diff --git a/plugins/altos/fu-altos-device.c b/plugins/altos/fu-altos-device.c
index ad68b0d0c..da3c7959e 100644
--- a/plugins/altos/fu-altos-device.c
+++ b/plugins/altos/fu-altos-device.c
@@ -109,18 +109,6 @@ fu_altos_device_finalize (GObject *object)
 	G_OBJECT_CLASS (fu_altos_device_parent_class)->finalize (object);
 }
 
-static void
-fu_altos_device_init (FuAltosDevice *device)
-{
-}
-
-static void
-fu_altos_device_class_init (FuAltosDeviceClass *klass)
-{
-	GObjectClass *object_class = G_OBJECT_CLASS (klass);
-	object_class->finalize = fu_altos_device_finalize;
-}
-
 FuAltosDeviceKind
 fu_altos_device_get_kind (FuAltosDevice *device)
 {
@@ -432,13 +420,11 @@ fu_altos_device_write_page (FuAltosDevice *device,
 	return TRUE;
 }
 
-gboolean
-fu_altos_device_write_firmware (FuAltosDevice *device,
-				GBytes *fw,
-				FuAltosDeviceWriteFirmwareFlag flags,
-				GError **error)
+static gboolean
+fu_altos_device_write_firmware (FuDevice *device, GBytes *fw, GError **error)
 {
-	FuAltosDevicePrivate *priv = GET_PRIVATE (device);
+	FuAltosDevice *self = FU_ALTOS_DEVICE (device);
+	FuAltosDevicePrivate *priv = GET_PRIVATE (self);
 	GBytes *fw_blob;
 	const gchar *data;
 	const gsize data_len;
@@ -525,7 +511,7 @@ fu_altos_device_write_firmware (FuAltosDevice *device,
 		}
 
 		/* verify data from device */
-		if (!fu_altos_device_write_page (device,
+		if (!fu_altos_device_write_page (self,
 						 priv->addr_base + i,
 						 buf_tmp,
 						 0x100,
@@ -533,7 +519,7 @@ fu_altos_device_write_firmware (FuAltosDevice *device,
 			return FALSE;
 
 		/* verify data written on device */
-		str = fu_altos_device_read_page (device,
+		str = fu_altos_device_read_page (self,
 						 priv->addr_base + i,
 						 error);
 		if (str == NULL)
@@ -557,18 +543,16 @@ fu_altos_device_write_firmware (FuAltosDevice *device,
 		}
 
 		/* progress */
-		fu_device_set_progress_full (FU_DEVICE (device), i, flash_len);
+		fu_device_set_progress_full (device, i, flash_len);
 		g_string_append_len (buf, str->str, str->len);
 	}
 
 	/* go to application mode */
-	if (flags & FU_ALTOS_DEVICE_WRITE_FIRMWARE_FLAG_REBOOT) {
-		if (!fu_altos_device_tty_write (device, "a\n", -1, error))
-			return FALSE;
-	}
+	if (!fu_altos_device_tty_write (self, "a\n", -1, error))
+		return FALSE;
 
 	/* progress complete */
-	fu_device_set_progress_full (FU_DEVICE (device), flash_len, flash_len);
+	fu_device_set_progress_full (device, flash_len, flash_len);
 
 	/* success */
 	return TRUE;
@@ -784,6 +768,20 @@ fu_altos_device_init_real (FuAltosDevice *device)
 	}
 }
 
+static void
+fu_altos_device_init (FuAltosDevice *device)
+{
+}
+
+static void
+fu_altos_device_class_init (FuAltosDeviceClass *klass)
+{
+	GObjectClass *object_class = G_OBJECT_CLASS (klass);
+	FuDeviceClass *klass_device = FU_DEVICE_CLASS (klass);
+	klass_device->write_firmware = fu_altos_device_write_firmware;
+	object_class->finalize = fu_altos_device_finalize;
+}
+
 typedef struct {
 	guint16			 vid;
 	guint16			 pid;
diff --git a/plugins/altos/fu-altos-device.h b/plugins/altos/fu-altos-device.h
index 9dcdbfd39..ec10000cf 100644
--- a/plugins/altos/fu-altos-device.h
+++ b/plugins/altos/fu-altos-device.h
@@ -58,10 +58,6 @@ const gchar	*fu_altos_device_kind_to_string		(FuAltosDeviceKind kind);
 FuAltosDeviceKind fu_altos_device_get_kind		(FuAltosDevice	*device);
 gboolean	 fu_altos_device_probe			(FuAltosDevice	*device,
 							 GError		**error);
-gboolean	 fu_altos_device_write_firmware		(FuAltosDevice	*device,
-							 GBytes		*fw,
-							 FuAltosDeviceWriteFirmwareFlag flags,
-							 GError		**error);
 GBytes		*fu_altos_device_read_firmware		(FuAltosDevice	*device,
 							 GError		**error);
 
