diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index 929591c..81c6524 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -1312,6 +1312,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "serde_json",
  "slab",
  "tempfile",
+ "thiserror",
  "tokio",
  "toml",
  "wayland-client",
@@ -2011,18 +2012,18 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "thiserror"
-version = "1.0.58"
+version = "1.0.61"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "03468839009160513471e86a034bb2c5c0e4baae3b43f79ffc55c4a5427b3297"
+checksum = "c546c80d6be4bc6a00c0f01730c08df82eaa7a7a61f11d656526506112cc1709"
 dependencies = [
  "thiserror-impl",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
 name = "thiserror-impl"
-version = "1.0.58"
+version = "1.0.61"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "c61f3ba182994efc43764a46c018c347bc492c79f024e705f46567b418f6d4f7"
+checksum = "46c3384250002a6d5af4d114f2845d37b57521033f30d5c3f46c4d70e1197533"
 dependencies = [
  "proc-macro2",
  "quote",
diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index dda5c5a..059bd1d 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ num_enum = "0.7.2"
 hostname = "0.4.0"
 slab = "0.4.9"
 endi = "1.1.0"
+thiserror = "1.0.61"
 
 [target.'cfg(unix)'.dependencies]
 libc = "0.2.148"
diff --git a/config.toml b/config.toml
index ef66ae3..b05d249 100644
--- a/config.toml
+++ b/config.toml
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 # example configuration
 
+# capture_backend = "LayerShell"
+
 # release bind
 release_bind = [ "KeyA", "KeyS", "KeyD", "KeyF" ]
 
diff --git a/src/capture.rs b/src/capture.rs
index d3b99db..ca93091 100644
--- a/src/capture.rs
+++ b/src/capture.rs
@@ -4,9 +4,14 @@ use futures_core::Stream;
 
 use crate::{
     client::{ClientEvent, ClientHandle},
+    config::CaptureBackend,
     event::Event,
 };
 
+use self::error::CaptureCreationError;
+
+pub mod error;
+
 #[cfg(all(unix, feature = "libei", not(target_os = "macos")))]
 pub mod libei;
 
@@ -25,24 +30,42 @@ pub mod x11;
 /// fallback input capture (does not produce events)
 pub mod dummy;
 
-pub async fn create() -> Box<dyn InputCapture<Item = io::Result<(ClientHandle, Event)>>> {
+#[allow(unreachable_code)]
+pub async fn create(
+    backend: Option<CaptureBackend>,
+) -> Result<Box<dyn InputCapture<Item = io::Result<(ClientHandle, Event)>>>, CaptureCreationError> {
+    if let Some(backend) = backend {
+        return match backend {
+            #[cfg(all(unix, feature = "libei", not(target_os = "macos")))]
+            CaptureBackend::InputCapturePortal => {
+                Ok(Box::new(libei::LibeiInputCapture::new().await?))
+            }
+            #[cfg(all(unix, feature = "wayland", not(target_os = "macos")))]
+            CaptureBackend::LayerShell => Ok(Box::new(wayland::WaylandInputCapture::new()?)),
+            #[cfg(all(unix, feature = "x11", not(target_os = "macos")))]
+            CaptureBackend::X11 => Ok(Box::new(x11::X11InputCapture::new()?)),
+            #[cfg(windows)]
+            CaptureBackend::Windows => Ok(Box::new(windows::WindowsInputCapture::new())),
+            #[cfg(target_os = "macos")]
+            CaptureBackend::MacOs => Ok(Box::new(macos::MacOSInputCapture::new()?)),
+            CaptureBackend::Dummy => Ok(Box::new(dummy::DummyInputCapture::new())),
+        };
+    }
+
     #[cfg(target_os = "macos")]
     match macos::MacOSInputCapture::new() {
-        Ok(p) => return Box::new(p),
+        Ok(p) => return Ok(Box::new(p)),
         Err(e) => log::info!("macos input capture not available: {e}"),
     }
 
     #[cfg(windows)]
-    match windows::WindowsInputCapture::new() {
-        Ok(p) => return Box::new(p),
-        Err(e) => log::info!("windows input capture not available: {e}"),
-    }
+    return Ok(Box::new(windows::WindowsInputCapture::new()));
 
