli")] {
+            run_with_args().await
+        } else {
+            start_ironbar().await
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+#[cfg(feature = "cli")]
+async fn run_with_args() {
+    let args = cli::Args::parse();
+
+    match args.command {
+        Some(command) => {
+            let ipc = ipc::Ipc::new();
+            match ipc.send(command).await {
+                Ok(res) => cli::handle_response(res),
+                Err(err) => error!("{err:?}"),
+            };
+        }
+        None => start_ironbar().await,
+    }
+}
+
+async fn start_ironbar() {
     info!("Ironbar version {}", VERSION);
     info!("Starting application");
 
@@ -64,6 +98,13 @@ async fn main() {
 
         running.set(true);
 
+        cfg_if! {
+            if #[cfg(feature = "ipc")] {
+                let ipc = ipc::Ipc::new();
+                ipc.start();
+            }
+        }
+
         let display = Display::default().map_or_else(
             || {
                 let report = Report::msg("Failed to get default GTK display");
@@ -112,14 +153,27 @@ async fn main() {
         if style_path.exists() {
             load_css(style_path);
         }
+
+        let (tx, rx) = mpsc::channel();
+
+        spawn_blocking(move || {
+            rx.recv().expect("to receive from channel");
+
+            info!("Shutting down");
+
+            #[cfg(feature = "ipc")]
+            ipc.shutdown();
+
+            exit(0);
+        });
+
+        ctrlc::set_handler(move || tx.send(()).expect("Could not send signal on channel."))
+            .expect("Error setting Ctrl-C handler");
     });
 
     // Ignore CLI args
     // Some are provided by swaybar_config but not currently supported
     app.run_with_args(&Vec::<&str>::new());
-
-    info!("Shutting down");
-    exit(0);
 }
 
 /// Creates each of the bars across each of the (configured) outputs.