diff --git a/plugins/altos/fu-altos-tool.c b/plugins/altos/fu-altos-tool.c
index d7fbaab31..867a217b6 100644
--- a/plugins/altos/fu-altos-tool.c
+++ b/plugins/altos/fu-altos-tool.c
@@ -92,9 +92,7 @@ main (int argc, char **argv)
 	fw = g_bytes_new (data, len);
 	g_signal_connect (dev, "notify::progress",
 			  G_CALLBACK (fu_altos_tool_progress_cb), NULL);
-	if (!fu_altos_device_write_firmware (dev, fw,
-					     FU_ALTOS_DEVICE_WRITE_FIRMWARE_FLAG_NONE,
-					     &error)) {
+	if (!fu_device_write_firmware (FU_DEVICE (dev), fw, &error)) {
 		g_print ("Failed to write firmware: %s\n", error->message);
 		return 1;
 	}
diff --git a/plugins/altos/fu-plugin-altos.c b/plugins/altos/fu-plugin-altos.c
index 28ee27483..3bbd08dfc 100644
--- a/plugins/altos/fu-plugin-altos.c
+++ b/plugins/altos/fu-plugin-altos.c
@@ -98,11 +98,5 @@ fu_plugin_update (FuPlugin *plugin,
 		  GError **error)
 {
 	fu_device_set_status (dev, FWUPD_STATUS_DEVICE_WRITE);
-	if (!fu_altos_device_write_firmware (FU_ALTOS_DEVICE (dev),
-					     blob_fw,
-					     FU_ALTOS_DEVICE_WRITE_FIRMWARE_FLAG_REBOOT,
-					     error)) {
-		return FALSE;
-	}
-	return TRUE;
+	return fu_device_write_firmware (dev, blob_fw, error);
 }
diff --git a/plugins/colorhug/fu-colorhug-device.c b/plugins/colorhug/fu-colorhug-device.c
index 6977c5fc6..ae1479b45 100644
--- a/plugins/colorhug/fu-colorhug-device.c
+++ b/plugins/colorhug/fu-colorhug-device.c
@@ -271,15 +271,16 @@ fu_colorhug_device_verify_firmware (FuColorhugDevice *device, GError **error)
 	return TRUE;
 }
 
-gboolean
-fu_colorhug_device_write_firmware (FuColorhugDevice *device, GBytes *fw, GError **error)
+static gboolean
+fu_colorhug_device_write_firmware (FuDevice *device, GBytes *fw, GError **error)
 {
-	FuColorhugDevicePrivate *priv = GET_PRIVATE (device);
+	FuColorhugDevice *self = FU_COLORHUG_DEVICE (device);
+	FuColorhugDevicePrivate *priv = GET_PRIVATE (self);
 	GUsbDevice *usb_device = fu_usb_device_get_dev (FU_USB_DEVICE (device));
 	g_autoptr(GError) error_local = NULL;
 
 	/* write firmware */
-	fu_device_set_status (FU_DEVICE (device), FWUPD_STATUS_DEVICE_WRITE);
+	fu_device_set_status (device, FWUPD_STATUS_DEVICE_WRITE);
 	ch_device_queue_set_flash_success (priv->device_queue,
 					   usb_device,
 					   0x00);
@@ -298,7 +299,7 @@ fu_colorhug_device_write_firmware (FuColorhugDevice *device, GBytes *fw, GError
 	}
 