     #[cfg(all(unix, feature = "libei", not(target_os = "macos")))]
     match libei::LibeiInputCapture::new().await {
         Ok(p) => {
             log::info!("using libei input capture");
-            return Box::new(p);
+            return Ok(Box::new(p));
         }
         Err(e) => log::info!("libei input capture not available: {e}"),
     }
@@ -51,7 +74,7 @@ pub async fn create() -> Box<dyn InputCapture<Item = io::Result<(ClientHandle, E
     match wayland::WaylandInputCapture::new() {
         Ok(p) => {
             log::info!("using layer-shell input capture");
-            return Box::new(p);
+            return Ok(Box::new(p));
         }
         Err(e) => log::info!("layer_shell input capture not available: {e}"),
     }
@@ -60,13 +83,13 @@ pub async fn create() -> Box<dyn InputCapture<Item = io::Result<(ClientHandle, E
     match x11::X11InputCapture::new() {
         Ok(p) => {
             log::info!("using x11 input capture");
-            return Box::new(p);
+            return Ok(Box::new(p));
         }
         Err(e) => log::info!("x11 input capture not available: {e}"),
     }
 
     log::error!("falling back to dummy input capture");
-    Box::new(dummy::DummyInputCapture::new())
+    Ok(Box::new(dummy::DummyInputCapture::new()))
 }
 
