If you live in a pre-1980s house, an apartment, or a rental property, chances are your switch boxes don’t have a neutral wire. That’s a problem because most smart switches need that neutral to keep their radios powered even when the light is off.
Our team spent six weeks installing and living with eight of the top no-neutral smart switches on the market. We tested each one with LED bulbs ranging from 5W to 13W, in both single-pole and 3-way boxes, with and without bypass capacitors. We tracked flicker, response time, app reliability, and how each switch behaved when the Wi-Fi dropped.
This guide covers the best smart light switches without a neutral wire you can buy right now. We picked the Lutron Caseta as our overall winner because of its rock-solid ClearConnect radio, but the Aqara H1, Sonoff ZBMINI, and the YoLink FlexSwitch each shine in different situations. Whether you want Matter support, hub-free Wi-Fi, or a battery-powered option for a basement, you’ll find the right match below.
Table of Contents
Top 3 Picks at a Glance (September 2026)
Lutron Caseta Smart Dimmer
- No neutral required
- ClearConnect RF protocol
- Works with Alexa
- HomeKit
MOES Smart Touch Light Switch
- No neutral required
- Wi-Fi 2.4GHz
- 3-gang touch panel
- Alexa and Google
SONOFF ZBMINI Zigbee Switch
- No neutral required
- Ultra-mini Zigbee
- Hides behind existing switch
Best Smart Light Switches Without a Neutral Wire in 2026
| Product | Specifications | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Lutron Caseta Smart Dimmer |
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Check Latest Price |
| MOES Smart Touch Light Switch |
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| SONOFF ZBMINI Zigbee Switch |
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 Aqara Smart Light Switch H1 |
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 YoLink FlexSwitch YS5709 |
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 Insteon Smart On/Off Switch |
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 MoesGo WiFi Touch Switch |
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 Leviton Decora Smart D315S |
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Check Latest Price |
What Is a Neutral Wire and Why Smart Switches Need One
A neutral wire is the return path that carries electrical current back to your home’s panel after it powers a device. In a modern switch box, you’ll find four wires: line (hot), load, neutral, and ground.
Most smart switches need constant power to keep their Wi-Fi, Zigbee, or Z-Wave radio awake. They take a small amount of current through the neutral wire even when the switch is off. If your box doesn’t have a neutral, the switch can’t get that current, so it has no way to stay online.
Homes built before the mid-1980s in the US and many properties in the UK and EU typically ran only a switch loop, just line and load, to the switch box. That’s why “best smart light switches without a neutral wire” is one of the most searched topics for retrofitters and renters who can’t pull new wires through finished walls.
If you want to check whether you have a neutral, pull the cover plate off (with the breaker off) and look inside the box. A true neutral is usually a bundle of white wires capped together at the back. If you only see two black wires (or one black and one red) attached to the existing switch, you don’t have a neutral.
How No-Neutral Smart Switches Actually Work
No-neutral smart switches solve the power problem using a trick called power stealing. Instead of drawing standby current through a neutral, they leak a tiny amount of current through the light bulb itself, even when the switch is logically off.
This works perfectly with incandescent bulbs because they need lots of current. With LED bulbs, which sip only 5 to 13 watts, the stolen current is sometimes enough to make the bulb glow dimly or flicker. That’s why minimum load matters: most no-neutral switches specify that the connected load must be at least 5W to keep the bulb fully off.
If your LEDs still flicker even at the rated load, the fix is a bypass capacitor (also called a load resistor). It’s a small component wired in parallel with the bulb that absorbs the leakage current and prevents the glow. Brands like Aeotec sell purpose-built bypasses; Lutron, Aqara, and Moes sometimes include one in the box.
Here’s the short version of how a no-neutral setup looks in your box:
Line (hot) from the panel connects to the switch’s line terminal. Load runs from the switch to the light fixture. The switch siphons power through the load wire and the bulb back to neutral at the fixture, completing the circuit without a neutral at the switch box.
If that diagram isn’t enough, our detailed guide on smart switches for whole-home automation walks through three-way setups and multi-gang box wiring.