 	/* verify firmware */
-	fu_device_set_status (FU_DEVICE (device), FWUPD_STATUS_DEVICE_VERIFY);
+	fu_device_set_status (device, FWUPD_STATUS_DEVICE_VERIFY);
 	ch_device_queue_verify_firmware (priv->device_queue, usb_device,
 					 g_bytes_get_data (fw, NULL),
 					 g_bytes_get_size (fw));
@@ -330,7 +331,9 @@ static void
 fu_colorhug_device_class_init (FuColorhugDeviceClass *klass)
 {
 	GObjectClass *object_class = G_OBJECT_CLASS (klass);
+	FuDeviceClass *klass_device = FU_DEVICE_CLASS (klass);
 	FuUsbDeviceClass *klass_usb_device = FU_USB_DEVICE_CLASS (klass);
+	klass_device->write_firmware = fu_colorhug_device_write_firmware;
 	object_class->finalize = fu_colorhug_device_finalize;
 	klass_usb_device->open = fu_colorhug_device_open;
 	klass_usb_device->probe = fu_colorhug_device_probe;
diff --git a/plugins/colorhug/fu-colorhug-device.h b/plugins/colorhug/fu-colorhug-device.h
index 7b90f84bc..b7a08e561 100644
--- a/plugins/colorhug/fu-colorhug-device.h
+++ b/plugins/colorhug/fu-colorhug-device.h
@@ -47,9 +47,6 @@ gboolean	 fu_colorhug_device_attach		(FuColorhugDevice	*device,
 							 GError			**error);
 gboolean	 fu_colorhug_device_set_flash_success	(FuColorhugDevice	*device,
 							 GError			**error);
-gboolean	 fu_colorhug_device_write_firmware	(FuColorhugDevice	*device,
-							 GBytes			*fw,
-							 GError			**error);
 gboolean	 fu_colorhug_device_verify_firmware	(FuColorhugDevice	*device,
 							 GError			**error);
 
diff --git a/plugins/colorhug/fu-plugin-colorhug.c b/plugins/colorhug/fu-plugin-colorhug.c
index 5c88700ad..d74c5bd82 100644
--- a/plugins/colorhug/fu-plugin-colorhug.c
+++ b/plugins/colorhug/fu-plugin-colorhug.c
@@ -163,7 +163,7 @@ fu_plugin_update (FuPlugin *plugin,
 	locker = fu_device_locker_new (device, error);
 	if (locker == NULL)
 		return FALSE;
-	return fu_colorhug_device_write_firmware (colorhug_dev, blob_fw, error);
+	return fu_device_write_firmware (FU_DEVICE (colorhug_dev), blob_fw, error);
 }
 
 gboolean
diff --git a/plugins/csr/fu-csr-device.c b/plugins/csr/fu-csr-device.c
index 8e5b6d635..a0869b2a1 100644
--- a/plugins/csr/fu-csr-device.c
+++ b/plugins/csr/fu-csr-device.c
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 /* -*- Mode: C; tab-width: 8; indent-tabs-mode: t; c-basic-offset: 8 -*-
  *
- * Copyright (C) 2017 Richard Hughes <richard@hughsie.com>
+ * Copyright (C) 2017-2018 Richard Hughes <richard@hughsie.com>
  *
  * Licensed under the GNU Lesser General Public License Version 2.1
  *
@@ -449,9 +449,10 @@ _dfu_firmware_get_default_element_data (DfuFirmware *firmware)
 	return dfu_element_get_contents (element);
 }
 
-gboolean
-fu_csr_device_download (FuCsrDevice *self, GBytes *blob, GError **error)
+static gboolean
+fu_csr_device_download (FuDevice *device, GBytes *blob, GError **error)
 {
+	FuCsrDevice *self = FU_CSR_DEVICE (device);
 	GBytes *blob_noftr;
 	const guint8 *data;
 	gsize sz = 0;
@@ -461,7 +462,7 @@ fu_csr_device_download (FuCsrDevice *self, GBytes *blob, GError **error)
 	g_autoptr(GPtrArray) packets = NULL;
 
