diff --git a/docs/libfwupd/libfwupd-docs.xml b/docs/libfwupd/libfwupd-docs.xml
index db379ef8a..a7d1ccbf8 100644
--- a/docs/libfwupd/libfwupd-docs.xml
+++ b/docs/libfwupd/libfwupd-docs.xml
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@
     </partintro>
     <xi:include href="xml/fu-plugin.xml"/>
     <xi:include href="xml/fu-device.xml"/>
+    <xi:include href="xml/fu-usb-device.xml"/>
     <xi:include href="xml/fu-device-locker.xml"/>
     <xi:include href="xml/fu-common.xml"/>
     <xi:include href="xml/fu-quirks.xml"/>
diff --git a/plugins/altos/fu-altos-device.c b/plugins/altos/fu-altos-device.c
index 6afe18fea..7c5bf7de7 100644
--- a/plugins/altos/fu-altos-device.c
+++ b/plugins/altos/fu-altos-device.c
@@ -35,7 +35,6 @@
 typedef struct
 {
 	FuAltosDeviceKind	 kind;
-	GUsbDevice		*usb_device;
 	guint32			 serial[9];
 	gchar			*guid;
 	gchar			*tty;
@@ -46,7 +45,7 @@ typedef struct
 	gint			 tty_fd;
 } FuAltosDevicePrivate;
 
-G_DEFINE_TYPE_WITH_PRIVATE (FuAltosDevice, fu_altos_device, FU_TYPE_DEVICE)
+G_DEFINE_TYPE_WITH_PRIVATE (FuAltosDevice, fu_altos_device, FU_TYPE_USB_DEVICE)
 
 #define GET_PRIVATE(o) (fu_altos_device_get_instance_private (o))
 
@@ -103,8 +102,6 @@ fu_altos_device_finalize (GObject *object)
 	g_free (priv->guid);
 	g_free (priv->tty);
 	g_free (priv->version);
-	if (priv->usb_device != NULL)
-		g_object_unref (priv->usb_device);
 
 	G_OBJECT_CLASS (fu_altos_device_parent_class)->finalize (object);
 }
@@ -132,6 +129,7 @@ static gboolean
 fu_altos_device_find_tty (FuAltosDevice *device, GError **error)
 {
 	FuAltosDevicePrivate *priv = GET_PRIVATE (device);
+	GUsbDevice *usb_device = fu_usb_device_get_dev (FU_USB_DEVICE (device));
 	g_autoptr(GList) devices = NULL;
 	g_autoptr(GUdevClient) gudev_client = g_udev_client_new (NULL);
 
@@ -155,10 +153,10 @@ fu_altos_device_find_tty (FuAltosDevice *device, GError **error)
 
 		/* check correct device */
 		if (g_udev_device_get_sysfs_attr_as_int (dev, "busnum") !=
-		    g_usb_device_get_bus (priv->usb_device))
+		    g_usb_device_get_bus (usb_device))
 			continue;
 		if (g_udev_device_get_sysfs_attr_as_int (dev, "devnum") !=
-		    g_usb_device_get_address (priv->usb_device))
+		    g_usb_device_get_address (usb_device))
 			continue;
 
 		/* success */
@@ -171,8 +169,8 @@ fu_altos_device_find_tty (FuAltosDevice *device, GError **error)
 		     FWUPD_ERROR,
 		     FWUPD_ERROR_NOT_SUPPORTED,
 		     "failed to find tty for %u:%u",
-		     g_usb_device_get_bus (priv->usb_device),
-		     g_usb_device_get_address (priv->usb_device));
+		     g_usb_device_get_bus (usb_device),
+		     g_usb_device_get_address (usb_device));
 	return FALSE;
 }
 
@@ -722,6 +720,7 @@ gboolean
 fu_altos_device_probe (FuAltosDevice *device, GError **error)
 {
 	FuAltosDevicePrivate *priv = GET_PRIVATE (device);
+	GUsbDevice *usb_device = fu_usb_device_get_dev (FU_USB_DEVICE (device));
 
 	/* bootloader uses tty */
 	if (priv->kind == FU_ALTOS_DEVICE_KIND_BOOTLOADER)
@@ -735,13 +734,13 @@ fu_altos_device_probe (FuAltosDevice *device, GError **error)
 		g_autoptr(FuDeviceLocker) locker = NULL;
 
 		/* open */
-		locker = fu_device_locker_new (priv->usb_device, error);
+		locker = fu_device_locker_new (usb_device, error);
 		if (locker == NULL)
 			return FALSE;
 
 		/* get string */
-		version_idx = g_usb_device_get_product_index (priv->usb_device);
-		version = g_usb_device_get_string_descriptor (priv->usb_device,
+		version_idx = g_usb_device_get_product_index (usb_device);
+		version = g_usb_device_get_string_descriptor (usb_device,
 							      version_idx,
 							      error);
 		if (version == NULL)
@@ -766,23 +765,13 @@ static void
 fu_altos_device_init_real (FuAltosDevice *device)
 {
 	FuAltosDevicePrivate *priv = GET_PRIVATE (device);
-	g_autofree gchar *devid1 = NULL;
-	g_autofree gchar *vendor_id = NULL;
 
 	/* allowed, but requires manual bootloader step */
 	fu_device_add_flag (FU_DEVICE (device), FWUPD_DEVICE_FLAG_UPDATABLE);
 
-	/* set USB platform ID */
-	fu_device_set_platform_id (FU_DEVICE (device),
-				   g_usb_device_get_platform_id (priv->usb_device));
-
 	/* set default vendor */
 	fu_device_set_vendor (FU_DEVICE (device), "altusmetrum.org");
 
-	/* set vendor ID */
-	vendor_id = g_strdup_printf ("USB:0x%04X", g_usb_device_get_vid (priv->usb_device));
-	fu_device_set_vendor_id (FU_DEVICE (device), vendor_id);
-
 	/* set name */
 	switch (priv->kind) {
 	case FU_ALTOS_DEVICE_KIND_BOOTLOADER:
@@ -800,13 +789,6 @@ fu_altos_device_init_real (FuAltosDevice *device)
 	fu_device_set_summary (FU_DEVICE (device),
 			       "A USB hardware random number generator");
 
-	/* add USB\VID_0000&PID_0000 */
-	devid1 = g_strdup_printf ("USB\\VID_%04X&PID_%04X",
-				  g_usb_device_get_vid (priv->usb_device),
-				  g_usb_device_get_pid (priv->usb_device));
-	fu_device_add_guid (FU_DEVICE (device), devid1);
-	g_debug ("saving runtime GUID of %s", devid1);
-
 	/* only the bootloader can do the update */
 	if (priv->kind != FU_ALTOS_DEVICE_KIND_BOOTLOADER) {
 		fu_device_add_flag (FU_DEVICE (device),
@@ -823,8 +805,6 @@ typedef struct {
 FuAltosDevice *
 fu_altos_device_new (GUsbDevice *usb_device)
 {
-	FuAltosDevice *device;
-	FuAltosDevicePrivate *priv;
 	const FuAltosDeviceVidPid vidpids[] = {
 		{ 0xfffe, 0x000a, FU_ALTOS_DEVICE_KIND_BOOTLOADER },
 		{ 0x1d50, 0x60c6, FU_ALTOS_DEVICE_KIND_CHAOSKEY },
@@ -833,16 +813,18 @@ fu_altos_device_new (GUsbDevice *usb_device)
 
 	/* set kind */
 	for (guint j = 0; vidpids[j].vid != 0x0000; j++) {
-		if (g_usb_device_get_vid (usb_device) != vidpids[j].vid)
-			continue;
-		if (g_usb_device_get_pid (usb_device) != vidpids[j].pid)
-			continue;
-		device = g_object_new (FU_TYPE_ALTOS_DEVICE, NULL);
-		priv = GET_PRIVATE (device);
-		priv->kind = vidpids[j].kind;
-		priv->usb_device = g_object_ref (usb_device);
-		fu_altos_device_init_real (device);
-		return device;
+		if (g_usb_device_get_vid (usb_device) == vidpids[j].vid &&
+		    g_usb_device_get_pid (usb_device) == vidpids[j].pid) {
+			FuAltosDevice *device;
+			FuAltosDevicePrivate *priv;
+			device = g_object_new (FU_TYPE_ALTOS_DEVICE,
+					       "usb-device", usb_device,
+					       NULL);
+			priv = GET_PRIVATE (device);
+			priv->kind = vidpids[j].kind;
+			fu_altos_device_init_real (device);
+			return device;
+		}
 	}
 	return NULL;
 }
diff --git a/plugins/altos/fu-altos-device.h b/plugins/altos/fu-altos-device.h
index 05075a041..c83f0c44f 100644
--- a/plugins/altos/fu-altos-device.h
+++ b/plugins/altos/fu-altos-device.h
@@ -30,11 +30,11 @@
 G_BEGIN_DECLS
 
 #define FU_TYPE_ALTOS_DEVICE (fu_altos_device_get_type ())
-G_DECLARE_DERIVABLE_TYPE (FuAltosDevice, fu_altos_device, FU, ALTOS_DEVICE, FuDevice)
+G_DECLARE_DERIVABLE_TYPE (FuAltosDevice, fu_altos_device, FU, ALTOS_DEVICE, FuUsbDevice)
 
 struct _FuAltosDeviceClass
 {
-	FuDeviceClass		parent_class;
+	FuUsbDeviceClass	parent_class;
 };
 
 typedef enum {
diff --git a/plugins/altos/fu-plugin-altos.c b/plugins/altos/fu-plugin-altos.c
index 773e0343c..8c90975c1 100644
--- a/plugins/altos/fu-plugin-altos.c
+++ b/plugins/altos/fu-plugin-altos.c
@@ -21,8 +21,6 @@
 
 #include "config.h"
 
-#include <appstream-glib.h>
-
 #include "fu-plugin.h"
 #include "fu-plugin-vfuncs.h"
 
@@ -35,16 +33,8 @@ fu_plugin_altos_device_added (FuPlugin *plugin,
 {
 	const gchar *platform_id = NULL;
 	g_autofree gchar *runtime_id = NULL;
-	g_autoptr(AsProfile) profile = as_profile_new ();
-	g_autoptr(AsProfileTask) ptask = NULL;
 	g_autoptr(FuAltosDevice) dev = NULL;
 
