diff --git a/ChangeLog b/ChangeLog
index fdab36c..0614e85 100644
--- a/ChangeLog
+++ b/ChangeLog
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ v.0.5dev (ongoing development)
  * allow compiling with LDFLAG "--as-needed" (Robert Buchholz)
  * optimize MtxOrb flush()
  * make MtxOrb use Brightness and OffBrightness like CFontzPacket
+ * make Brightness & OffBrightness run-time configurable in CFontz & MtxOrb
 
 v.0.5.1
  + config file support in lcdproc client (Andrew Foss)
diff --git a/LCDd.conf b/LCDd.conf
index 9cd3b10..304dba6 100644
--- a/LCDd.conf
+++ b/LCDd.conf
@@ -142,9 +142,9 @@ Device=/dev/ttyS0
 Size=20x4
 # Set the initial contrast [default: 560; legal: 0 - 1000]
 Contrast=350
-# Set the initial brightness [default: 255; legal: 0 - 255]
-Brightness=255
-# Set the initial off-brightness [default: 0; legal: 0 - 255]
+# Set the initial brightness [default: 1000; legal: 0 - 1000]
+Brightness=1000
+# Set the initial off-brightness [default: 0; legal: 0 - 1000]
 # This value is used when the display is normally
 # switched off in case LCDd is inactive
 OffBrightness=0
diff --git a/docs/lcdproc-user/drivers/CFontz.docbook b/docs/lcdproc-user/drivers/CFontz.docbook
index 609c44f..8fd17a2 100644
--- a/docs/lcdproc-user/drivers/CFontz.docbook
+++ b/docs/lcdproc-user/drivers/CFontz.docbook
@@ -61,8 +61,8 @@ CFontz chipset.
   <listitem><para>
     Set the initial brightness.
     Legal values for <replaceable>BRIGHTNESS</replaceable> range from
-    <literal>0</literal> to <literal>255</literal>.
-    If not given, it defaults to <literal>255</literal>.
+    <literal>0</literal> to <literal>1000</literal>.
+    If not given, it defaults to <literal>1000</literal>.
   </para></listitem>
 </varlistentry>
 
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ CFontz chipset.
     This value is used when the display is normally
     switched off in case LCDd is inactive.
     Legal values <replaceable>BRIGHTNESS</replaceable> are in the range
-    from <literal>0</literal> to <literal>255</literal>.
+    from <literal>0</literal> to <literal>1000</literal>.
     The default is <literal>0</literal>.
   </para></listitem>
 </varlistentry>
diff --git a/server/drivers/CFontz.c b/server/drivers/CFontz.c
index ece990e..e66e9e6 100644
--- a/server/drivers/CFontz.c
+++ b/server/drivers/CFontz.c
@@ -161,8 +161,8 @@ CFontz_init(Driver *drvthis)
 
 	/* Which backlight brightness */
 	tmp = drvthis->config_get_int(drvthis->name, "Brightness", 0, DEFAULT_BRIGHTNESS);
-	if ((tmp < 0) || (tmp > 255)) {
-		report(RPT_WARNING, "%s: Brightness must be between 0 and 255; using default %d",
+	if ((tmp < 0) || (tmp > 1000)) {
+		report(RPT_WARNING, "%s: Brightness must be between 0 and 1000; using default %d",
 				drvthis->name, DEFAULT_BRIGHTNESS);
 		tmp = DEFAULT_BRIGHTNESS;
 	}
@@ -170,8 +170,8 @@ CFontz_init(Driver *drvthis)
 
 	/* Which backlight-off "brightness" */
 	tmp = drvthis->config_get_int(drvthis->name, "OffBrightness", 0, DEFAULT_OFFBRIGHTNESS);
-	if ((tmp < 0) || (tmp > 255)) {
-		report(RPT_WARNING, "%s: OffBrightness must be between 0 and 255; using default %d",
+	if ((tmp < 0) || (tmp > 1000)) {
+		report(RPT_WARNING, "%s: OffBrightness must be between 0 and 1000; using default %d",
 				drvthis->name, DEFAULT_OFFBRIGHTNESS);
 		tmp = DEFAULT_OFFBRIGHTNESS;
 	}
@@ -490,6 +490,48 @@ CFontz_set_contrast(Driver *drvthis, int promille)
 }
 
 
+/**
+ * Retrieve brightness.
+ * \param drvthis  Pointer to driver structure.
+ * \param state    Brightness state (on/off) for which we want the value.
+ * \return Stored brightness in promille.
+ */
+MODULE_EXPORT int
+CFontz_get_brightness(Driver *drvthis, int state)
+{
+	PrivateData *p = drvthis->private_data;
+
+	return (state == BACKLIGHT_ON) ? p->brightness : p->offbrightness;
+}
+
+
+/**
+ * Set on/off brightness.
+ * \param drvthis  Pointer to driver structure.
+ * \param state    Brightness state (on/off) for which we want to store the value.
+ * \param promille New brightness in promille.
+ */
+MODULE_EXPORT void
+CFontz_set_brightness(Driver *drvthis, int state, int promille)
+{
+	PrivateData *p = drvthis->private_data;
+
+	/* Check it */
+	if (promille < 0 || promille > 1000)
+		return;
+
+	/* store the software value since there is not get */
+	if (state == BACKLIGHT_ON) {
+		p->brightness = promille;
+		//CFontz_backlight(drvthis, BACKLIGHT_ON);
+	}
+	else {
+		p->offbrightness = promille;
+		//CFontz_backlight(drvthis, BACKLIGHT_OFF);
+	}
+}
+
+
 /**
  * Turn the LCD backlight on or off.
  * \param drvthis  Pointer to driver structure.
@@ -499,9 +541,11 @@ MODULE_EXPORT void
 CFontz_backlight(Driver *drvthis, int on)
 {
 	PrivateData *p = drvthis->private_data;
-	char out[4] = { CFONTZ_Backlight_Control, 0 };
+	unsigned char out[4] = { CFONTZ_Backlight_Control, 0 };
+	int promille = (on == BACKLIGHT_ON) ? p->brightness : p->offbrightness;
 
-	out[1] = (on) ? p->brightness : p->offbrightness;
+	/* map range [0, 1000] -> [0, 255] that the hardware understands */
+	out[1] = (unsigned char) ((long) promille * 255 / 1000);
 	write(p->fd, out, 2);
 }
 
diff --git a/server/drivers/CFontz.h b/server/drivers/CFontz.h
index 8d801fd..8883d65 100644
--- a/server/drivers/CFontz.h
+++ b/server/drivers/CFontz.h
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 #define DEFAULT_CONTRAST	560
 #define DEFAULT_DEVICE		"/dev/lcd"
 #define DEFAULT_SPEED		B9600
-#define DEFAULT_BRIGHTNESS	60
+#define DEFAULT_BRIGHTNESS	1000
 #define DEFAULT_OFFBRIGHTNESS	0
 #define DEFAULT_SIZE		"20x4"
 
@@ -65,6 +65,8 @@ MODULE_EXPORT void CFontz_set_char(Driver *drvthis, int n, unsigned char *dat);
 
 MODULE_EXPORT int  CFontz_get_contrast(Driver *drvthis);
 MODULE_EXPORT void CFontz_set_contrast(Driver *drvthis, int contrast);
+MODULE_EXPORT int  CFontz_get_brightness(Driver *drvthis, int state);
+MODULE_EXPORT void CFontz_set_brightness(Driver *drvthis, int state, int promille);
 MODULE_EXPORT void CFontz_backlight(Driver *drvthis, int on);
 
 #endif