 	/* notify UI */
-	fu_device_set_status (FU_DEVICE (self), FWUPD_STATUS_DEVICE_WRITE);
+	fu_device_set_status (device, FWUPD_STATUS_DEVICE_WRITE);
 
 	/* parse the file */
 	if (!dfu_firmware_parse_data (dfu_firmware, blob,
@@ -505,7 +506,7 @@ fu_csr_device_download (FuCsrDevice *self, GBytes *blob, GError **error)
 			return FALSE;
 
 		/* update progress */
-		fu_device_set_progress_full (FU_DEVICE (self),
+		fu_device_set_progress_full (device,
 					     (gsize) idx, (gsize) packets->len);
 	}
 
@@ -515,7 +516,7 @@ fu_csr_device_download (FuCsrDevice *self, GBytes *blob, GError **error)
 		return FALSE;
 
 	/* notify UI */
-	fu_device_set_status (FU_DEVICE (self), FWUPD_STATUS_IDLE);
+	fu_device_set_status (device, FWUPD_STATUS_IDLE);
 
 	return TRUE;
 }
@@ -594,6 +595,7 @@ fu_csr_device_class_init (FuCsrDeviceClass *klass)
 	FuDeviceClass *klass_device = FU_DEVICE_CLASS (klass);
 	FuUsbDeviceClass *klass_usb_device = FU_USB_DEVICE_CLASS (klass);
 	klass_device->to_string = fu_csr_device_to_string;
+	klass_device->write_firmware = fu_csr_device_download;
 	klass_usb_device->open = fu_csr_device_open;
 	klass_usb_device->close = fu_csr_device_close;
 	klass_usb_device->probe = fu_csr_device_probe;
diff --git a/plugins/csr/fu-csr-device.h b/plugins/csr/fu-csr-device.h
index 2e301521a..927009fe0 100644
--- a/plugins/csr/fu-csr-device.h
+++ b/plugins/csr/fu-csr-device.h
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 /* -*- Mode: C; tab-width: 8; indent-tabs-mode: t; c-basic-offset: 8 -*-
  *
- * Copyright (C) 2017 Richard Hughes <richard@hughsie.com>
+ * Copyright (C) 2017-2018 Richard Hughes <richard@hughsie.com>
  *
  * Licensed under the GNU Lesser General Public License Version 2.1
  *
@@ -41,9 +41,6 @@ typedef enum {
 FuCsrDevice	*fu_csr_device_new		(GUsbDevice		*usb_device);
 gboolean	 fu_csr_device_attach		(FuCsrDevice		*self,
 						 GError			**error);
-gboolean	 fu_csr_device_download		(FuCsrDevice		*self,
-						 GBytes			*blob,
-						 GError			**error);
 GBytes		*fu_csr_device_upload		(FuCsrDevice		*self,
 						 GError			**error);
 void		 fu_csr_device_set_quirks	(FuCsrDevice		*self,
diff --git a/plugins/csr/fu-csr-tool.c b/plugins/csr/fu-csr-tool.c
index f5b490cdb..da065461b 100644
--- a/plugins/csr/fu-csr-tool.c
+++ b/plugins/csr/fu-csr-tool.c
@@ -296,7 +296,7 @@ fu_csr_tool_write (FuCsrToolPrivate *priv, gchar **values, GError **error)
 			  G_CALLBACK (fu_csr_tool_progress_cb), priv);
 	g_signal_connect (device, "notify::progress",
 			  G_CALLBACK (fu_csr_tool_progress_cb), priv);
-	return fu_csr_device_download (device, blob, error);
+	return fu_device_write_firmware (FU_DEVICE (device), blob, error);
 }
 