 pub trait InputCapture: Stream<Item = io::Result<(ClientHandle, Event)>> + Unpin {
diff --git a/src/capture/error.rs b/src/capture/error.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..15231c8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/capture/error.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,140 @@
+use std::fmt::Display;
+use thiserror::Error;
+
+#[cfg(all(unix, feature = "wayland", not(target_os = "macos")))]
+use std::io;
+#[cfg(all(unix, feature = "wayland", not(target_os = "macos")))]
+use wayland_client::{
+    backend::WaylandError,
+    globals::{BindError, GlobalError},
+    ConnectError, DispatchError,
+};
+
+#[derive(Debug, Error)]
+pub enum CaptureCreationError {
+    #[cfg(all(unix, feature = "libei", not(target_os = "macos")))]
+    Libei(#[from] LibeiCaptureCreationError),
+    #[cfg(all(unix, feature = "wayland", not(target_os = "macos")))]
+    LayerShell(#[from] LayerShellCaptureCreationError),
+    #[cfg(all(unix, feature = "x11", not(target_os = "macos")))]
+    X11(#[from] X11InputCaptureCreationError),
+    #[cfg(target_os = "macos")]
+    Macos(#[from] MacOSInputCaptureCreationError),
+    #[cfg(windows)]
+    Windows,
+}
+
+impl Display for CaptureCreationError {
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut std::fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> std::fmt::Result {
+        let reason = match self {
+            #[cfg(all(unix, feature = "libei", not(target_os = "macos")))]
+            CaptureCreationError::Libei(reason) => {
+                format!("error creating portal backend: {reason}")
+            }
+            #[cfg(all(unix, feature = "wayland", not(target_os = "macos")))]
+            CaptureCreationError::LayerShell(reason) => {
+                format!("error creating layer-shell backend: {reason}")
+            }
+            #[cfg(all(unix, feature = "x11", not(target_os = "macos")))]
+            CaptureCreationError::X11(e) => format!("{e}"),
+            #[cfg(target_os = "macos")]
+            CaptureCreationError::Macos(e) => format!("{e}"),
+            #[cfg(windows)]
+            CaptureCreationError::Windows => String::from(""),
+        };
+        write!(f, "could not create input capture: {reason}")
+    }
+}
+
+#[cfg(all(unix, feature = "libei", not(target_os = "macos")))]
+#[derive(Debug, Error)]
+pub enum LibeiCaptureCreationError {
+    Ashpd(#[from] ashpd::Error),
+}
+
+#[cfg(all(unix, feature = "libei", not(target_os = "macos")))]
+impl Display for LibeiCaptureCreationError {
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut std::fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> std::fmt::Result {
+        match self {
+            LibeiCaptureCreationError::Ashpd(portal_error) => write!(f, "{portal_error}"),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+#[cfg(all(unix, feature = "wayland", not(target_os = "macos")))]
+#[derive(Debug, Error)]
+pub struct WaylandBindError {
+    inner: BindError,
+    protocol: &'static str,
+}
+#[cfg(all(unix, feature = "wayland", not(target_os = "macos")))]
+impl WaylandBindError {
+    pub(crate) fn new(inner: BindError, protocol: &'static str) -> Self {
+        Self { inner, protocol }
+    }
+}
+
+#[cfg(all(unix, feature = "wayland", not(target_os = "macos")))]
+impl Display for WaylandBindError {
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut std::fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> std::fmt::Result {
+        write!(
+            f,
+            "{} protocol not supported: {}",
+            self.protocol, self.inner
+        )
+    }
+}
+
+#[cfg(all(unix, feature = "wayland", not(target_os = "macos")))]
+#[derive(Debug, Error)]
+pub enum LayerShellCaptureCreationError {
+    Connect(#[from] ConnectError),
+    Global(#[from] GlobalError),
+    Wayland(#[from] WaylandError),
+    Bind(#[from] WaylandBindError),
+    Dispatch(#[from] DispatchError),
+    Io(#[from] io::Error),
+}
+
+#[cfg(all(unix, feature = "wayland", not(target_os = "macos")))]
+impl Display for LayerShellCaptureCreationError {
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut std::fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> std::fmt::Result {
+        match self {
+            LayerShellCaptureCreationError::Bind(e) => write!(f, "{e}"),
+            LayerShellCaptureCreationError::Connect(e) => {
+                write!(f, "could not connect to wayland compositor: {e}")
+            }
+            LayerShellCaptureCreationError::Global(e) => write!(f, "wayland error: {e}"),
+            LayerShellCaptureCreationError::Wayland(e) => write!(f, "wayland error: {e}"),
+            LayerShellCaptureCreationError::Dispatch(e) => {
+                write!(f, "error dispatching wayland events: {e}")
+            }
+            LayerShellCaptureCreationError::Io(e) => write!(f, "io error: {e}"),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+#[cfg(all(unix, feature = "x11", not(target_os = "macos")))]
+#[derive(Debug, Error)]
+pub enum X11InputCaptureCreationError {
+    NotImplemented,
+}
+
+#[cfg(all(unix, feature = "x11", not(target_os = "macos")))]
+impl Display for X11InputCaptureCreationError {
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut std::fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> std::fmt::Result {
+        write!(f, "X11 input capture is not yet implemented :(")
+    }
+}
+#[cfg(target_os = "macos")]
+#[derive(Debug, Error)]
+pub enum MacOSInputCaptureCreationError {
+    NotImplemented,
+}
+
+#[cfg(target_os = "macos")]
+impl Display for MacOSInputCaptureCreationError {
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut std::fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> std::fmt::Result {
+        write!(f, "macos input capture is not yet implemented :(")
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/capture/libei.rs b/src/capture/libei.rs
index 4b0000d..816f18a 100644
--- a/src/capture/libei.rs
+++ b/src/capture/libei.rs
@@ -36,6 +36,8 @@ use crate::{
     event::{Event, KeyboardEvent, PointerEvent},
 };
 
+use super::error::LibeiCaptureCreationError;
+
 #[derive(Debug)]
 enum ProducerEvent {
     Release,
@@ -131,7 +133,7 @@ impl<'a> Drop for LibeiInputCapture<'a> {
 
 async fn create_session<'a>(
     input_capture: &'a InputCapture<'a>,
-) -> Result<(Session<'a>, BitFlags<Capabilities>)> {
+) -> std::result::Result<(Session<'a>, BitFlags<Capabilities>), ashpd::Error> {
     log::debug!("creating input capture session");
     let (session, capabilities) = loop {
         match input_capture
@@ -213,7 +215,7 @@ async fn wait_for_active_client(
 }
 