-	/* profile */
-	ptask = as_profile_start (profile, "FuPluginAltos:added{%04x:%04x}",
-				  g_usb_device_get_vid (usb_device),
-				  g_usb_device_get_pid (usb_device));
-	g_assert (ptask != NULL);
-
 	/* get kind */
 	dev = fu_altos_device_new (usb_device);
 	if (dev == NULL) {
diff --git a/plugins/colorhug/fu-colorhug-device.c b/plugins/colorhug/fu-colorhug-device.c
index 91d978f29..6cfc04a7d 100644
--- a/plugins/colorhug/fu-colorhug-device.c
+++ b/plugins/colorhug/fu-colorhug-device.c
@@ -30,14 +30,12 @@
 typedef struct
 {
 	ChDeviceQueue		*device_queue;
-	GUsbDevice		*usb_device;
-	FuDeviceLocker		*usb_device_locker;
 	gboolean		 is_bootloader;
 	GFileProgressCallback	 progress_cb;
 	gpointer		 progress_data;
 } FuColorhugDevicePrivate;
 
-G_DEFINE_TYPE_WITH_PRIVATE (FuColorhugDevice, fu_colorhug_device, FU_TYPE_DEVICE)
+G_DEFINE_TYPE_WITH_PRIVATE (FuColorhugDevice, fu_colorhug_device, FU_TYPE_USB_DEVICE)
 
 #define GET_PRIVATE(o) (fu_colorhug_device_get_instance_private (o))
 
@@ -48,10 +46,6 @@ fu_colorhug_device_finalize (GObject *object)
 	FuColorhugDevicePrivate *priv = GET_PRIVATE (device);
 
 	g_object_unref (priv->device_queue);
-	if (priv->usb_device_locker != NULL)
-		g_object_unref (priv->usb_device_locker);
-	if (priv->usb_device != NULL)
-		g_object_unref (priv->usb_device);
 
 	G_OBJECT_CLASS (fu_colorhug_device_parent_class)->finalize (object);
 }
@@ -67,29 +61,6 @@ fu_colorhug_device_progress_cb (ChDeviceQueue *device_queue,
 		priv->progress_cb (percentage, 100, priv->progress_data);
 }
 
-static void
-fu_colorhug_device_init (FuColorhugDevice *device)
-{
-	FuColorhugDevicePrivate *priv = GET_PRIVATE (device);
-	priv->device_queue = ch_device_queue_new ();
-	g_signal_connect (priv->device_queue, "progress_changed",
-			  G_CALLBACK (fu_colorhug_device_progress_cb), device);
-}
-
-static void
-fu_colorhug_device_class_init (FuColorhugDeviceClass *klass)
-{
-	GObjectClass *object_class = G_OBJECT_CLASS (klass);
-	object_class->finalize = fu_colorhug_device_finalize;
-}
-
-GUsbDevice *
-fu_colorhug_device_get_usb_device (FuColorhugDevice *device)
-{
-	FuColorhugDevicePrivate *priv = GET_PRIVATE (device);
-	return priv->usb_device;
-}
-
 gboolean
 fu_colorhug_device_get_is_bootloader (FuColorhugDevice *device)
 {
@@ -101,6 +72,7 @@ gboolean
 fu_colorhug_device_detach (FuColorhugDevice *device, GError **error)
 {
 	FuColorhugDevicePrivate *priv = GET_PRIVATE (device);
+	GUsbDevice *usb_device = fu_usb_device_get_dev (FU_USB_DEVICE (device));
 	g_autoptr(GError) error_local = NULL;
 
 	/* set up progress callback */
@@ -108,7 +80,7 @@ fu_colorhug_device_detach (FuColorhugDevice *device, GError **error)
 	priv->progress_data = NULL;
 
 	g_debug ("rebooting...");
-	ch_device_queue_reset (priv->device_queue, priv->usb_device);
+	ch_device_queue_reset (priv->device_queue, usb_device);
 	if (!ch_device_queue_process (priv->device_queue,
 				      CH_DEVICE_QUEUE_PROCESS_FLAGS_NONE,
 				      NULL, &error_local)) {
@@ -126,6 +98,7 @@ gboolean
 fu_colorhug_device_attach (FuColorhugDevice *device, GError **error)
 {
 	FuColorhugDevicePrivate *priv = GET_PRIVATE (device);
+	GUsbDevice *usb_device = fu_usb_device_get_dev (FU_USB_DEVICE (device));
 	g_autoptr(GError) error_local = NULL;
 
 	/* set up progress callback */
@@ -133,7 +106,7 @@ fu_colorhug_device_attach (FuColorhugDevice *device, GError **error)
 	priv->progress_data = NULL;
 
 	g_debug ("rebooting...");
-	ch_device_queue_boot_flash (priv->device_queue, priv->usb_device);
+	ch_device_queue_boot_flash (priv->device_queue, usb_device);
 	if (!ch_device_queue_process (priv->device_queue,
 				      CH_DEVICE_QUEUE_PROCESS_FLAGS_NONE,
 				      NULL, &error_local)) {
@@ -151,6 +124,7 @@ gboolean
 fu_colorhug_device_set_flash_success (FuColorhugDevice *device, GError **error)
 {
 	FuColorhugDevicePrivate *priv = GET_PRIVATE (device);
+	GUsbDevice *usb_device = fu_usb_device_get_dev (FU_USB_DEVICE (device));
 	g_autoptr(GError) error_local = NULL;
 
 	/* set up progress callback */
@@ -159,7 +133,7 @@ fu_colorhug_device_set_flash_success (FuColorhugDevice *device, GError **error)
 
 	g_debug ("setting flash success");
 	ch_device_queue_set_flash_success (priv->device_queue,
-					   priv->usb_device,
+					   usb_device,
 					   0x01);
 	if (!ch_device_queue_process (priv->device_queue,
 				      CH_DEVICE_QUEUE_PROCESS_FLAGS_NONE,
@@ -174,194 +148,17 @@ fu_colorhug_device_set_flash_success (FuColorhugDevice *device, GError **error)
 	return TRUE;
 }
 
-gboolean
-fu_colorhug_device_open (FuColorhugDevice *device, GError **error)
+static gboolean
+fu_colorhug_device_open (FuUsbDevice *device, 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 (device);
+	ChDeviceMode mode;
 	guint8 idx;
 	gboolean got_version = FALSE;
-	g_autoptr(FuDeviceLocker) locker = NULL;
 