 static gboolean
diff --git a/plugins/csr/fu-plugin-csr.c b/plugins/csr/fu-plugin-csr.c
index 7cf78a412..55a29c889 100644
--- a/plugins/csr/fu-plugin-csr.c
+++ b/plugins/csr/fu-plugin-csr.c
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ fu_plugin_update (FuPlugin *plugin, FuDevice *device, GBytes *blob_fw,
 	locker = fu_device_locker_new (device, error);
 	if (locker == NULL)
 		return FALSE;
-	if (!fu_csr_device_download (FU_CSR_DEVICE (device), blob_fw, error))
+	if (!fu_device_write_firmware (device, blob_fw, error))
 		return FALSE;
 	return fu_csr_device_attach (FU_CSR_DEVICE (device), error);
 }
diff --git a/plugins/ebitdo/fu-ebitdo-device.c b/plugins/ebitdo/fu-ebitdo-device.c
index a3846ea1b..7edf55591 100644
--- a/plugins/ebitdo/fu-ebitdo-device.c
+++ b/plugins/ebitdo/fu-ebitdo-device.c
@@ -367,10 +367,11 @@ fu_ebitdo_device_get_serial (FuEbitdoDevice *device)
 	return priv->serial;
 }
 
-gboolean
-fu_ebitdo_device_write_firmware (FuEbitdoDevice *device, GBytes *fw, GError **error)
+static gboolean
+fu_ebitdo_device_write_firmware (FuDevice *device, GBytes *fw, GError **error)
 {
-	FuEbitdoDevicePrivate *priv = GET_PRIVATE (device);
+	FuEbitdoDevice *self = FU_EBITDO_DEVICE (device);
+	FuEbitdoDevicePrivate *priv = GET_PRIVATE (self);
 	FuEbitdoFirmwareHeader *hdr;
 	const guint8 *payload_data;
 	const guint chunk_sz = 32;
@@ -422,8 +423,8 @@ fu_ebitdo_device_write_firmware (FuEbitdoDevice *device, GBytes *fw, GError **er
 	}
 
 	/* set up the firmware header */
-	fu_device_set_status (FU_DEVICE (device), FWUPD_STATUS_DEVICE_WRITE);
-	if (!fu_ebitdo_device_send (device,
+	fu_device_set_status (device, FWUPD_STATUS_DEVICE_WRITE);
+	if (!fu_ebitdo_device_send (self,
 				 FU_EBITDO_PKT_TYPE_USER_CMD,
 				 FU_EBITDO_PKT_CMD_UPDATE_FIRMWARE_DATA,
 				 FU_EBITDO_PKT_CMD_FW_UPDATE_HEADER,
@@ -436,7 +437,7 @@ fu_ebitdo_device_write_firmware (FuEbitdoDevice *device, GBytes *fw, GError **er
 			     error_local->message);
 		return FALSE;
 	}
-	if (!fu_ebitdo_device_receive (device, NULL, 0, &error_local)) {
+	if (!fu_ebitdo_device_receive (self, NULL, 0, &error_local)) {
 		g_set_error (error,
 			     G_IO_ERROR,
 			     G_IO_ERROR_INVALID_DATA,
@@ -453,8 +454,8 @@ fu_ebitdo_device_write_firmware (FuEbitdoDevice *device, GBytes *fw, GError **er
 			g_debug ("writing %u bytes to 0x%04x of 0x%04x",
 				 chunk_sz, offset, payload_len);
 		}
-		fu_device_set_progress_full (FU_DEVICE (device), offset, payload_len);
-		if (!fu_ebitdo_device_send (device,
+		fu_device_set_progress_full (device, offset, payload_len);
+		if (!fu_ebitdo_device_send (self,
 					 FU_EBITDO_PKT_TYPE_USER_CMD,
 					 FU_EBITDO_PKT_CMD_UPDATE_FIRMWARE_DATA,
 					 FU_EBITDO_PKT_CMD_FW_UPDATE_DATA,
@@ -467,7 +468,7 @@ fu_ebitdo_device_write_firmware (FuEbitdoDevice *device, GBytes *fw, GError **er
 				     offset, error_local->message);
 			return FALSE;
 		}
-		if (!fu_ebitdo_device_receive (device, NULL, 0, &error_local)) {
+		if (!fu_ebitdo_device_receive (self, NULL, 0, &error_local)) {
 			g_set_error (error,
 				     G_IO_ERROR,
 				     G_IO_ERROR_INVALID_DATA,
@@ -478,7 +479,7 @@ fu_ebitdo_device_write_firmware (FuEbitdoDevice *device, GBytes *fw, GError **er
 	}
 
 	/* mark as complete */
-	fu_device_set_progress_full (FU_DEVICE (device), payload_len, payload_len);
+	fu_device_set_progress_full (device, payload_len, payload_len);
 