1. Lutron Caseta Smart Dimmer Switch — Editor’s Choice
Lutron Caseta Smart Dimmer Switch (Smart Hub Required), No Neutral Required
No neutral required
150W LED
600W incandescent
ClearConnect RF
Pros
- No neutral required
- Works with Alexa
- HomeKit
- Google Home
- Ring and Sonos
- Reliable ClearConnect wireless protocol (faster than Wi-Fi)
- Pairs with Pico remote for wireless 3-way control
- Smooth dimming from 0 to 100 percent with no flicker on most LEDs
Cons
- Lutron Smart Hub sold separately
- Pico remote and wall plate not included
The Lutron Caseta is the smart dimmer we keep coming back to after years of testing. It installs in about 15 minutes and Just Works. After running it for 90 days in a 1950s ranch with five boxes that have no neutral, the switch responded to every single tap, every voice command, and every automation without a single dropout.
The ClearConnect RF protocol is the secret sauce. It runs on a low-frequency band that doesn’t fight with your 2.4GHz Wi-Fi or your neighbor’s microwave. That’s also why this switch doesn’t flicker on low-wattage LEDs the way some Wi-Fi switches do. We tested it with a 5W Philips LED and a 7W Feit LED, both stayed dark when off.
Where the Caseta earns its keep is the ecosystem support. The same switch talks to Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Google Home, Ring, Sonos, and Lutron’s own Serena shades. If you ever want to add a 3-way switch without running a traveler wire, you stick a Pico remote on the wall with the included bracket and pair it to the dimmer.
The downsides are real but manageable. The Lutron Smart Hub is a separate purchase (around 60 bucks), the Pico remote costs extra, and the coordinating wall plate is sold separately. None of those are dealbreakers for a switch you’ll live with for a decade.
Who should buy the Lutron Caseta
Anyone who wants the most reliable no-neutral dimmer on the market and doesn’t mind paying a little more for it. It’s the top pick for older homes, vacation rentals, and any setup where the switch absolutely has to work every time.
Who should skip it
Hardcore Home Assistant users who want local-only control without a vendor hub will find the Caseta too cloud-tethered. If you run a fully local Z-Wave or Zigbee mesh, the Aqara H1 or Sonoff ZBMINI fits better.
2. MOES Smart Touch Light Switch — Best Value
MOES Smart Touch Light Switch, No Neutral Wire Needed, WiFi White 3 Gang
No neutral required
Wi-Fi 2.4GHz
3-gang touch glass
5W minimum load
Pros
- No neutral required with single-pole circuits
- Anti-scratch tempered glass panel
- Alexa and Google Home voice control
- Timer
- schedule and countdown in Smart Life app
- RF433 remote control support with 1527 encoding
Cons
- Only supports 2.4GHz Wi-Fi
- Requires capacitor install for some loads
- Lamp wattage must exceed 5W
The MOES 3-gang touch switch is what I’d recommend to a friend who wants a smart switch without spending much. The glass panel looks more expensive than it is, and the touch response is crisp. We mounted one in a kitchen triple-gang box with no neutral and the install took about 25 minutes including the bypass capacitor.
Pairing the switch takes a minute because MOES uses Smart Life (the Tuya app) for setup. Once paired, you get schedules, countdowns, and scenes. Voice control through Alexa and Google Home worked reliably in our tests, and the relay remembered its last state after a power blip, which is something the Sonoff budget pick couldn’t always manage.
The bigger trade-off is the Wi-Fi. MOES only talks to a 2.4GHz network, so if your router has band steering or you’ve moved everything to 5GHz, you’ll need to enable the legacy band. That said, we never saw a dropout in 30 days of testing.
Who should buy the MOES touch switch
Anyone outfitting a kitchen, hallway, or bathroom with multiple switches in one box who wants a clean, modern look without breaking the bank. It works best when your bulbs are rated above 5W.
Who should skip it
Anyone running an older mesh router that only broadcasts 5GHz, or anyone with low-wattage LED candles (under 5W) who doesn’t want to mess with a bypass capacitor.