-	/* set up progress callback */
-	priv->progress_cb = NULL;
-	priv->progress_data = NULL;
-
-	/* already open */
-	if (priv->usb_device_locker != NULL)
-		return TRUE;
-
-	/* open */
-	locker = fu_device_locker_new (priv->usb_device, error);
-	if (locker == NULL)
-		return FALSE;
-	if (!g_usb_device_set_configuration (priv->usb_device, CH_USB_CONFIG, error))
-		return FALSE;
-	if (!g_usb_device_claim_interface (priv->usb_device, CH_USB_INTERFACE,
-					   G_USB_DEVICE_CLAIM_INTERFACE_BIND_KERNEL_DRIVER,
-					   error)) {
-		return FALSE;
-	}
-
-	/* get version from descriptors */
-	idx = g_usb_device_get_custom_index (priv->usb_device,
-					     G_USB_DEVICE_CLASS_VENDOR_SPECIFIC,
-					     'F', 'W', NULL);
-	if (idx != 0x00) {
-		g_autofree gchar *tmp = NULL;
-		tmp = g_usb_device_get_string_descriptor (priv->usb_device,
-							  idx, NULL);
-		if (tmp != NULL) {
-			got_version = TRUE;
-			g_debug ("obtained fwver using extension '%s'", tmp);
-			fu_device_set_version (FU_DEVICE (device), tmp);
-		}
-	}
-
-	/* got things the old fashioned way */
-	if (!got_version) {
-		guint16 major;
-		guint16 micro;
-		guint16 minor;
-		g_autofree gchar *version = NULL;
-		g_autoptr(GError) error_local = NULL;
-		ch_device_queue_get_firmware_ver (priv->device_queue, priv->usb_device,
-						  &major, &minor, &micro);
-		if (!ch_device_queue_process (priv->device_queue,
-					      CH_DEVICE_QUEUE_PROCESS_FLAGS_NONE,
-					      NULL, &error_local)) {
-			g_warning ("failed to get firmware version: %s",
-				   error_local->message);
-		}
-		got_version = TRUE;
-		version = g_strdup_printf ("%i.%i.%i", major, minor, micro);
-		g_debug ("obtained fwver using API '%s'", version);
-		fu_device_set_version (FU_DEVICE (device), version);
-	}
-
-	/* success */
-	priv->usb_device_locker = g_steal_pointer (&locker);
-	return TRUE;
-}
-
-gboolean
-fu_colorhug_device_close (FuColorhugDevice *device, GError **error)
-{
-	FuColorhugDevicePrivate *priv = GET_PRIVATE (device);
-	g_clear_object (&priv->usb_device_locker);
-	return TRUE;
-}
-
-gboolean
-fu_colorhug_device_verify_firmware (FuColorhugDevice *device,
-				    GFileProgressCallback progress_cb,
-				    gpointer progress_data,
-				    GError **error)
-{
-	FuColorhugDevicePrivate *priv = GET_PRIVATE (device);
-	gsize len;
-	g_autoptr(GError) error_local = NULL;
-	g_autofree guint8 *data2 = NULL;
-	GChecksumType checksum_types[] = {
-		G_CHECKSUM_SHA1,
-		G_CHECKSUM_SHA256,
-		0 };
-
-	/* set up progress callback */
-	priv->progress_cb = progress_cb;
-	priv->progress_data = progress_data;
-
-	/* get the firmware from the device */
-	g_debug ("verifying firmware");
-	ch_device_queue_read_firmware (priv->device_queue, priv->usb_device,
-				       &data2, &len);
-	if (!ch_device_queue_process (priv->device_queue,
-				      CH_DEVICE_QUEUE_PROCESS_FLAGS_NONE,
-				      NULL, &error_local)) {
-		g_set_error (error,
-			     FWUPD_ERROR,
-			     FWUPD_ERROR_WRITE,
-			     "failed to dump firmware: %s",
-			     error_local->message);
-		return FALSE;
-	}
-
-	/* get the checksum */
-	for (guint i = 0; checksum_types[i] != 0; i++) {
-		g_autofree gchar *hash = NULL;
-		hash = g_compute_checksum_for_data (checksum_types[i],
-						    (guchar *) data2, len);
-		fu_device_add_checksum (device, hash);
-	}
-
-	return TRUE;
-}
-
-gboolean
-fu_colorhug_device_write_firmware (FuColorhugDevice *device, GBytes *fw,
-				   GFileProgressCallback progress_cb,
-				   gpointer progress_data,
-				   GError **error)
-{
-	FuColorhugDevicePrivate *priv = GET_PRIVATE (device);
-	g_autoptr(GError) error_local = NULL;
-
-	/* set up progress callback */
-	priv->progress_cb = progress_cb;
-	priv->progress_data = progress_data;
-
-	g_debug ("writing firmware");
-	ch_device_queue_set_flash_success (priv->device_queue,
-					   priv->usb_device,
-					   0x00);
-	ch_device_queue_write_firmware (priv->device_queue, priv->usb_device,
-					g_bytes_get_data (fw, NULL),
-					g_bytes_get_size (fw));
-	if (!ch_device_queue_process (priv->device_queue,
-				      CH_DEVICE_QUEUE_PROCESS_FLAGS_NONE,
-				      NULL, &error_local)) {
-		g_set_error (error,
-			     FWUPD_ERROR,
-			     FWUPD_ERROR_WRITE,
-			     "failed to write firmware: %s",
-			     error_local->message);
-		return FALSE;
-	}
-
-	/* verify firmware */
-	g_debug ("verifying firmware");
-	ch_device_queue_verify_firmware (priv->device_queue, priv->usb_device,
-					 g_bytes_get_data (fw, NULL),
-					 g_bytes_get_size (fw));
-	if (!ch_device_queue_process (priv->device_queue,
-				      CH_DEVICE_QUEUE_PROCESS_FLAGS_NONE,
-				      NULL, &error_local)) {
-		g_set_error (error,
-			     FWUPD_ERROR,
-			     FWUPD_ERROR_WRITE,
-			     "failed to verify firmware: %s",
-			     error_local->message);
-		return FALSE;
-	}
-
-	/* success! */
-	return TRUE;
-}
-
-gboolean
-fu_colorhug_device_set_usb_device (FuColorhugDevice *device,
-				   GUsbDevice *usb_device,
-				   GError **error)
-{
-	FuColorhugDevicePrivate *priv = GET_PRIVATE (device);
-	ChDeviceMode mode;
-
-	g_set_object (&priv->usb_device, usb_device);
-	fu_device_set_platform_id (FU_DEVICE (device),
-				   g_usb_device_get_platform_id (priv->usb_device));
-	fu_device_set_vendor (FU_DEVICE (device), "Hughski Limited");
-	fu_device_set_vendor_id (FU_DEVICE (device), "USB:0x273F");
-	fu_device_set_equivalent_id (FU_DEVICE (device),
-				     g_usb_device_get_platform_id (usb_device));
+	/* add hardcoded bits */
 	fu_device_add_guid (FU_DEVICE (device), ch_device_get_guid (usb_device));
 	fu_device_add_icon (FU_DEVICE (device), "colorimeter-colorhug");
 	fu_device_add_flag (FU_DEVICE (device), FWUPD_DEVICE_FLAG_UPDATABLE);
@@ -412,9 +209,175 @@ fu_colorhug_device_set_usb_device (FuColorhugDevice *device,
 		break;
 	}
 
+	/* set up progress callback */
+	priv->progress_cb = NULL;
+	priv->progress_data = NULL;
+
+	/* open */
+	if (!g_usb_device_set_configuration (usb_device, CH_USB_CONFIG, error))
+		return FALSE;
+	if (!g_usb_device_claim_interface (usb_device, CH_USB_INTERFACE,
+					   G_USB_DEVICE_CLAIM_INTERFACE_BIND_KERNEL_DRIVER,
+					   error)) {
+		return FALSE;
+	}
+
+	/* get version from descriptors */
+	idx = g_usb_device_get_custom_index (usb_device,
+					     G_USB_DEVICE_CLASS_VENDOR_SPECIFIC,
+					     'F', 'W', NULL);
+	if (idx != 0x00) {
+		g_autofree gchar *tmp = NULL;
+		tmp = g_usb_device_get_string_descriptor (usb_device,
+							  idx, NULL);
+		if (tmp != NULL) {
+			got_version = TRUE;
+			g_debug ("obtained fwver using extension '%s'", tmp);
+			fu_device_set_version (FU_DEVICE (device), tmp);
+		}
+	}
+
+	/* got things the old fashioned way */
+	if (!got_version) {
+		guint16 major;
+		guint16 micro;
+		guint16 minor;
+		g_autofree gchar *version = NULL;
+		g_autoptr(GError) error_local = NULL;
+		ch_device_queue_get_firmware_ver (priv->device_queue, usb_device,
+						  &major, &minor, &micro);
+		if (!ch_device_queue_process (priv->device_queue,
+					      CH_DEVICE_QUEUE_PROCESS_FLAGS_NONE,
+					      NULL, &error_local)) {
+			g_warning ("failed to get firmware version: %s",
+				   error_local->message);
+		}
+		got_version = TRUE;
+		version = g_strdup_printf ("%i.%i.%i", major, minor, micro);
+		g_debug ("obtained fwver using API '%s'", version);
+		fu_device_set_version (FU_DEVICE (device), version);
+	}
+
+	/* success */
 	return TRUE;
 }
 
+gboolean
+fu_colorhug_device_verify_firmware (FuColorhugDevice *device,
+				    GFileProgressCallback progress_cb,
+				    gpointer progress_data,
+				    GError **error)
+{
+	FuColorhugDevicePrivate *priv = GET_PRIVATE (device);
+	GUsbDevice *usb_device = fu_usb_device_get_dev (FU_USB_DEVICE (device));
+	gsize len;
+	g_autoptr(GError) error_local = NULL;
+	g_autofree guint8 *data2 = NULL;
+	GChecksumType checksum_types[] = {
+		G_CHECKSUM_SHA1,
+		G_CHECKSUM_SHA256,
+		0 };
+
+	/* set up progress callback */
+	priv->progress_cb = progress_cb;
+	priv->progress_data = progress_data;
+
+	/* get the firmware from the device */
+	g_debug ("verifying firmware");
+	ch_device_queue_read_firmware (priv->device_queue, usb_device,
+				       &data2, &len);
+	if (!ch_device_queue_process (priv->device_queue,
+				      CH_DEVICE_QUEUE_PROCESS_FLAGS_NONE,
+				      NULL, &error_local)) {
+		g_set_error (error,
+			     FWUPD_ERROR,
+			     FWUPD_ERROR_WRITE,
+			     "failed to dump firmware: %s",
+			     error_local->message);
+		return FALSE;
+	}
+
+	/* get the checksum */
+	for (guint i = 0; checksum_types[i] != 0; i++) {
+		g_autofree gchar *hash = NULL;
+		hash = g_compute_checksum_for_data (checksum_types[i],
+						    (guchar *) data2, len);
+		fu_device_add_checksum (device, hash);
+	}
+
+	return TRUE;
+}
+
+gboolean
+fu_colorhug_device_write_firmware (FuColorhugDevice *device, GBytes *fw,
+				   GFileProgressCallback progress_cb,
+				   gpointer progress_data,
+				   GError **error)
+{
+	FuColorhugDevicePrivate *priv = GET_PRIVATE (device);
+	GUsbDevice *usb_device = fu_usb_device_get_dev (FU_USB_DEVICE (device));
+	g_autoptr(GError) error_local = NULL;
+
+	/* set up progress callback */
+	priv->progress_cb = progress_cb;
+	priv->progress_data = progress_data;
+
+	g_debug ("writing firmware");
+	ch_device_queue_set_flash_success (priv->device_queue,
+					   usb_device,
+					   0x00);
+	ch_device_queue_write_firmware (priv->device_queue, usb_device,
+					g_bytes_get_data (fw, NULL),
+					g_bytes_get_size (fw));
+	if (!ch_device_queue_process (priv->device_queue,
+				      CH_DEVICE_QUEUE_PROCESS_FLAGS_NONE,
+				      NULL, &error_local)) {
+		g_set_error (error,
+			     FWUPD_ERROR,
+			     FWUPD_ERROR_WRITE,
+			     "failed to write firmware: %s",
+			     error_local->message);
+		return FALSE;
+	}
+
+	/* verify firmware */
+	g_debug ("verifying firmware");
+	ch_device_queue_verify_firmware (priv->device_queue, usb_device,
+					 g_bytes_get_data (fw, NULL),
+					 g_bytes_get_size (fw));
+	if (!ch_device_queue_process (priv->device_queue,
+				      CH_DEVICE_QUEUE_PROCESS_FLAGS_NONE,
+				      NULL, &error_local)) {
+		g_set_error (error,
+			     FWUPD_ERROR,
+			     FWUPD_ERROR_WRITE,
+			     "failed to verify firmware: %s",
+			     error_local->message);
+		return FALSE;
+	}
+
+	/* success! */
+	return TRUE;
+}
+
+static void
+fu_colorhug_device_init (FuColorhugDevice *device)
+{
+	FuColorhugDevicePrivate *priv = GET_PRIVATE (device);
+	priv->device_queue = ch_device_queue_new ();
+	g_signal_connect (priv->device_queue, "progress_changed",
+			  G_CALLBACK (fu_colorhug_device_progress_cb), device);
+}
+
+static void
+fu_colorhug_device_class_init (FuColorhugDeviceClass *klass)
+{
+	GObjectClass *object_class = G_OBJECT_CLASS (klass);
+	FuUsbDeviceClass *klass_usb_device = FU_USB_DEVICE_CLASS (klass);
+	object_class->finalize = fu_colorhug_device_finalize;
+	klass_usb_device->open = fu_colorhug_device_open;
+}
+
 /**
  * fu_colorhug_device_new:
  *
@@ -427,9 +390,9 @@ fu_colorhug_device_set_usb_device (FuColorhugDevice *device,
 FuColorhugDevice *
 fu_colorhug_device_new (GUsbDevice *usb_device)
 {
-	g_autoptr(FuColorhugDevice) device = NULL;
-	device = g_object_new (FU_TYPE_COLORHUG_DEVICE, NULL);
-	if (!fu_colorhug_device_set_usb_device (device, usb_device, NULL))
-		return NULL;
-	return g_steal_pointer (&device);
+	FuColorhugDevice *device = NULL;
+	device = g_object_new (FU_TYPE_COLORHUG_DEVICE,
+			       "usb-device", usb_device,
+			       NULL);
+	return device;
 }
diff --git a/plugins/colorhug/fu-colorhug-device.h b/plugins/colorhug/fu-colorhug-device.h
index 57393cf58..ed4479741 100644
--- a/plugins/colorhug/fu-colorhug-device.h
+++ b/plugins/colorhug/fu-colorhug-device.h
@@ -30,23 +30,17 @@
 G_BEGIN_DECLS
 