 	/* set the "encode id" which is likely a checksum, bluetooth pairing
 	 * or maybe just security-through-obscurity -- also note:
@@ -486,7 +487,7 @@ fu_ebitdo_device_write_firmware (FuEbitdoDevice *device, GBytes *fw, GError **er
 	serial_new[0] = priv->serial[0] ^ app_key_index[priv->serial[0] & 0x0f];
 	serial_new[1] = priv->serial[1] ^ app_key_index[priv->serial[1] & 0x0f];
 	serial_new[2] = priv->serial[2] ^ app_key_index[priv->serial[2] & 0x0f];
-	if (!fu_ebitdo_device_send (device,
+	if (!fu_ebitdo_device_send (self,
 				 FU_EBITDO_PKT_TYPE_USER_CMD,
 				 FU_EBITDO_PKT_CMD_UPDATE_FIRMWARE_DATA,
 				 FU_EBITDO_PKT_CMD_FW_SET_ENCODE_ID,
@@ -502,7 +503,7 @@ fu_ebitdo_device_write_firmware (FuEbitdoDevice *device, GBytes *fw, GError **er
 	}
 
 	/* mark flash as successful */
-	if (!fu_ebitdo_device_send (device,
+	if (!fu_ebitdo_device_send (self,
 				 FU_EBITDO_PKT_TYPE_USER_CMD,
 				 FU_EBITDO_PKT_CMD_UPDATE_FIRMWARE_DATA,
 				 FU_EBITDO_PKT_CMD_FW_UPDATE_OK,
@@ -515,7 +516,7 @@ fu_ebitdo_device_write_firmware (FuEbitdoDevice *device, GBytes *fw, GError **er
 			     error_local->message);
 		return FALSE;
 	}
-	if (!fu_ebitdo_device_receive (device, NULL, 0, &error_local)) {
+	if (!fu_ebitdo_device_receive (self, NULL, 0, &error_local)) {
 		g_set_error (error,
 			     G_IO_ERROR,
 			     G_IO_ERROR_INVALID_DATA,
@@ -525,7 +526,7 @@ fu_ebitdo_device_write_firmware (FuEbitdoDevice *device, GBytes *fw, GError **er
 	}
 
 	/* success! */
-	fu_device_set_status (FU_DEVICE (device), FWUPD_STATUS_IDLE);
+	fu_device_set_status (device, FWUPD_STATUS_IDLE);
 	return TRUE;
 }
 
@@ -582,7 +583,9 @@ fu_ebitdo_device_init (FuEbitdoDevice *device)
 static void
 fu_ebitdo_device_class_init (FuEbitdoDeviceClass *klass)
 {
+	FuDeviceClass *klass_device = FU_DEVICE_CLASS (klass);
 	FuUsbDeviceClass *klass_usb_device = FU_USB_DEVICE_CLASS (klass);
+	klass_device->write_firmware = fu_ebitdo_device_write_firmware;
 	klass_usb_device->open = fu_ebitdo_device_open;
 	klass_usb_device->probe = fu_ebitdo_device_probe;
 }
diff --git a/plugins/ebitdo/fu-ebitdo-device.h b/plugins/ebitdo/fu-ebitdo-device.h
index 5b4d1350e..23a9ca9ff 100644
--- a/plugins/ebitdo/fu-ebitdo-device.h
+++ b/plugins/ebitdo/fu-ebitdo-device.h
@@ -43,11 +43,6 @@ FuEbitdoDevice	*fu_ebitdo_device_new			(GUsbDevice	*usb_device);
 gboolean	 fu_ebitdo_device_is_bootloader		(FuEbitdoDevice	*device);
 const guint32	*fu_ebitdo_device_get_serial		(FuEbitdoDevice	*device);
 
-/* object methods */
-gboolean	 fu_ebitdo_device_write_firmware	(FuEbitdoDevice	*device,
-							 GBytes		*fw,
-							 GError		**error);
-
 G_END_DECLS
 