 impl<'a> LibeiInputCapture<'a> {
-    pub async fn new() -> Result<Self> {
+    pub async fn new() -> std::result::Result<Self, LibeiCaptureCreationError> {
         let input_capture = Box::pin(InputCapture::new().await?);
         let input_capture_ptr = input_capture.as_ref().get_ref() as *const InputCapture<'static>;
         let mut first_session = Some(create_session(unsafe { &*input_capture_ptr }).await?);
diff --git a/src/capture/macos.rs b/src/capture/macos.rs
index f95fbde..5d122e1 100644
--- a/src/capture/macos.rs
+++ b/src/capture/macos.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
+use crate::capture::error::MacOSInputCaptureCreationError;
 use crate::capture::InputCapture;
 use crate::client::{ClientEvent, ClientHandle};
 use crate::event::Event;
-use anyhow::{anyhow, Result};
 use futures_core::Stream;
 use std::task::{Context, Poll};
 use std::{io, pin::Pin};
@@ -9,8 +9,8 @@ use std::{io, pin::Pin};
 pub struct MacOSInputCapture;
 
 impl MacOSInputCapture {
-    pub fn new() -> Result<Self> {
-        Err(anyhow!("not yet implemented"))
+    pub fn new() -> std::result::Result<Self, MacOSInputCaptureCreationError> {
+        Err(MacOSInputCaptureCreationError::NotImplemented)
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/capture/wayland.rs b/src/capture/wayland.rs
index 9f2b82c..0d64105 100644
--- a/src/capture/wayland.rs
+++ b/src/capture/wayland.rs
@@ -1,9 +1,8 @@
 use crate::{
-    capture::InputCapture,
+    capture::{error::WaylandBindError, InputCapture},
     client::{ClientEvent, ClientHandle, Position},
 };
 
-use anyhow::{anyhow, Result};
 use futures_core::Stream;
 use memmap::MmapOptions;
 use std::{
@@ -68,6 +67,8 @@ use tempfile;
 
 use crate::event::{Event, KeyboardEvent, PointerEvent};
 
+use super::error::LayerShellCaptureCreationError;
+
 struct Globals {
     compositor: wl_compositor::WlCompositor,
     pointer_constraints: ZwpPointerConstraintsV1,
@@ -258,64 +259,37 @@ fn draw(f: &mut File, (width, height): (u32, u32)) {
 }
 
 impl WaylandInputCapture {
-    pub fn new() -> Result<Self> {
-        let conn = match Connection::connect_to_env() {
-            Ok(c) => c,
-            Err(e) => return Err(anyhow!("could not connect to wayland compositor: {e:?}")),
-        };
-
-        let (g, mut queue) = match registry_queue_init::<State>(&conn) {
-            Ok(q) => q,
-            Err(e) => return Err(anyhow!("failed to initialize wl_registry: {e:?}")),
-        };
+    pub fn new() -> std::result::Result<Self, LayerShellCaptureCreationError> {
+        let conn = Connection::connect_to_env()?;
+        let (g, mut queue) = registry_queue_init::<State>(&conn)?;
 
         let qh = queue.handle();
 