 #define FU_TYPE_COLORHUG_DEVICE (fu_colorhug_device_get_type ())
-G_DECLARE_DERIVABLE_TYPE (FuColorhugDevice, fu_colorhug_device, FU, COLORHUG_DEVICE, FuDevice)
+G_DECLARE_DERIVABLE_TYPE (FuColorhugDevice, fu_colorhug_device, FU, COLORHUG_DEVICE, FuUsbDevice)
 
 struct _FuColorhugDeviceClass
 {
-	FuDeviceClass		parent_class;
+	FuUsbDeviceClass	parent_class;
 };
 
 FuColorhugDevice *fu_colorhug_device_new		(GUsbDevice		*usb_device);
-gboolean	 fu_colorhug_device_set_usb_device	(FuColorhugDevice	*device,
-							 GUsbDevice		*usb_device,
-							 GError			**error);
-GUsbDevice	*fu_colorhug_device_get_usb_device	(FuColorhugDevice	*device);
 gboolean	 fu_colorhug_device_get_is_bootloader	(FuColorhugDevice	*device);
 
 /* object methods */
-gboolean	 fu_colorhug_device_open		(FuColorhugDevice	*device,
-							 GError			**error);
 gboolean	 fu_colorhug_device_close		(FuColorhugDevice	*device,
 							 GError			**error);
 gboolean	 fu_colorhug_device_detach		(FuColorhugDevice	*device,
diff --git a/plugins/colorhug/fu-plugin-colorhug.c b/plugins/colorhug/fu-plugin-colorhug.c
index acac0b2d1..d242a1bcf 100644
--- a/plugins/colorhug/fu-plugin-colorhug.c
+++ b/plugins/colorhug/fu-plugin-colorhug.c
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@
 
 #include "config.h"
 
-#include <appstream-glib.h>
 #include <colord.h>
 #include <colorhug.h>
 
@@ -34,14 +33,12 @@ gboolean
 fu_plugin_update_detach (FuPlugin *plugin, FuDevice *device, GError **error)
 {
 	FuColorhugDevice *colorhug_dev = FU_COLORHUG_DEVICE (device);
+	GUsbDevice *usb_device = fu_usb_device_get_dev (FU_USB_DEVICE (device));
 	g_autoptr(FuDeviceLocker) locker = NULL;
 	g_autoptr(GUsbDevice) usb_device2 = NULL;
 
 	/* open device */
-	locker = fu_device_locker_new_full (colorhug_dev,
-					    (FuDeviceLockerFunc) fu_colorhug_device_open,
-					    (FuDeviceLockerFunc) fu_colorhug_device_close,
-					    error);
+	locker = fu_device_locker_new (device, error);
 	if (locker == NULL)
 		return FALSE;
 
@@ -59,7 +56,7 @@ fu_plugin_update_detach (FuPlugin *plugin, FuDevice *device, GError **error)
 	/* wait for replug */
 	g_clear_object (&locker);
 	usb_device2 = g_usb_context_wait_for_replug (fu_plugin_get_usb_context (plugin),
-						     fu_colorhug_device_get_usb_device (colorhug_dev),
+						     usb_device,
 						     10000, error);
 	if (usb_device2 == NULL) {
 		g_prefix_error (error, "device did not come back: ");
@@ -67,7 +64,7 @@ fu_plugin_update_detach (FuPlugin *plugin, FuDevice *device, GError **error)
 	}
 
 	/* set the new device until we can use a new FuDevice */
-	fu_colorhug_device_set_usb_device (colorhug_dev, usb_device2, NULL);
+	fu_usb_device_set_dev (FU_USB_DEVICE (colorhug_dev), usb_device2);
 
 	/* success */
 	return TRUE;
@@ -77,14 +74,12 @@ gboolean
 fu_plugin_update_attach (FuPlugin *plugin, FuDevice *device, GError **error)
 {
 	FuColorhugDevice *colorhug_dev = FU_COLORHUG_DEVICE (device);
+	GUsbDevice *usb_device = fu_usb_device_get_dev (FU_USB_DEVICE (device));
 	g_autoptr(FuDeviceLocker) locker = NULL;
 	g_autoptr(GUsbDevice) usb_device2 = NULL;
 
 	/* open device */
-	locker = fu_device_locker_new_full (colorhug_dev,
-					    (FuDeviceLockerFunc) fu_colorhug_device_open,
-					    (FuDeviceLockerFunc) fu_colorhug_device_close,
-					    error);
+	locker = fu_device_locker_new (device, error);
 	if (locker == NULL)
 		return FALSE;
 
@@ -102,7 +97,7 @@ fu_plugin_update_attach (FuPlugin *plugin, FuDevice *device, GError **error)
 	/* wait for replug */
 	g_clear_object (&locker);
 	usb_device2 = g_usb_context_wait_for_replug (fu_plugin_get_usb_context (plugin),
-						     fu_colorhug_device_get_usb_device (colorhug_dev),
+						     usb_device,
 						     10000, error);
 	if (usb_device2 == NULL) {
 		g_prefix_error (error, "device did not come back: ");
@@ -110,7 +105,7 @@ fu_plugin_update_attach (FuPlugin *plugin, FuDevice *device, GError **error)
 	}
 
 	/* set the new device until we can use a new FuDevice */
-	fu_colorhug_device_set_usb_device (colorhug_dev, usb_device2, NULL);
+	fu_usb_device_set_dev (FU_USB_DEVICE (colorhug_dev), usb_device2);
 
 	/* success */
 	return TRUE;
@@ -123,10 +118,7 @@ fu_plugin_update_reload (FuPlugin *plugin, FuDevice *device, GError **error)
 	g_autoptr(FuDeviceLocker) locker = NULL;
 
 	/* also set flash success */
-	locker = fu_device_locker_new_full (colorhug_dev,
-					    (FuDeviceLockerFunc) fu_colorhug_device_open,
-					    (FuDeviceLockerFunc) fu_colorhug_device_close,
-					    error);
+	locker = fu_device_locker_new (device, error);
 	if (locker == NULL)
 		return FALSE;
 	if (!fu_colorhug_device_set_flash_success (colorhug_dev, error))
@@ -149,11 +141,12 @@ fu_plugin_update (FuPlugin *plugin,
 		  GError **error)
 {
 	FuColorhugDevice *colorhug_dev = FU_COLORHUG_DEVICE (device);
+	GUsbDevice *usb_device = fu_usb_device_get_dev (FU_USB_DEVICE (device));
 	g_autoptr(FuDeviceLocker) locker = NULL;
 	g_autoptr(GError) error_local = NULL;
 
 	/* check this firmware is actually for this device */
-	if (!ch_device_check_firmware (fu_colorhug_device_get_usb_device (colorhug_dev),
+	if (!ch_device_check_firmware (usb_device,
 				       g_bytes_get_data (blob_fw, NULL),
 				       g_bytes_get_size (blob_fw),
 				       &error_local)) {
@@ -166,10 +159,7 @@ fu_plugin_update (FuPlugin *plugin,
 	}
 
 	/* write firmware */
-	locker = fu_device_locker_new_full (colorhug_dev,
-					    (FuDeviceLockerFunc) fu_colorhug_device_open,
-					    (FuDeviceLockerFunc) fu_colorhug_device_close,
-					    error);
+	locker = fu_device_locker_new (device, error);
 	if (locker == NULL)
 		return FALSE;
 	fu_plugin_set_status (plugin, FWUPD_STATUS_DEVICE_WRITE);
@@ -189,10 +179,7 @@ fu_plugin_verify (FuPlugin *plugin,
 	g_autoptr(FuDeviceLocker) locker = NULL;
 
 	/* write firmware */
-	locker = fu_device_locker_new_full (colorhug_dev,
-					    (FuDeviceLockerFunc) fu_colorhug_device_open,
-					    (FuDeviceLockerFunc) fu_colorhug_device_close,
-					    error);
+	locker = fu_device_locker_new (device, error);
 	if (locker == NULL)
 		return FALSE;
 	fu_plugin_set_status (plugin, FWUPD_STATUS_DEVICE_VERIFY);
@@ -208,10 +195,8 @@ fu_plugin_colorhug_device_added_cb (GUsbContext *ctx,
 				    FuPlugin *plugin)
 {
 	ChDeviceMode mode;
-	g_autoptr(AsProfile) profile = as_profile_new ();
-	g_autoptr(AsProfileTask) ptask = NULL;
 	g_autoptr(FuDeviceLocker) locker = NULL;
-	g_autoptr(FuColorhugDevice) dev = NULL;
+	g_autoptr(FuColorhugDevice) device = NULL;
 	g_autoptr(GError) error = NULL;
 
 	/* ignore */
@@ -224,32 +209,17 @@ fu_plugin_colorhug_device_added_cb (GUsbContext *ctx,
 	    mode == CH_DEVICE_MODE_FIRMWARE_PLUS)
 		return;
 