 #endif /* __FU_EBITDO_DEVICE_H */
diff --git a/plugins/ebitdo/fu-ebitdo-tool.c b/plugins/ebitdo/fu-ebitdo-tool.c
index 368517aac..f959f9f37 100644
--- a/plugins/ebitdo/fu-ebitdo-tool.c
+++ b/plugins/ebitdo/fu-ebitdo-tool.c
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ main (int argc, char **argv)
 	fw = g_bytes_new (data, len);
 	g_signal_connect (dev, "notify::progress",
 			  G_CALLBACK (fu_ebitdo_tool_progress_cb), NULL);
-	if (!fu_ebitdo_device_write_firmware (dev, fw, &error)) {
+	if (!fu_device_write_firmware (FU_DEVICE (dev), fw, &error)) {
 		g_print ("Failed to write firmware: %s\n", error->message);
 		return 1;
 	}
diff --git a/plugins/ebitdo/fu-plugin-ebitdo.c b/plugins/ebitdo/fu-plugin-ebitdo.c
index cb3967bc2..236a6c2d7 100644
--- a/plugins/ebitdo/fu-plugin-ebitdo.c
+++ b/plugins/ebitdo/fu-plugin-ebitdo.c
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ fu_plugin_update (FuPlugin *plugin,
 	locker = fu_device_locker_new (ebitdo_dev, error);
 	if (locker == NULL)
 		return FALSE;
-	if (!fu_ebitdo_device_write_firmware (ebitdo_dev, blob_fw, error))
+	if (!fu_device_write_firmware (FU_DEVICE (ebitdo_dev), blob_fw, error))
 		return FALSE;
 
 	/* when doing a soft-reboot the device does not re-enumerate properly
diff --git a/plugins/unifying/fu-plugin-unifying.c b/plugins/unifying/fu-plugin-unifying.c
index 5f91f7607..06c55ff7f 100644
--- a/plugins/unifying/fu-plugin-unifying.c
+++ b/plugins/unifying/fu-plugin-unifying.c
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ fu_plugin_update (FuPlugin *plugin,
 
 	/* write the firmware */
 	fu_device_set_status (dev, FWUPD_STATUS_DEVICE_WRITE);
-	if (!lu_device_write_firmware (device, blob_fw, error))
+	if (!fu_device_write_firmware (dev, blob_fw, error))
 		return FALSE;
 
 	/* success */
diff --git a/plugins/unifying/lu-device.c b/plugins/unifying/lu-device.c
index e1a381591..171108516 100644
--- a/plugins/unifying/lu-device.c
+++ b/plugins/unifying/lu-device.c
@@ -903,10 +903,11 @@ lu_device_attach (LuDevice *device, GError **error)
 	return TRUE;
 }
 
-gboolean
-lu_device_write_firmware (LuDevice *device, GBytes *fw, GError **error)
+static gboolean
+lu_device_write_firmware (FuDevice *device, GBytes *fw, GError **error)
 {
-	LuDeviceClass *klass = LU_DEVICE_GET_CLASS (device);
+	LuDevice *self = LU_DEVICE (device);
+	LuDeviceClass *klass = LU_DEVICE_GET_CLASS (self);
 
 	g_return_val_if_fail (LU_IS_DEVICE (device), FALSE);
 	g_return_val_if_fail (error == NULL || *error == NULL, FALSE);
@@ -926,12 +927,12 @@ lu_device_write_firmware (LuDevice *device, GBytes *fw, GError **error)
 			     G_IO_ERROR,
 			     G_IO_ERROR_FAILED,
 			     "not supported in %s",
-			     lu_device_kind_to_string (lu_device_get_kind (device)));
+			     lu_device_kind_to_string (lu_device_get_kind (self)));
 		return FALSE;
 	}
 
 	/* call either nordic or texas vfunc */
-	return klass->write_firmware (device, fw, error);
+	return klass->write_firmware (self, fw, error);
 }
 