-        let compositor: wl_compositor::WlCompositor = match g.bind(&qh, 4..=5, ()) {
-            Ok(compositor) => compositor,
-            Err(_) => return Err(anyhow!("wl_compositor >= v4 not supported")),
-        };
-
-        let xdg_output_manager: ZxdgOutputManagerV1 = match g.bind(&qh, 1..=3, ()) {
-            Ok(xdg_output_manager) => xdg_output_manager,
-            Err(_) => return Err(anyhow!("xdg_output not supported!")),
-        };
-
-        let shm: wl_shm::WlShm = match g.bind(&qh, 1..=1, ()) {
-            Ok(wl_shm) => wl_shm,
-            Err(_) => return Err(anyhow!("wl_shm v1 not supported")),
-        };
-
-        let layer_shell: ZwlrLayerShellV1 = match g.bind(&qh, 3..=4, ()) {
-            Ok(layer_shell) => layer_shell,
-            Err(_) => return Err(anyhow!("zwlr_layer_shell_v1 >= v3 not supported - required to display a surface at the edge of the screen")),
-        };
-
-        let seat: wl_seat::WlSeat = match g.bind(&qh, 7..=8, ()) {
-            Ok(wl_seat) => wl_seat,
-            Err(_) => return Err(anyhow!("wl_seat >= v7 not supported")),
-        };
-
-        let pointer_constraints: ZwpPointerConstraintsV1 = match g.bind(&qh, 1..=1, ()) {
-            Ok(pointer_constraints) => pointer_constraints,
-            Err(_) => return Err(anyhow!("zwp_pointer_constraints_v1 not supported")),
-        };
-
-        let relative_pointer_manager: ZwpRelativePointerManagerV1 = match g.bind(&qh, 1..=1, ()) {
-            Ok(relative_pointer_manager) => relative_pointer_manager,
-            Err(_) => return Err(anyhow!("zwp_relative_pointer_manager_v1 not supported")),
-        };
-
-        let shortcut_inhibit_manager: ZwpKeyboardShortcutsInhibitManagerV1 =
-            match g.bind(&qh, 1..=1, ()) {
-                Ok(shortcut_inhibit_manager) => shortcut_inhibit_manager,
-                Err(_) => {
-                    return Err(anyhow!(
-                        "zwp_keyboard_shortcuts_inhibit_manager_v1 not supported"
-                    ))
-                }
-            };
+        let compositor: wl_compositor::WlCompositor = g
+            .bind(&qh, 4..=5, ())
+            .map_err(|e| WaylandBindError::new(e, "wl_compositor 4..=5"))?;
+        let xdg_output_manager: ZxdgOutputManagerV1 = g
+            .bind(&qh, 1..=3, ())
+            .map_err(|e| WaylandBindError::new(e, "xdg_output_manager 1..=3"))?;
+        let shm: wl_shm::WlShm = g
+            .bind(&qh, 1..=1, ())
+            .map_err(|e| WaylandBindError::new(e, "wl_shm"))?;
+        let layer_shell: ZwlrLayerShellV1 = g
+            .bind(&qh, 3..=4, ())
+            .map_err(|e| WaylandBindError::new(e, "wlr_layer_shell 3..=4"))?;
+        let seat: wl_seat::WlSeat = g
+            .bind(&qh, 7..=8, ())
+            .map_err(|e| WaylandBindError::new(e, "wl_seat 7..=8"))?;
 
+        let pointer_constraints: ZwpPointerConstraintsV1 = g
+            .bind(&qh, 1..=1, ())
+            .map_err(|e| WaylandBindError::new(e, "zwp_pointer_constraints_v1"))?;
+        let relative_pointer_manager: ZwpRelativePointerManagerV1 = g
+            .bind(&qh, 1..=1, ())
+            .map_err(|e| WaylandBindError::new(e, "zwp_relative_pointer_manager_v1"))?;
+        let shortcut_inhibit_manager: ZwpKeyboardShortcutsInhibitManagerV1 = g
+            .bind(&qh, 1..=1, ())
+            .map_err(|e| WaylandBindError::new(e, "zwp_keyboard_shortcuts_inhibit_manager_v1"))?;
         let outputs = vec![];
 
         let g = Globals {
diff --git a/src/capture/windows.rs b/src/capture/windows.rs
index cd93bf5..eff4f9c 100644
--- a/src/capture/windows.rs
+++ b/src/capture/windows.rs
@@ -575,7 +575,7 @@ fn update_clients(client_event: ClientEvent) {
 }
 
 impl WindowsInputCapture {
-    pub(crate) fn new() -> Result<Self> {
+    pub(crate) fn new() -> Self {
         unsafe {
             let (tx, rx) = channel(10);
             EVENT_TX.replace(tx);
@@ -583,10 +583,10 @@ impl WindowsInputCapture {
             let msg_thread = Some(thread::spawn(|| message_thread(ready_tx)));
             /* wait for thread to set its id */
             ready_rx.recv().expect("channel closed");
-            Ok(Self {
+            Self {
                 msg_thread,
                 event_rx: rx,
-            })
+            }
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/capture/x11.rs b/src/capture/x11.rs
index 7f9654b..edc2f53 100644
--- a/src/capture/x11.rs
+++ b/src/capture/x11.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-use anyhow::{anyhow, Result};
 use std::io;
 use std::task::Poll;
 