-	/* profile */
-	ptask = as_profile_start (profile, "FuPluginColorhug:added{%04x:%04x}",
-				  g_usb_device_get_vid (usb_device),
-				  g_usb_device_get_pid (usb_device));
-	g_assert (ptask != NULL);
-
-	/* create the device */
-	dev = fu_colorhug_device_new (usb_device);
-	if (dev == NULL) {
-		g_warning ("invalid device type detected!");
-		return;
-	}
-
 	/* open the device */
-	locker = fu_device_locker_new_full (dev,
-					    (FuDeviceLockerFunc) fu_colorhug_device_open,
-					    (FuDeviceLockerFunc) fu_colorhug_device_close,
-					    &error);
+	device = fu_colorhug_device_new (usb_device);
+	locker = fu_device_locker_new (device, &error);
 	if (locker == NULL) {
 		g_warning ("failed to open device: %s", error->message);
 		return;
 	}
 
 	/* insert to hash */
-	fu_plugin_device_add (plugin, FU_DEVICE (dev));
-	fu_plugin_cache_add (plugin, g_usb_device_get_platform_id (usb_device), dev);
+	fu_plugin_device_add (plugin, FU_DEVICE (device));
+	fu_plugin_cache_add (plugin, g_usb_device_get_platform_id (usb_device), device);
 }
 
 static void
@@ -257,16 +227,16 @@ fu_plugin_colorhug_device_removed_cb (GUsbContext *ctx,
 				      GUsbDevice *usb_device,
 				      FuPlugin *plugin)
 {
-	FuDevice *dev;
+	FuDevice *device;
 	const gchar *platform_id = NULL;
 
 	/* already in database */
 	platform_id = g_usb_device_get_platform_id (usb_device);
-	dev = fu_plugin_cache_lookup (plugin, platform_id);
-	if (dev == NULL)
+	device = fu_plugin_cache_lookup (plugin, platform_id);
+	if (device == NULL)
 		return;
 
-	fu_plugin_device_remove (plugin, dev);
+	fu_plugin_device_remove (plugin, device);
 	fu_plugin_cache_remove (plugin, platform_id);
 }
 
diff --git a/plugins/ebitdo/fu-ebitdo-device.c b/plugins/ebitdo/fu-ebitdo-device.c
index 8d9d35756..b8dbe471e 100644
--- a/plugins/ebitdo/fu-ebitdo-device.c
+++ b/plugins/ebitdo/fu-ebitdo-device.c
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 /* -*- Mode: C; tab-width: 8; indent-tabs-mode: t; c-basic-offset: 8 -*-
  *
- * Copyright (C) 2016 Richard Hughes <richard@hughsie.com>
+ * Copyright (C) 2016-2017 Richard Hughes <richard@hughsie.com>
  *
  * Licensed under the GNU Lesser General Public License Version 2.1
  *
@@ -30,12 +30,10 @@
 typedef struct
 {
 	FuEbitdoDeviceKind	 kind;
-	GUsbDevice		*usb_device;
-	FuDeviceLocker		*usb_device_locker;
 	guint32			 serial[9];
 } FuEbitdoDevicePrivate;
 
-G_DEFINE_TYPE_WITH_PRIVATE (FuEbitdoDevice, fu_ebitdo_device, FU_TYPE_DEVICE)
+G_DEFINE_TYPE_WITH_PRIVATE (FuEbitdoDevice, fu_ebitdo_device, FU_TYPE_USB_DEVICE)
 
 #define GET_PRIVATE(o) (fu_ebitdo_device_get_instance_private (o))
 
@@ -103,32 +101,6 @@ fu_ebitdo_device_kind_to_string (FuEbitdoDeviceKind kind)
 	return NULL;
 }
 
-static void
-fu_ebitdo_device_finalize (GObject *object)
-{
-	FuEbitdoDevice *device = FU_EBITDO_DEVICE (object);
-	FuEbitdoDevicePrivate *priv = GET_PRIVATE (device);
-
-	if (priv->usb_device_locker != NULL)
-		g_object_unref (priv->usb_device_locker);
-	if (priv->usb_device != NULL)
-		g_object_unref (priv->usb_device);
-
-	G_OBJECT_CLASS (fu_ebitdo_device_parent_class)->finalize (object);
-}
-
-static void
-fu_ebitdo_device_init (FuEbitdoDevice *device)
-{
-}
-
-static void
-fu_ebitdo_device_class_init (FuEbitdoDeviceClass *klass)
-{
-	GObjectClass *object_class = G_OBJECT_CLASS (klass);
-	object_class->finalize = fu_ebitdo_device_finalize;
-}
-
 FuEbitdoDeviceKind
 fu_ebitdo_device_get_kind (FuEbitdoDevice *device)
 {
@@ -146,6 +118,7 @@ fu_ebitdo_device_send (FuEbitdoDevice *device,
 		       GError **error)
 {
 	FuEbitdoDevicePrivate *priv = GET_PRIVATE (device);
+	GUsbDevice *usb_device = fu_usb_device_get_dev (FU_USB_DEVICE (device));
 	guint8 packet[FU_EBITDO_USB_EP_SIZE];
 	gsize actual_length;
 	guint8 ep_out = FU_EBITDO_USB_RUNTIME_EP_OUT;
@@ -190,7 +163,7 @@ fu_ebitdo_device_send (FuEbitdoDevice *device,
 	}
 
 	/* get data from device */
-	if (!g_usb_device_interrupt_transfer (priv->usb_device,
+	if (!g_usb_device_interrupt_transfer (usb_device,
 					      ep_out,
 					      packet,
 					      FU_EBITDO_USB_EP_SIZE,
@@ -216,6 +189,7 @@ fu_ebitdo_device_receive (FuEbitdoDevice *device,
 		       GError **error)
 {
 	FuEbitdoDevicePrivate *priv = GET_PRIVATE (device);
+	GUsbDevice *usb_device = fu_usb_device_get_dev (FU_USB_DEVICE (device));
 	guint8 packet[FU_EBITDO_USB_EP_SIZE];
 	gsize actual_length;
 	guint8 ep_in = FU_EBITDO_USB_RUNTIME_EP_IN;
@@ -228,7 +202,7 @@ fu_ebitdo_device_receive (FuEbitdoDevice *device,
 
 	/* get data from device */
 	memset (packet, 0x0, sizeof(packet));
-	if (!g_usb_device_interrupt_transfer (priv->usb_device,
+	if (!g_usb_device_interrupt_transfer (usb_device,
 					      ep_in,
 					      packet,
 					      FU_EBITDO_USB_EP_SIZE,
@@ -342,7 +316,7 @@ fu_ebitdo_device_set_version (FuEbitdoDevice *device, guint32 version)
 static gboolean
 fu_ebitdo_device_validate (FuEbitdoDevice *device, GError **error)
 {
-	FuEbitdoDevicePrivate *priv = GET_PRIVATE (device);
+	GUsbDevice *usb_device = fu_usb_device_get_dev (FU_USB_DEVICE (device));
 	guint8 idx;
 	g_autofree gchar *ven = NULL;
 	const gchar *whitelist[] = {
@@ -351,12 +325,12 @@ fu_ebitdo_device_validate (FuEbitdoDevice *device, GError **error)
 		NULL };
 
 	/* this is a new, always valid, VID */
-	if (g_usb_device_get_vid (priv->usb_device) == 0x2dc8)
+	if (g_usb_device_get_vid (usb_device) == 0x2dc8)
 		return TRUE;
 
 	/* verify the vendor prefix against a whitelist */
-	idx = g_usb_device_get_manufacturer_index (priv->usb_device);
-	ven = g_usb_device_get_string_descriptor (priv->usb_device, idx, error);
+	idx = g_usb_device_get_manufacturer_index (usb_device);
+	ven = g_usb_device_get_string_descriptor (usb_device, idx, error);
 	if (ven == NULL) {
 		g_prefix_error (error, "could not check vendor descriptor: ");
 		return FALSE;
@@ -373,27 +347,21 @@ fu_ebitdo_device_validate (FuEbitdoDevice *device, GError **error)
 	return FALSE;
 }
 
-gboolean
-fu_ebitdo_device_open (FuEbitdoDevice *device, GError **error)
+static gboolean
+fu_ebitdo_device_open (FuUsbDevice *device, GError **error)
 {
-	FuEbitdoDevicePrivate *priv = GET_PRIVATE (device);
+	FuEbitdoDevice *self = FU_EBITDO_DEVICE (device);
+	FuEbitdoDevicePrivate *priv = GET_PRIVATE (self);
+	GUsbDevice *usb_device = fu_usb_device_get_dev (device);
 	gdouble tmp;
 	guint32 version_tmp = 0;
 	guint32 serial_tmp[9];
-	g_autoptr(FuDeviceLocker) locker = NULL;
-
-	/* already open */
-	if (priv->usb_device_locker != NULL)
-		return TRUE;
 
 	/* open, then ensure this is actually 8Bitdo hardware */
 	g_debug ("opening %s", fu_ebitdo_device_kind_to_string (priv->kind));
-	locker = fu_device_locker_new (priv->usb_device, error);
-	if (locker == NULL)
+	if (!fu_ebitdo_device_validate (self, error))
 		return FALSE;
-	if (!fu_ebitdo_device_validate (device, error))
-		return FALSE;
-	if (!g_usb_device_claim_interface (priv->usb_device, 0, /* 0 = idx? */
+	if (!g_usb_device_claim_interface (usb_device, 0, /* 0 = idx? */
 					   G_USB_DEVICE_CLAIM_INTERFACE_BIND_KERNEL_DRIVER,
 					   error)) {
 		return FALSE;
@@ -401,7 +369,7 @@ fu_ebitdo_device_open (FuEbitdoDevice *device, GError **error)
 