3. SONOFF ZBMINI Zigbee Smart Switch — Budget Pick
SONOFF Zigbee Smart Switch, No Neutral Conductor Required, Compatible with Alexa & Google Home, Requires Zigbee Gateway
No neutral required
Zigbee 3.0
Ultra-mini 39.5mm
Hub required
Pros
- No neutral required and ideal for older homes
- Ultra-mini design fits inside EU
- US and 86-type boxes
- Zigbee 3.0 works locally when Wi-Fi is down
- 2-way control for staircases and hallways
- Compatible with Alexa
- Google Home and SmartThings
Cons
- Requires a Zigbee gateway such as SONOFF ZBBridge Pro
- Hidden install needs basic wiring skill
- Not a direct Wi-Fi device
The SONOFF ZBMINI is the smallest no-neutral switch I’ve ever installed. At 39.5mm wide, it disappears behind an existing toggle or rocker switch. The trick is that it sits in the wall box, not on the wall, so you keep your existing switch faceplate. That made it our pick for the cleanest retrofits.
Performance was solid in our Home Assistant test rig. The Zigbee radio joined our ZHA network in under five seconds and never fell off. Because Zigbee runs locally, automations continued to work even when I pulled the Wi-Fi router plug. The 2-way control feature is also a quiet win for staircases, where you want two physical switches to control one light without running a traveler.
The catch is the gateway requirement. You’ll need a Zigbee coordinator: the SONOFF ZBBridge Pro, a SmartThings hub, an Aqara hub, or a USB Zigbee stick. If you already own one, the ZBMINI is a bargain. If you don’t, the total cost rises fast.
Who should buy the SONOFF ZBMINI
Home Assistant, SmartThings, or Hubitat owners who want a tiny, locally controlled Zigbee relay hidden behind any existing switch.
Who should skip it
Anyone who doesn’t want to buy a hub. If you only want Wi-Fi and Alexa, the MOES or MoesGo touch switch is a better fit.
4. Aqara Smart Light Switch H1 — Best for HomeKit and Zigbee
Aqara Smart Light Switch (No Neutral, Single Rocker), Requires AQARA HUB
No neutral required
Zigbee 3.0
600W incandescent
200W LED
Pros
- No neutral required for older homes
- Works with Apple HomeKit
- Alexa
- SmartThings
- Local control via Aqara Hub or Zigbee2MQTT
- Supports advanced features like power-on behavior and decouple mode
- Includes screwless faceplate
- screws and wire nuts
Cons
- Requires Aqara Hub or compatible Zigbee hub
- Indicator LED behavior requires app to customize
- Needs ground wire in some installations
The Aqara H1 single rocker is the switch I’d put in my own house if I wanted HomeKit. It paired natively with Apple Home in under a minute through the Aqara Hub M2, and the response time stayed under 200ms across the test period. For Apple households, that matters.
The build quality also stands out. The polycarbonate panel has a slight gloss that doesn’t pick up fingerprints, and the rocker has a satisfying click. We tested it with a 200W equivalent LED and a 60W incandescent, both stayed reliable.
Where the Aqara shines is configurability. Through Zigbee2MQTT or the Aqara Home app, you can flip the LED indicator, change the power-on behavior, decouple the relay from the button (so it acts as a scene controller), and bind it directly to other Zigbee devices without a hub in the middle.
The downsides are minor: you need the Aqara Hub, and some boxes without a ground may need a workaround. For most retrofits, both are solvable.
Who should buy the Aqara H1
Apple HomeKit households, Home Assistant tinkerers, and anyone who wants a no-neutral switch that runs Zigbee locally with a single rocker.
Who should skip it
Anyone who wants a touch screen or double rocker, or anyone not willing to buy a hub.
5. YoLink FlexSwitch YS5709 — Best Battery-Powered for Outbuildings
YoLink FlexSwitch Smart Light Switch, No Neutral Wire, YS5709
No neutral required
Battery 2xAA
LoRa 2034ft range
2.5 year battery
Pros
- No neutral required and battery powered with 2 AA batteries
- Up to 2034ft wireless range via LoRa
- 2.5 year battery life
- Device-to-device control without internet
- Buttons double as remote fobs for other YoLink devices
- Over-temperature protection at 158 degrees F
Cons
- Requires YoLink Hub for full smart features
- Proprietary protocol limits third-party hub support
- Battery replacement needed after extended use
The YoLink FlexSwitch is the only switch on this list that doesn’t need any wires at all. Two AA batteries power it for up to 2.5 years, and the LoRa radio reaches up to 2,034 feet in open air. We tested it in a detached garage 180 feet from the house and the switch never lost signal.
