diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d344ba6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+config.json
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 97e7d98..4661f5b 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ with other subscribers as well.
 
 ## Installation
 
-1. Edit `flow3r_openhab/__init__.py` and set the variables `WIFI_SSID`, `WIFI_PSK` and `MQTT_BROKER_IP`.
+1. Copy `flow3r_openhab/config.example.json` to `flow3r_openhab/config.json` and enter your configuration details.
 1. Copy the `flow3r_openhab` directory to `/sys/apps/flow3r_openhab` on the flow3r's flash filesystem.
 1. Reboot the flow3r and start the `OpenHAB` app
 
diff --git a/flow3r_openhab/__init__.py b/flow3r_openhab/__init__.py
index 8db641b..0b19b11 100644
--- a/flow3r_openhab/__init__.py
+++ b/flow3r_openhab/__init__.py
@@ -1,19 +1,18 @@
 
 import gc
+import json
 import network
-import time
+import os
 import socket
+import time
 
 from st3m.application import Application, ApplicationContext
 
 from umqtt.robust import MQTTClient
 
-WIFI_SSID = b'...'
-WIFI_PSK = b'...'
 
-MQTT_BROKER_IP = '...'
-MQTT_CLIENT_ID = b'flow3r-{}'
-MQTT_BASE_TOPIC = b'flow3r-{}/event'
+with open(os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), 'config.json'), 'r') as f:
+    CONFIG = json.load(f)
 
 
 class Flow3rOpenhabMqtt(Application):
@@ -22,9 +21,9 @@ class Flow3rOpenhabMqtt(Application):
         super().__init__(app_ctx)
         self.state = 0
         self.nic = network.WLAN(network.STA_IF)
-        client_id = MQTT_CLIENT_ID.format(self.nic.config('mac').hex())
-        self.base_topic = MQTT_BASE_TOPIC.format(self.nic.config('mac').hex())
-        self.mqtt = MQTTClient(client_id, MQTT_BROKER_IP)
+        client_id = CONFIG['mqtt_client_id'].format(self.nic.config('mac').hex())
+        self.base_topic = CONFIG['mqtt_topic'].format(self.nic.config('mac').hex())
+        self.mqtt = MQTTClient(client_id, CONFIG['mqtt_broker_ip'])
         self.touch_time = [None]*10
         self.touch_begin = [None]*10
         self.touch_last = [None]*10
@@ -44,7 +43,7 @@ class Flow3rOpenhabMqtt(Application):
         self.nic.active(True)
         if not self.nic.isconnected():
             print('connecting to network...')
-            self.nic.connect(WIFI_SSID, WIFI_PSK)
+            self.nic.connect(CONFIG['wifi_ssid'], CONFIG['wifi_psk'])
             while not self.nic.isconnected():
                 pass
         print('network config:', self.nic.ifconfig())
diff --git a/flow3r_openhab/config.example.json b/flow3r_openhab/config.example.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8f524a9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/flow3r_openhab/config.example.json
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+{
+    "wifi_ssid": "example",
+    "wifi_psk": "supersecurepassword",
+    "mqtt_broker_ip": "127.0.0.1",
+    "mqtt_client_id": "flow3r-{}",
+    "mqtt_topic": "flow3r-{}/event"
+}