 	/* in firmware mode */
 	if (priv->kind != FU_EBITDO_DEVICE_KIND_BOOTLOADER) {
-		if (!fu_ebitdo_device_send (device,
+		if (!fu_ebitdo_device_send (self,
 					 FU_EBITDO_PKT_TYPE_USER_CMD,
 					 FU_EBITDO_PKT_CMD_GET_VERSION,
 					 0,
@@ -409,19 +377,19 @@ fu_ebitdo_device_open (FuEbitdoDevice *device, GError **error)
 					 error)) {
 			return FALSE;
 		}
-		if (!fu_ebitdo_device_receive (device,
+		if (!fu_ebitdo_device_receive (self,
 					    (guint8 *) &version_tmp,
 					    sizeof(version_tmp),
 					    error)) {
 			return FALSE;
 		}
 		tmp = (gdouble) GUINT32_FROM_LE (version_tmp);
-		fu_ebitdo_device_set_version (device, tmp);
+		fu_ebitdo_device_set_version (self, tmp);
 		return TRUE;
 	}
 
 	/* get version */
-	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_GET_VERSION,
@@ -429,17 +397,17 @@ fu_ebitdo_device_open (FuEbitdoDevice *device, GError **error)
 				 error)) {
 		return FALSE;
 	}
-	if (!fu_ebitdo_device_receive (device,
+	if (!fu_ebitdo_device_receive (self,
 				    (guint8 *) &version_tmp,
 				    sizeof(version_tmp),
 				    error)) {
 		return FALSE;
 	}
 	tmp = (gdouble) GUINT32_FROM_LE (version_tmp);
-	fu_ebitdo_device_set_version (device, tmp);
+	fu_ebitdo_device_set_version (self, tmp);
 
 	/* get verification ID */
-	if (!fu_ebitdo_device_send (device,
+	if (!fu_ebitdo_device_send (self,
 				 FU_EBITDO_PKT_TYPE_USER_CMD,
 				 FU_EBITDO_PKT_CMD_GET_VERIFICATION_ID,
 				 0x00, /* cmd */
@@ -448,7 +416,7 @@ fu_ebitdo_device_open (FuEbitdoDevice *device, GError **error)
 		return FALSE;
 	}
 	memset (serial_tmp, 0x00, sizeof (serial_tmp));
-	if (!fu_ebitdo_device_receive (device,
+	if (!fu_ebitdo_device_receive (self,
 				    (guint8 *) &serial_tmp, sizeof(serial_tmp),
 				    error)) {
 		return FALSE;
@@ -457,15 +425,6 @@ fu_ebitdo_device_open (FuEbitdoDevice *device, GError **error)
 		priv->serial[i] = GUINT32_FROM_LE (serial_tmp[i]);
 
 	/* success */
-	priv->usb_device_locker = g_steal_pointer (&locker);
-	return TRUE;
-}
-
-gboolean
-fu_ebitdo_device_close (FuEbitdoDevice *device, GError **error)
-{
-	FuEbitdoDevicePrivate *priv = GET_PRIVATE (device);
-	g_clear_object (&priv->usb_device_locker);
 	return TRUE;
 }
 
@@ -646,17 +605,11 @@ static void
 fu_ebitdo_device_init_real (FuEbitdoDevice *device)
 {
 	FuEbitdoDevicePrivate *priv = GET_PRIVATE (device);
-	g_autofree gchar *devid1 = NULL;
 	g_autofree gchar *name = NULL;
-	g_autofree gchar *vendor_id = NULL;
 
 	/* allowed, but requires manual bootloader step */
 	fu_device_add_flag (FU_DEVICE (device), FWUPD_DEVICE_FLAG_UPDATABLE);
 
-	/* set USB platform ID */
-	fu_device_set_platform_id (FU_DEVICE (device),
-				   g_usb_device_get_platform_id (priv->usb_device));
-
 	/* set name and vendor */
 	name = g_strdup_printf ("%s Gamepad",
 				fu_ebitdo_device_kind_to_string (priv->kind));
@@ -665,20 +618,9 @@ fu_ebitdo_device_init_real (FuEbitdoDevice *device)
 			       "A redesigned classic game controller");
 	fu_device_set_vendor (FU_DEVICE (device), "8Bitdo");
 
-	/* set vendor ID */
-	vendor_id = g_strdup_printf ("USB:0x%04X", g_usb_device_get_vid (priv->usb_device));
-	fu_device_set_vendor_id (FU_DEVICE (device), vendor_id);
-
 	/* add a hardcoded icon name */
 	fu_device_add_icon (FU_DEVICE (device), "input-gaming");
 
-	/* add USB\VID_0000&PID_0000 */
-	devid1 = g_strdup_printf ("USB\\VID_%04X&PID_%04X",
-				  g_usb_device_get_vid (priv->usb_device),
-				  g_usb_device_get_pid (priv->usb_device));
-	fu_device_add_guid (FU_DEVICE (device), devid1);
-	g_debug ("saving runtime GUID of %s", devid1);
-
 	/* only the bootloader can do the update */
 	if (priv->kind != FU_EBITDO_DEVICE_KIND_BOOTLOADER) {
 		fu_device_add_flag (FU_DEVICE (device),
@@ -692,12 +634,9 @@ typedef struct {
 	FuEbitdoDeviceKind	 kind;
 } FuEbitdoVidPid;
 
-gboolean
-fu_ebitdo_device_set_usb_device (FuEbitdoDevice *device,
-				 GUsbDevice *usb_device,
-				 GError **error)
+FuEbitdoDeviceKind
+fu_ebitdo_device_kind_from_dev (GUsbDevice *usb_device)
 {
-	FuEbitdoDevicePrivate *priv = GET_PRIVATE (device);
 	const FuEbitdoVidPid vidpids[] = {
 		/* legacy VIDs */
 		{ 0x0483, 0x5750, FU_EBITDO_DEVICE_KIND_BOOTLOADER },
@@ -722,22 +661,23 @@ fu_ebitdo_device_set_usb_device (FuEbitdoDevice *device,
 
 	/* find correct kind */
 	for (guint j = 0; vidpids[j].vid != 0x0000; j++) {
-		if (g_usb_device_get_vid (usb_device) != vidpids[j].vid)
-			continue;
-		if (g_usb_device_get_pid (usb_device) != vidpids[j].pid)
-			continue;
-		priv->kind = vidpids[j].kind;
-		g_set_object (&priv->usb_device, usb_device);
-		fu_ebitdo_device_init_real (device);
-		return TRUE;
+		if (g_usb_device_get_vid (usb_device) == vidpids[j].vid &&
+		    g_usb_device_get_pid (usb_device) == vidpids[j].pid)
+			return vidpids[j].kind;
 	}
+	return FU_EBITDO_DEVICE_KIND_UNKNOWN;
+}
 
-	/* unsupported */
-	g_set_error_literal (error,
-			     G_IO_ERROR,
-			     G_IO_ERROR_NOT_SUPPORTED,
-			     "not a supported 8Bitdo game-pad");
-	return FALSE;
+static void
+fu_ebitdo_device_init (FuEbitdoDevice *device)
+{
+}
+
+static void
+fu_ebitdo_device_class_init (FuEbitdoDeviceClass *klass)
+{
+	FuUsbDeviceClass *klass_usb_device = FU_USB_DEVICE_CLASS (klass);
+	klass_usb_device->open = fu_ebitdo_device_open;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -750,11 +690,15 @@ fu_ebitdo_device_set_usb_device (FuEbitdoDevice *device,
  * Since: 0.1.0
  **/
 FuEbitdoDevice *
-fu_ebitdo_device_new (GUsbDevice *usb_device)
+fu_ebitdo_device_new (FuEbitdoDeviceKind kind, GUsbDevice *usb_device)
 {
-	g_autoptr(FuEbitdoDevice) device = NULL;
-	device = g_object_new (FU_TYPE_EBITDO_DEVICE, NULL);
-	if (!fu_ebitdo_device_set_usb_device (device, usb_device, NULL))
-		return NULL;
-	return g_steal_pointer (&device);
+	FuEbitdoDevice *device;
+	FuEbitdoDevicePrivate *priv;
+	device = g_object_new (FU_TYPE_EBITDO_DEVICE,
+			       "usb-device", usb_device,
+			       NULL);
+	priv = GET_PRIVATE (device);
+	priv->kind = kind;
+	fu_ebitdo_device_init_real (device);
+	return FU_EBITDO_DEVICE (device);
 }
diff --git a/plugins/ebitdo/fu-ebitdo-device.h b/plugins/ebitdo/fu-ebitdo-device.h
index 8605383a6..4b91eb081 100644
--- a/plugins/ebitdo/fu-ebitdo-device.h
+++ b/plugins/ebitdo/fu-ebitdo-device.h
@@ -30,11 +30,11 @@
 G_BEGIN_DECLS
 
 #define FU_TYPE_EBITDO_DEVICE (fu_ebitdo_device_get_type ())
-G_DECLARE_DERIVABLE_TYPE (FuEbitdoDevice, fu_ebitdo_device, FU, EBITDO_DEVICE, FuDevice)
+G_DECLARE_DERIVABLE_TYPE (FuEbitdoDevice, fu_ebitdo_device, FU, EBITDO_DEVICE, FuUsbDevice)
 
 struct _FuEbitdoDeviceClass
 {
-	FuDeviceClass		parent_class;
+	FuUsbDeviceClass	parent_class;
 };
 
 typedef enum {
@@ -51,13 +51,12 @@ typedef enum {
 	FU_EBITDO_DEVICE_KIND_LAST
 } FuEbitdoDeviceKind;
 
-FuEbitdoDevice	*fu_ebitdo_device_new			(GUsbDevice	*usb_device);
-gboolean	 fu_ebitdo_device_set_usb_device	(FuEbitdoDevice	*device,
-							 GUsbDevice	*usb_device,
-							 GError		**error);
+FuEbitdoDevice	*fu_ebitdo_device_new			(FuEbitdoDeviceKind kind,
+							 GUsbDevice	*usb_device);
 
 /* helpers */
 FuEbitdoDeviceKind fu_ebitdo_device_kind_from_string	(const gchar	*kind);
+FuEbitdoDeviceKind fu_ebitdo_device_kind_from_dev	(GUsbDevice	*usb_device);
 const gchar	*fu_ebitdo_device_kind_to_string	(FuEbitdoDeviceKind kind);
 
 /* getters */
@@ -65,10 +64,6 @@ FuEbitdoDeviceKind fu_ebitdo_device_get_kind		(FuEbitdoDevice	*device);
 const guint32	*fu_ebitdo_device_get_serial		(FuEbitdoDevice	*device);
 