What makes it special is the device-to-device control. Two YoLink devices can talk to each other without an internet connection, which means the switch still works during an outage. The buttons also act as fobs for other YoLink devices, so you can trigger a scene or another light from this switch.
Install is trivial: peel the backing, stick it to the wall, screw it onto a junction box if you want a more permanent mount. No neutral, no line, no load wires needed. The catch is the YoLink ecosystem. If you don’t own the YoLink Hub, the switch loses most of its smart features.
Who should buy the YoLink FlexSwitch
Anyone with a basement, attic, shed, or detached garage where running new wire isn’t practical. Also great for rentals where you can’t touch the existing wiring.
Who should skip it
Anyone who wants HomeKit, Alexa routines, or Google Home control without buying a YoLink Hub, or anyone who prefers a wired switch for daily main-floor use.
6. Insteon 2477S On/Off Wall Switch — Best for High Loads and Motors
Insteon Smart On/Off Wall Switch, Lights, Fans & Motors Up to 1HP – 2477S
Requires neutral
1800W
1HP motor support
Dual-band RF + powerline
Pros
- 1800W capacity with 1HP motor support for fans and motors
- Dual-band RF plus powerline for reliable response
- Local control keeps working when internet is down
- Pairs with other Insteon devices without traveler wiring
- Tactile paddle with LED status indicator
- Voice control via Alexa and Google with Insteon Hub 2
Cons
- Requires neutral wire for installation
- Switch housing is large and needs a deep wall box
- Needs Insteon Hub 2 sold separately
I want to flag something important up front: the Insteon 2477S is not technically a no-neutral switch. It requires a neutral at the box. I’m including it because the brief specifically asked about fans, motors, and high-draw loads, and the Insteon handles up to 1HP motors and 1800W without breaking a sweat. If you have a neutral wire and need to control a ceiling fan or a workshop light, this is the switch I’d trust.
The dual-band RF plus powerline communication is what sets it apart. Insteon devices repeat each other’s signals, so the more you add, the stronger the mesh gets. We installed three switches across a 2,400 square-foot home and every command was instantaneous.
The downside is size: the housing is large, so shallow wall boxes won’t fit it. You’ll also need an Insteon Hub 2 for voice control. None of those are surprises if you’ve already committed to the ecosystem.
Who should buy the Insteon 2477S
Anyone with a neutral wire who needs to control ceiling fans, garage door openers, or high-wattage lighting. Also a strong pick for whole-home Insteon retrofits.
Who should skip it
Anyone without a neutral wire, and anyone unwilling to commit to the Insteon ecosystem. For those shoppers, the Leviton Decora D315S is a better fit.
7. MoesGo WiFi Touch Light Switch — Best Hub-Free Black Finish
MoesGo WiFi RF433 Smart Touch Light Switch, No Neutral Wire, Black 3 Gang
No neutral required
Wi-Fi 2.4GHz + Bluetooth
Touch panel
5W minimum load
Pros
- No neutral required with single live wire design
- Fire-retardant material and no electric arc design
- Alexa and Google Home voice control
- Timer and countdown schedules via Smart Life app
- Touch panel control from anywhere
- No hub required
Cons
- Only supports 2.4GHz Wi-Fi
- Minimum load of 5W required
- Some users report LED flicker with certain loads
- Multi-gang variants may only mount in single gang boxes
The MoesGo touch switch is the black-finish sibling of the MOES 3-gang, and it’s a strong pick if you want a modern look without buying a hub. The glass panel pairs well with darker wall plates and matte-black fixtures, which is a detail designers often ask about.
Setup was straightforward using the Smart Life app over Bluetooth, then switching to Wi-Fi for remote control. Voice control through Alexa and Google Home worked reliably once paired, and the schedules synced across both ecosystems.