@@ -9,11 +8,13 @@ use crate::event::Event;
 
 use crate::client::{ClientEvent, ClientHandle};
 
+use super::error::X11InputCaptureCreationError;
+
 pub struct X11InputCapture {}
 
 impl X11InputCapture {
-    pub fn new() -> Result<Self> {
-        Err(anyhow!("not implemented"))
+    pub fn new() -> std::result::Result<Self, X11InputCaptureCreationError> {
+        Err(X11InputCaptureCreationError::NotImplemented)
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/capture_test.rs b/src/capture_test.rs
index 584ab97..b8f652a 100644
--- a/src/capture_test.rs
+++ b/src/capture_test.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 use crate::capture;
 use crate::client::{ClientEvent, Position};
+use crate::config::Config;
 use crate::event::{Event, KeyboardEvent};
 use anyhow::{anyhow, Result};
 use futures::StreamExt;
@@ -12,12 +13,14 @@ pub fn run() -> Result<()> {
         .enable_time()
         .build()?;
 
-    runtime.block_on(LocalSet::new().run_until(input_capture_test()))
+    let config = Config::new()?;
+
+    runtime.block_on(LocalSet::new().run_until(input_capture_test(config)))
 }
 
-async fn input_capture_test() -> Result<()> {
+async fn input_capture_test(config: Config) -> Result<()> {
     log::info!("creating input capture");
-    let mut input_capture = capture::create().await;
+    let mut input_capture = capture::create(config.capture_backend).await?;
     log::info!("creating clients");
     input_capture.notify(ClientEvent::Create(0, Position::Left))?;
     input_capture.notify(ClientEvent::Create(1, Position::Right))?;
diff --git a/src/config.rs b/src/config.rs
index 0878800..c88af93 100644
--- a/src/config.rs
+++ b/src/config.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 use anyhow::Result;
-use clap::Parser;
+use clap::{Parser, ValueEnum};
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 use std::collections::HashSet;
 use std::env;
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ pub const DEFAULT_PORT: u16 = 4242;
 
 #[derive(Serialize, Deserialize, Debug)]
 pub struct ConfigToml {
+    pub capture_backend: Option<CaptureBackend>,
     pub port: Option<u16>,
     pub frontend: Option<String>,
     pub release_bind: Option<Vec<scancode::Linux>>,
@@ -26,6 +27,7 @@ pub struct ConfigToml {
 
 #[derive(Serialize, Deserialize, Debug, Eq, PartialEq)]
 pub struct TomlClient {
+    pub capture_backend: Option<CaptureBackend>,
     pub hostname: Option<String>,
     pub host_name: Option<String>,
     pub ips: Option<Vec<IpAddr>>,
@@ -68,8 +70,34 @@ struct CliArgs {
     /// test input emulation
     #[arg(long)]
     test_emulation: bool,
+
+    /// capture backend override
+    #[arg(long)]
+    capture_backend: Option<CaptureBackend>,
+
+    /// emulation backend override
+    #[arg(long)]
+    emulation_backend: Option<EmulationBackend>,
 }
 
+#[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, Deserialize, Eq, PartialEq, Serialize, ValueEnum)]
+pub enum CaptureBackend {
+    #[cfg(all(unix, feature = "libei", not(target_os = "macos")))]
+    InputCapturePortal,
+    #[cfg(all(unix, feature = "wayland", not(target_os = "macos")))]
+    LayerShell,
+    #[cfg(all(unix, feature = "x11", not(target_os = "macos")))]
+    X11,
+    #[cfg(windows)]
+    Windows,
+    #[cfg(target_os = "macos")]
+    MacOs,
+    Dummy,
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, ValueEnum)]
+pub enum EmulationBackend {}
+
 #[derive(Debug, PartialEq, Eq)]
 pub enum Frontend {
     Gtk,
@@ -78,6 +106,7 @@ pub enum Frontend {
 