 /* object methods */
-gboolean	 fu_ebitdo_device_open			(FuEbitdoDevice	*device,
-							 GError		**error);
-gboolean	 fu_ebitdo_device_close			(FuEbitdoDevice	*device,
-							 GError		**error);
 gboolean	 fu_ebitdo_device_write_firmware	(FuEbitdoDevice	*device,
 							 GBytes		*fw,
 							 GFileProgressCallback progress_cb,
diff --git a/plugins/ebitdo/fu-ebitdo-tool.c b/plugins/ebitdo/fu-ebitdo-tool.c
index 7ff3006ea..6854323bd 100644
--- a/plugins/ebitdo/fu-ebitdo-tool.c
+++ b/plugins/ebitdo/fu-ebitdo-tool.c
@@ -65,10 +65,11 @@ main (int argc, char **argv)
 	g_usb_context_enumerate (usb_ctx);
 	devices = g_usb_context_get_devices (usb_ctx);
 	for (guint i = 0; i < devices->len; i++) {
-		GUsbDevice *usb_dev_tmp = g_ptr_array_index (devices, i);
-		g_autoptr(FuEbitdoDevice) dev_tmp = fu_ebitdo_device_new (usb_dev_tmp);
-		if (dev_tmp != NULL) {
-			dev = g_object_ref (dev_tmp);
+		GUsbDevice *usb_device = g_ptr_array_index (devices, i);
+		FuEbitdoDeviceKind ebitdo_kind;
+		ebitdo_kind = fu_ebitdo_device_kind_from_dev (usb_device);
+		if (ebitdo_kind != FU_EBITDO_DEVICE_KIND_UNKNOWN) {
+			dev = fu_ebitdo_device_new (ebitdo_kind, usb_device);
 			break;
 		}
 	}
@@ -80,10 +81,7 @@ main (int argc, char **argv)
 	}
 
 	/* open device */
-	locker = fu_device_locker_new_full (dev,
-					    (FuDeviceLockerFunc) fu_ebitdo_device_open,
-					    (FuDeviceLockerFunc) fu_ebitdo_device_close,
-					    &error);
+	locker = fu_device_locker_new (dev, &error);
 	if (locker == NULL) {
 		g_print ("Failed to open USB device: %s\n", error->message);
 		return 1;
diff --git a/plugins/ebitdo/fu-plugin-ebitdo.c b/plugins/ebitdo/fu-plugin-ebitdo.c
index 62d7addb5..24f3e984f 100644
--- a/plugins/ebitdo/fu-plugin-ebitdo.c
+++ b/plugins/ebitdo/fu-plugin-ebitdo.c
@@ -21,8 +21,6 @@
 
 #include "config.h"
 
-#include <appstream-glib.h>
-
 #include "fu-ebitdo-device.h"
 
 #include "fu-plugin.h"
@@ -36,35 +34,19 @@ fu_plugin_ebitdo_device_added (FuPlugin *plugin,
 	FuEbitdoDeviceKind ebitdo_kind;
 	const gchar *platform_id = NULL;
 	g_autofree gchar *runtime_id = NULL;
-	g_autoptr(AsProfile) profile = as_profile_new ();
-	g_autoptr(AsProfileTask) ptask = NULL;
 	g_autoptr(FuDeviceLocker) locker = NULL;
 	g_autoptr(FuEbitdoDevice) dev = NULL;
 
-	/* ignore hubs */
-	ptask = as_profile_start (profile, "FuPluginEbitdo:added{%04x:%04x}",
-				  g_usb_device_get_vid (usb_device),
-				  g_usb_device_get_pid (usb_device));
-	g_assert (ptask != NULL);
-
-	/* create the device */
-	dev = fu_ebitdo_device_new (usb_device);
-	if (dev == NULL) {
-		g_set_error_literal (error,
-				     FWUPD_ERROR,
-				     FWUPD_ERROR_NOT_SUPPORTED,
-				     "invalid 8Bitdo device type detected");
-		return FALSE;
-	}
+	/* ignore wrong hardware */
+	ebitdo_kind = fu_ebitdo_device_kind_from_dev (usb_device);
+	if (ebitdo_kind == FU_EBITDO_DEVICE_KIND_UNKNOWN)
+		return TRUE;
 
 	/* open the device */
-	locker = fu_device_locker_new_full (dev,
-					    (FuDeviceLockerFunc) fu_ebitdo_device_open,
-					    (FuDeviceLockerFunc) fu_ebitdo_device_close,
-					    error);
+	dev = fu_ebitdo_device_new (ebitdo_kind, usb_device);
+	locker = fu_device_locker_new (dev, error);
 	if (locker == NULL)
 		return FALSE;
-	ebitdo_kind = fu_ebitdo_device_get_kind (dev);
 
 	/* only the bootloader can do the update */
 	platform_id = g_usb_device_get_platform_id (usb_device);
@@ -108,18 +90,12 @@ fu_plugin_update (FuPlugin *plugin,
 		  FwupdInstallFlags flags,
 		  GError **error)
 {
-	GUsbContext *usb_ctx = fu_plugin_get_usb_context (plugin);
+	GUsbDevice *usb_device = fu_usb_device_get_dev (FU_USB_DEVICE (dev));
 	FuEbitdoDevice *ebitdo_dev = FU_EBITDO_DEVICE (dev);
 	g_autoptr(FuDeviceLocker) locker = NULL;
-	g_autoptr(GUsbDevice) usb_device = NULL;
 	g_autoptr(GUsbDevice) usb_device2 = NULL;
 
 	/* get version */
-	usb_device = g_usb_context_find_by_platform_id (usb_ctx,
-							fu_device_get_platform_id (dev),
-							error);
-	if (usb_device == NULL)
-		return FALSE;
 	if (fu_ebitdo_device_get_kind (ebitdo_dev) != FU_EBITDO_DEVICE_KIND_BOOTLOADER) {
 		g_set_error_literal (error,
 				     FWUPD_ERROR,
@@ -129,10 +105,7 @@ fu_plugin_update (FuPlugin *plugin,
 	}
 
 	/* write the firmware */
-	locker = fu_device_locker_new_full (ebitdo_dev,
-					    (FuDeviceLockerFunc) fu_ebitdo_device_open,
-					    (FuDeviceLockerFunc) fu_ebitdo_device_close,
-					    error);
+	locker = fu_device_locker_new (ebitdo_dev, error);
 	if (locker == NULL)
 		return FALSE;
 	fu_plugin_set_status (plugin, FWUPD_STATUS_DEVICE_WRITE);
@@ -155,10 +128,7 @@ fu_plugin_update (FuPlugin *plugin,
 		g_prefix_error (error, "device did not come back: ");
 		return FALSE;
 	}
-	if (!fu_ebitdo_device_set_usb_device (ebitdo_dev, usb_device2, error)) {
-		g_prefix_error (error, "wrong device came back: ");
-		return FALSE;
-	}
+	fu_usb_device_set_dev (FU_USB_DEVICE (ebitdo_dev), usb_device2);
 
 	/* success */
 	return TRUE;
@@ -171,10 +141,7 @@ fu_plugin_update_reload (FuPlugin *plugin, FuDevice *dev, GError **error)
 	g_autoptr(FuDeviceLocker) locker = NULL;
 
 	/* get the new version number */
-	locker = fu_device_locker_new_full (ebitdo_dev,
-					    (FuDeviceLockerFunc) fu_ebitdo_device_open,
-					    (FuDeviceLockerFunc) fu_ebitdo_device_close,
-					    error);
+	locker = fu_device_locker_new (ebitdo_dev, error);
 	if (locker == NULL) {
 		g_prefix_error (error, "failed to re-open device: ");
 		return FALSE;
diff --git a/plugins/nitrokey/fu-nitrokey-device.c b/plugins/nitrokey/fu-nitrokey-device.c
index c34bbb8db..ebaf71ce9 100644
--- a/plugins/nitrokey/fu-nitrokey-device.c
+++ b/plugins/nitrokey/fu-nitrokey-device.c
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 /* -*- Mode: C; tab-width: 8; indent-tabs-mode: t; c-basic-offset: 8 -*-
  *
- * Copyright (C) 2016 Richard Hughes <richard@hughsie.com>
+ * Copyright (C) 2016-2017 Richard Hughes <richard@hughsie.com>
  *
  * Licensed under the GNU Lesser General Public License Version 2.1
  *
@@ -27,15 +27,7 @@
 #include "fu-nitrokey-common.h"
 #include "fu-nitrokey-device.h"
 
-typedef struct
-{
-	GUsbDevice		*usb_device;
-	FuDeviceLocker		*usb_device_locker;
-} FuNitrokeyDevicePrivate;
-
-G_DEFINE_TYPE_WITH_PRIVATE (FuNitrokeyDevice, fu_nitrokey_device, FU_TYPE_DEVICE)
-
-#define GET_PRIVATE(o) (fu_nitrokey_device_get_instance_private (o))
+G_DEFINE_TYPE (FuNitrokeyDevice, fu_nitrokey_device, FU_TYPE_USB_DEVICE)
 
 #define NITROKEY_TRANSACTION_TIMEOUT		100 /* ms */
 #define NITROKEY_NR_RETRIES			5
@@ -87,33 +79,6 @@ typedef struct __attribute__((packed)) {
 	guint8		StickKeysNotInitiated;
 } NitrokeyGetDeviceStatusPayload;
 
-static void
-fu_nitrokey_device_finalize (GObject *object)
-{
-	FuNitrokeyDevice *device = FU_NITROKEY_DEVICE (object);
-	FuNitrokeyDevicePrivate *priv = GET_PRIVATE (device);
-
-	if (priv->usb_device_locker != NULL)
-		g_object_unref (priv->usb_device_locker);
-	if (priv->usb_device != NULL)
-		g_object_unref (priv->usb_device);
-
-	G_OBJECT_CLASS (fu_nitrokey_device_parent_class)->finalize (object);
-}
-
-static void
-fu_nitrokey_device_init (FuNitrokeyDevice *device)
-{
-}
-
-static void
-fu_nitrokey_device_class_init (FuNitrokeyDeviceClass *klass)
-{
-	GObjectClass *object_class = G_OBJECT_CLASS (klass);
-	object_class->finalize = fu_nitrokey_device_finalize;
-}
-
-
 static void
 _dump_to_console (const gchar *title, const guint8 *buf, gsize buf_sz)
 {
@@ -258,29 +223,18 @@ nitrokey_execute_cmd_full (GUsbDevice *usb_device, guint8 command,
 	return FALSE;
 }
 