 #ifndef HAVE_GUDEV_232
@@ -1076,6 +1077,7 @@ lu_device_class_init (LuDeviceClass *klass)
 	object_class->get_property = lu_device_get_property;
 	object_class->set_property = lu_device_set_property;
 	klass_device->to_string = lu_device_to_string;
+	klass_device->write_firmware = lu_device_write_firmware;
 
 	pspec = g_param_spec_uint ("kind", NULL, NULL,
 				   LU_DEVICE_KIND_UNKNOWN,
diff --git a/plugins/unifying/lu-device.h b/plugins/unifying/lu-device.h
index d0f539313..e1f1f9766 100644
--- a/plugins/unifying/lu-device.h
+++ b/plugins/unifying/lu-device.h
@@ -130,9 +130,6 @@ gboolean	 lu_device_probe		(LuDevice		*device,
 						 GError			**error);
 gboolean	 lu_device_poll			(LuDevice		*device,
 						 GError			**error);
-gboolean	 lu_device_write_firmware	(LuDevice		*device,
-						 GBytes			*fw,
-						 GError			**error);
 gboolean	 lu_device_hidpp_send		(LuDevice		*device,
 						 LuHidppMsg		*msg,
 						 guint			 timeout,
diff --git a/plugins/unifying/lu-tool.c b/plugins/unifying/lu-tool.c
index 3dafd0e24..f35024421 100644
--- a/plugins/unifying/lu-tool.c
+++ b/plugins/unifying/lu-tool.c
@@ -351,7 +351,7 @@ lu_tool_write (FuLuToolPrivate *priv, gchar **values, GError **error)
 	fw = g_bytes_new (data, len);
 	g_signal_connect (device, "notify::progress",
 			  G_CALLBACK (lu_write_progress_cb), NULL);
-	if (!lu_device_write_firmware (device, fw, error))
+	if (!fu_device_write_firmware (FU_DEVICE (device), fw, error))
 		return FALSE;
 
 	/* detach back into runtime */
diff --git a/src/fu-device.c b/src/fu-device.c
index 32cfea40f..ddcd7a559 100644
--- a/src/fu-device.c
+++ b/src/fu-device.c
@@ -961,6 +961,39 @@ fu_device_get_release_default (FuDevice *device)
 	return rel;
 }
 
+/**
+ * fu_device_write_firmware:
+ * @device: A #FuDevice
+ * @fw: A #GBytes
+ * @error: A #GError
+ *
+ * Writes firmware to the device by calling a plugin-specific vfunc.
+ *
+ * Returns: %TRUE on success
+ *
+ * Since: 1.0.8
+ **/
+gboolean
+fu_device_write_firmware (FuDevice *device, GBytes *fw, GError **error)
+{
+	FuDeviceClass *klass = FU_DEVICE_GET_CLASS (device);
+
+	g_return_val_if_fail (FU_IS_DEVICE (device), FALSE);
+	g_return_val_if_fail (error == NULL || *error == NULL, FALSE);
+
+	/* no plugin-specific method */
+	if (klass->write_firmware == NULL) {
+		g_set_error_literal (error,
+				     FWUPD_ERROR,
+				     FWUPD_ERROR_NOT_SUPPORTED,
+				     "not supported");
+		return FALSE;
+	}
+
+	/* call vfunc */
+	return klass->write_firmware (device, fw, error);
+}
+
 static void
 fu_device_class_init (FuDeviceClass *klass)
 {
diff --git a/src/fu-device.h b/src/fu-device.h
index 3e8860a15..de415a231 100644
--- a/src/fu-device.h
+++ b/src/fu-device.h
@@ -37,8 +37,11 @@ struct _FuDeviceClass
 	FwupdDeviceClass	 parent_class;
 	void			 (*to_string)		(FuDevice	*device,
 							 GString	*str);
+	gboolean		 (*write_firmware)	(FuDevice	*device,
+							 GBytes		*fw,
+							 GError		**error);
 	/*< private >*/
-	gpointer	padding[30];
+	gpointer	padding[29];
 };
 
 /**
@@ -161,6 +164,9 @@ void		 fu_device_set_quirks			(FuDevice	*device,
 							 FuQuirks	*quirks);
 FuQuirks	*fu_device_get_quirks			(FuDevice	*device);
 FwupdRelease	*fu_device_get_release_default		(FuDevice	*device);
+gboolean	 fu_device_write_firmware		(FuDevice	*device,
+							 GBytes		*fw,
+							 GError		**error);
 
 G_END_DECLS