 #[derive(Debug)]
 pub struct Config {
+    pub capture_backend: Option<CaptureBackend>,
     pub frontend: Frontend,
     pub port: u16,
     pub clients: Vec<(TomlClient, Position)>,
@@ -163,6 +192,11 @@ impl Config {
             .and_then(|c| c.release_bind.clone())
             .unwrap_or(Vec::from_iter(DEFAULT_RELEASE_KEYS.iter().cloned()));
 
+        let capture_backend = match args.capture_backend {
+            Some(b) => Some(b),
+            None => config_toml.as_ref().and_then(|c| c.capture_backend),
+        };
+
         let mut clients: Vec<(TomlClient, Position)> = vec![];
 
         if let Some(config_toml) = config_toml {
@@ -185,6 +219,7 @@ impl Config {
         let test_emulation = args.test_emulation;
 
         Ok(Config {
+            capture_backend,
             daemon,
             frontend,
             clients,
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index 48bb136..7bd7a04 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ fn run_service(config: &Config) -> Result<()> {
         log::info!("Press Ctrl+Alt+Shift+Super to release the mouse");
 
         let server = Server::new(config);
-        server.run().await?;
+        server.run(config.capture_backend).await?;
 
         log::debug!("service exiting");
         anyhow::Ok(())
diff --git a/src/server.rs b/src/server.rs
index 7fc0dbe..d342b2b 100644
--- a/src/server.rs
+++ b/src/server.rs
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ use tokio::signal;
 
 use crate::{
     client::{ClientConfig, ClientHandle, ClientManager, ClientState},
-    config::Config,
+    config::{CaptureBackend, Config},
     dns,
     frontend::{FrontendListener, FrontendRequest},
     server::capture_task::CaptureEvent,
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ impl Server {
         }
     }
 
-    pub async fn run(&self) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
+    pub async fn run(&self, backend: Option<CaptureBackend>) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
         // create frontend communication adapter
         let frontend = match FrontendListener::new().await {
             Some(f) => f?,
@@ -97,11 +97,12 @@ impl Server {
 
         // input capture
         let (mut capture_task, capture_channel) = capture_task::new(
+            backend,
             self.clone(),
             sender_tx.clone(),
             timer_tx.clone(),
             self.release_bind.clone(),
-        );
+        )?;
 
         // input emulation
         let (mut emulation_task, emulate_channel) = emulation_task::new(
diff --git a/src/server/capture_task.rs b/src/server/capture_task.rs
index 1f0f409..0e19172 100644
--- a/src/server/capture_task.rs
+++ b/src/server/capture_task.rs
@@ -5,8 +5,9 @@ use std::{collections::HashSet, net::SocketAddr};
 use tokio::{process::Command, sync::mpsc::Sender, task::JoinHandle};
 
 use crate::{
-    capture::{self, InputCapture},
+    capture::{self, error::CaptureCreationError, InputCapture},
     client::{ClientEvent, ClientHandle},
+    config::CaptureBackend,
     event::{Event, KeyboardEvent},
     scancode,
     server::State,
@@ -25,14 +26,15 @@ pub enum CaptureEvent {
 }
 
 pub fn new(
+    backend: Option<CaptureBackend>,
     server: Server,
     sender_tx: Sender<(Event, SocketAddr)>,
     timer_tx: Sender<()>,
     release_bind: Vec<scancode::Linux>,
-) -> (JoinHandle<Result<()>>, Sender<CaptureEvent>) {
+) -> Result<(JoinHandle<Result<()>>, Sender<CaptureEvent>), CaptureCreationError> {
     let (tx, mut rx) = tokio::sync::mpsc::channel(32);
     let task = tokio::task::spawn_local(async move {
-        let mut capture = capture::create().await;
+        let mut capture = capture::create(backend).await?;
         let mut pressed_keys = HashSet::new();
         loop {
             tokio::select! {
@@ -62,7 +64,7 @@ pub fn new(
         }
         anyhow::Ok(())
     });
-    (task, tx)
+    Ok((task, tx))
 }
 
 fn update_pressed_keys(pressed_keys: &mut HashSet<scancode::Linux>, key: u32, state: u8) {