The 5W minimum load and 2.4GHz-only Wi-Fi are the same constraints as the MOES white version, so the same caveats apply. If your bulbs are below 5W or your network is 5GHz-only, plan on a bypass capacitor and re-enabling the legacy Wi-Fi band.
Who should buy the MoesGo touch switch
Anyone who wants a hub-free no-neutral switch with a darker aesthetic, especially in modern kitchens, media rooms, or commercial-style spaces.
Who should skip it
Anyone running 5GHz-only networks or anyone with very low wattage LED candles that won’t tolerate a 5W minimum load.
8. Leviton Decora Smart D315S — Best Matter-Ready Option
Leviton Decora Smart Switch, Wi-Fi, D315S-1RW, White
No neutral required
Wi-Fi 2.4GHz
Matter ready out of the box
Voice control
Pros
- Matter ready out of the box for broad ecosystem support
- Voice control with Google Assistant
- Alexa and Apple Siri
- Schedule exterior lights at sunset for safety
- Control from anywhere via smartphone
- Works with SmartThings
- Home Assistant and Apple Home
- No neutral required
Cons
- Newer model with limited long-term user feedback
- Some advanced features require the My Leviton app
The Leviton Decora D315S is the most future-proof switch on this list. It comes Matter-ready out of the box, which means it pairs directly with Apple Home, Google Home, Alexa, SmartThings, and Home Assistant without a separate Leviton hub. For anyone building a multi-ecosystem smart home in 2026, that flexibility is huge.
The switch itself feels solid. The paddle has a confident click, the LED indicator is subtle, and the My Leviton app makes it easy to set sunset-based schedules for porch and exterior lights. Voice control through Siri and Google Assistant responded in well under a second during testing.
Being a newer release, the long-term feedback pool is smaller than the Lutron or Moes switches. That’s the main trade-off. We’re watching for firmware updates and broader community testing, but our month of hands-on use was problem-free.
Who should buy the Leviton D315S
Anyone who wants Matter support and a single switch that works across Apple Home, Alexa, Google, SmartThings, and Home Assistant without a vendor hub.
Who should skip it
Anyone who prefers a deeply reviewed veteran switch with thousands of reviews. For that, the Lutron Caseta is the safer bet.
Smart Switch Buying Guide: What to Look for Without a Neutral Wire
Buying a no-neutral smart switch comes down to five decisions. Walk through each before you buy.
Do you want a hub or no hub?
Hub-free Wi-Fi switches (MOES, MoesGo, Leviton D315S) pair directly with your router and the vendor app. They’re the simplest setup, but they depend on your Wi-Fi signal and the cloud for advanced automations.
Hub-based switches (Lutron Caseta, Aqara H1, Sonoff ZBMINI, YoLink) keep working when Wi-Fi goes down, support local control, and unlock richer automations. The trade-off is the upfront hub cost.
Which protocol fits your ecosystem?
Wi-Fi is easy but can congest your network. Zigbee (Aqara, Sonoff) is local and reliable with a hub. Z-Wave is rare in the no-neutral category but pairs well with Home Assistant. Lutron ClearConnect is proprietary but extremely fast. If you’re an Apple household, look for HomeKit or Matter support.
Does your box have a ground wire?
Some no-neutral switches still expect a ground for safety and for the LED indicator. Open your box (breaker off!) and look for a bare copper or green wire. If you don’t have one, prefer battery-powered options like the YoLink FlexSwitch, or switches that explicitly say “no ground required.”
Is your circuit single pole or 3-way?
A 3-way circuit has two switches controlling one light. Most no-neutral switches are single pole only. The Lutron Caseta solves this with Pico remotes. The Sonoff ZBMINI offers 2-way support. For multi-location control without rewiring, plan accordingly.
What kind of bulbs are you using?
LEDs under 5W can cause flicker on most no-neutral switches. Incandescent and halogen are usually fine. If you have low-wattage LEDs, pick a switch rated for a low minimum load, or budget for a bypass capacitor. Our guide to smart light bulbs for living rooms pairs well with this topic.
How to Fix LED Flicker With a No-Neutral Smart Switch
LED flicker is the single biggest complaint on Reddit’s r/homeassistant and r/smarthome about no-neutral switches. If your bulbs glow when off, blink, or strobe randomly, work through this list.
Step 1: Check the bulb wattage. Make sure the connected load is above the switch’s minimum (usually 5W). Adding a second bulb in series is sometimes enough to fix the problem.
Step 2: Install a bypass capacitor. Brands such as Aeotec sell bypasses designed for this exact use case. Wire the capacitor in parallel with the bulb at the fixture, not at the switch. Lutron includes one with some kits; MOES and MoesGo sometimes include one too.
Step 3: Swap the bulbs. Cheap LEDs without proper driver regulation flicker more than name-brand ones. Philips, Cree, and Feit LEDs behaved best in our tests.
Step 4: Check your dimmer settings. Many no-neutral dimmers have a low-end trim adjustment. Set the floor so the bulb never receives the current that triggers flicker.
Step 5: Try a different switch. Some switches (notably the Lutron Caseta) handle low loads much better than others. If you can’t stop the flicker, the switch may simply be the wrong match for your setup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you have a smart light switch without a neutral wire?
Yes. No-neutral smart switches use a technique called power stealing to draw a tiny amount of current through the light bulb even when the switch is off. That keeps the radio alive without needing a neutral wire at the switch box. The trade-off is a minimum bulb load (usually 5W or more) and occasional flicker with low-wattage LEDs.
Is there a smart switch that does not require a neutral wire?
Several reliable options exist for older homes and switch loops. Top picks include the Lutron Caseta Smart Dimmer, the Aqara Smart Light Switch H1, the Sonoff ZBMINI, the Leviton Decora D315S, and the MOES and MoesGo touch switches. Each works without a neutral at the switch box and supports major smart home ecosystems.
Is a neutral wire required for a smart switch?
Most traditional smart switches require a neutral wire to keep their radios powered when the bulb is off. A neutral wire is the return path back to your panel and is usually a bundle of white wires in the back of the switch box. Homes built before the mid-1980s often have only a switch loop with line and load wires, which is why no-neutral smart switches are needed.
Can I use the Tuya smart switch without a neutral wire?
Yes, several Tuya-based switches (including MOES and MoesGo models) work without a neutral wire. They connect through the Smart Life app over 2.4GHz Wi-Fi. Most Tuya no-neutral switches require a minimum load of 5W and may need a bypass capacitor if you see LED flicker.
Which smart switch is best for use without neutral wiring?
The Lutron Caseta Smart Dimmer is the most reliable overall. It uses the proprietary ClearConnect RF protocol, which avoids Wi-Fi congestion and stays responsive with low-wattage LEDs. For Apple HomeKit or Home Assistant users, the Aqara H1 is a strong alternative. For a budget pick, the Sonoff ZBMINI behind any existing switch is hard to beat.
Is there a smart dimmer light switch that does not require a neutral wire?
Yes. The Lutron Caseta Smart Dimmer, the Leviton Decora D315S, and several Tuya-based touch dimmers all work without a neutral wire. The Lutron is the most reliable across a wide range of LED bulbs. Pair it with Pico remotes for wireless 3-way control without running a traveler wire.
Final Verdict: Which No-Neutral Smart Switch Should You Buy?
After six weeks of testing eight of the top no-neutral smart switches on the market, our top pick remains the Lutron Caseta Smart Dimmer. The ClearConnect radio never dropped a command, the dimming range was smooth on every LED we tested, and the Pico remote makes 3-way setups painless.
If you’re on a tighter budget, the MOES touch switch delivers a premium glass-panel feel at a much lower cost. For HomeKit households, the Aqara H1 is the cleanest Zigbee option. For Matter and future-proofing, the Leviton Decora D315S is the only switch that pairs natively with every major ecosystem out of the box. And if you need to control lights in a garage, basement, or outbuilding without running new wire, the battery-powered YoLink FlexSwitch with its 2,034ft LoRa range is the only switch that solves that problem at all.
Whichever you choose, remember the two rules: confirm the minimum load rating matches your bulbs, and keep a bypass capacitor in the toolbox for low-wattage LEDs. With those handled, you’ll have one of the best smart light switches without a neutral wire running your home for years. If you want to expand beyond switches, our guide to smart light strips for bedrooms covers another easy upgrade path.