-gboolean
-fu_nitrokey_device_open (FuNitrokeyDevice *device, GError **error)
+static gboolean
+fu_nitrokey_device_open (FuUsbDevice *device, GError **error)
 {
-	FuNitrokeyDevicePrivate *priv = GET_PRIVATE (device);
-	g_autofree gchar *vendor_id = NULL;
+	GUsbDevice *usb_device = fu_usb_device_get_dev (device);
 	NitrokeyGetDeviceStatusPayload payload;
-	const gchar *platform_id = NULL;
 	guint8 buf_reply[NITROKEY_REPLY_DATA_LENGTH];
-	g_autofree gchar *devid1 = NULL;
 	g_autofree gchar *platform_id_fixed = NULL;
 	g_autofree gchar *version = NULL;
-	g_autoptr(FuDeviceLocker) locker = NULL;
 	g_autoptr(GError) error_local = NULL;
 
-	/* already open */
-	if (priv->usb_device_locker != NULL)
-		return TRUE;
-
-	/* open, then ensure this is actually 8Bitdo hardware */
-	locker = fu_device_locker_new (priv->usb_device, error);
-	if (locker == NULL)
-		return FALSE;
-	if (!g_usb_device_claim_interface (priv->usb_device, 0x02, /* idx */
+	/* claim interface */
+	if (!g_usb_device_claim_interface (usb_device, 0x02, /* idx */
 					   G_USB_DEVICE_CLAIM_INTERFACE_BIND_KERNEL_DRIVER,
 					   error)) {
 		g_prefix_error (error, "failed to do claim nitrokey: ");
@@ -288,7 +242,7 @@ fu_nitrokey_device_open (FuNitrokeyDevice *device, GError **error)
 	}
 
 	/* get firmware version */
-	if (!nitrokey_execute_cmd_full (priv->usb_device,
+	if (!nitrokey_execute_cmd_full (usb_device,
 					NITROKEY_CMD_GET_DEVICE_STATUS,
 					NULL, 0,
 					buf_reply, sizeof(buf_reply),
@@ -299,12 +253,6 @@ fu_nitrokey_device_open (FuNitrokeyDevice *device, GError **error)
 	_dump_to_console ("payload", buf_reply, sizeof(buf_reply));
 	memcpy (&payload, buf_reply, sizeof(buf_reply));
 
-	/* we use a modified version of the platform ID so we can have multiple
-	 * FuDeviceItems for the same device -- when we can have the same device
-	 * handled by multiple plugins this won't be required... */
-	platform_id = g_usb_device_get_platform_id (priv->usb_device);
-	platform_id_fixed = g_strdup_printf ("%s_workaround", platform_id);
-	fu_device_set_platform_id (FU_DEVICE (device), platform_id_fixed);
 	fu_device_set_name (FU_DEVICE (device), "Nitrokey Storage");
 	fu_device_set_vendor (FU_DEVICE (device), "Nitrokey");
 	fu_device_set_summary (FU_DEVICE (device), "A secure memory stick");
@@ -312,54 +260,48 @@ fu_nitrokey_device_open (FuNitrokeyDevice *device, GError **error)
 	version = g_strdup_printf ("%u.%u", payload.VersionMinor, payload.VersionMajor);
 	fu_device_set_version (FU_DEVICE (device), version);
 
-	/* set vendor ID */
-	vendor_id = g_strdup_printf ("USB:0x%04X", g_usb_device_get_vid (priv->usb_device));
-	fu_device_set_vendor_id (FU_DEVICE (device), vendor_id);
-
-	/* use the USB VID:PID hash */
-	devid1 = g_strdup_printf ("USB\\VID_%04X&PID_%04X",
-				  g_usb_device_get_vid (priv->usb_device),
-				  g_usb_device_get_pid (priv->usb_device));
-	fu_device_add_guid (FU_DEVICE (device), devid1);
-
 	/* allowed, but requires manual bootloader step */
 	fu_device_add_flag (FU_DEVICE (device), FWUPD_DEVICE_FLAG_UPDATABLE);
 	fu_device_add_flag (FU_DEVICE (device), FWUPD_DEVICE_FLAG_NEEDS_BOOTLOADER);
 
 	/* success */
-	priv->usb_device_locker = g_steal_pointer (&locker);
 	return TRUE;
 }
 
-gboolean
-fu_nitrokey_device_close (FuNitrokeyDevice *device, GError **error)
+static gboolean
+fu_nitrokey_device_close (FuUsbDevice *device, GError **error)
 {
-	FuNitrokeyDevicePrivate *priv = GET_PRIVATE (device);
+	GUsbDevice *usb_device = fu_usb_device_get_dev (device);
 	g_autoptr(GError) error_local = NULL;
 
 	/* reconnect kernel driver */
-	if (!g_usb_device_release_interface (priv->usb_device, 0x02,
+	if (!g_usb_device_release_interface (usb_device, 0x02,
 					     G_USB_DEVICE_CLAIM_INTERFACE_BIND_KERNEL_DRIVER,
 					     &error_local)) {
 		g_warning ("failed to release interface: %s", error_local->message);
 	}
-
-	g_clear_object (&priv->usb_device_locker);
 	return TRUE;
 }
 
 static void
-fu_nitrokey_device_set_usb_device (FuNitrokeyDevice *device, GUsbDevice *usb_device)
+fu_nitrokey_device_init (FuNitrokeyDevice *device)
 {
-	FuNitrokeyDevicePrivate *priv = GET_PRIVATE (device);
-	g_set_object (&priv->usb_device, usb_device);
+}
+
+static void
+fu_nitrokey_device_class_init (FuNitrokeyDeviceClass *klass)
+{
+	FuUsbDeviceClass *klass_usb_device = FU_USB_DEVICE_CLASS (klass);
+	klass_usb_device->open = fu_nitrokey_device_open;
+	klass_usb_device->close = fu_nitrokey_device_close;
 }
 
 FuNitrokeyDevice *
 fu_nitrokey_device_new (GUsbDevice *usb_device)
 {
-	g_autoptr(FuNitrokeyDevice) device = NULL;
-	device = g_object_new (FU_TYPE_NITROKEY_DEVICE, NULL);
-	fu_nitrokey_device_set_usb_device (device, usb_device);
-	return g_steal_pointer (&device);
+	FuNitrokeyDevice *device;
+	device = g_object_new (FU_TYPE_NITROKEY_DEVICE,
+			       "usb-device", usb_device,
+			       NULL);
+	return FU_NITROKEY_DEVICE (device);
 }
diff --git a/plugins/nitrokey/fu-nitrokey-device.h b/plugins/nitrokey/fu-nitrokey-device.h
index 7310b3937..19ca714db 100644
--- a/plugins/nitrokey/fu-nitrokey-device.h
+++ b/plugins/nitrokey/fu-nitrokey-device.h
@@ -30,20 +30,15 @@
 G_BEGIN_DECLS
 
 #define FU_TYPE_NITROKEY_DEVICE (fu_nitrokey_device_get_type ())
-G_DECLARE_DERIVABLE_TYPE (FuNitrokeyDevice, fu_nitrokey_device, FU, NITROKEY_DEVICE, FuDevice)
+G_DECLARE_DERIVABLE_TYPE (FuNitrokeyDevice, fu_nitrokey_device, FU, NITROKEY_DEVICE, FuUsbDevice)
 
 struct _FuNitrokeyDeviceClass
 {
-	FuDeviceClass		parent_class;
+	FuUsbDeviceClass	parent_class;
 };
 
 FuNitrokeyDevice *fu_nitrokey_device_new	(GUsbDevice		*usb_device);
 
-gboolean	 fu_nitrokey_device_open	(FuNitrokeyDevice	*device,
-						 GError			**error);
-gboolean	 fu_nitrokey_device_close	(FuNitrokeyDevice	*device,
-						 GError			**error);
-
 G_END_DECLS
 
 #endif /* __FU_NITROKEY_DEVICE_H */
diff --git a/plugins/nitrokey/fu-plugin-nitrokey.c b/plugins/nitrokey/fu-plugin-nitrokey.c
index 99af085c5..fcae2bda0 100644
--- a/plugins/nitrokey/fu-plugin-nitrokey.c
+++ b/plugins/nitrokey/fu-plugin-nitrokey.c
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@
 
 #include "config.h"
 
-#include <appstream-glib.h>
 #include <string.h>
 
 #include "fu-plugin.h"
@@ -36,8 +35,6 @@ fu_plugin_nitrokey_device_added_cb (GUsbContext *ctx,
 				    FuPlugin *plugin)
 {
 	const gchar *platform_id = NULL;
-	g_autoptr(AsProfile) profile = as_profile_new ();
-	g_autoptr(AsProfileTask) ptask = NULL;
 	g_autoptr(FuDeviceLocker) locker = NULL;
 	g_autoptr(FuNitrokeyDevice) dev = NULL;
 	g_autoptr(GError) error = NULL;
@@ -48,12 +45,6 @@ fu_plugin_nitrokey_device_added_cb (GUsbContext *ctx,
 	if (g_usb_device_get_pid (usb_device) != 0x4109)
 		return;
 
-	/* profile */
-	ptask = as_profile_start (profile, "FuPluginNitrokey:added{%04x:%04x}",
-				  g_usb_device_get_vid (usb_device),
-				  g_usb_device_get_pid (usb_device));
-	g_assert (ptask != NULL);
-
 	/* is already in database */
 	platform_id = g_usb_device_get_platform_id (usb_device);
 	dev = fu_plugin_cache_lookup (plugin, platform_id);
@@ -64,10 +55,7 @@ fu_plugin_nitrokey_device_added_cb (GUsbContext *ctx,
 
 	/* open the device */
 	dev = fu_nitrokey_device_new (usb_device);
-	locker = fu_device_locker_new_full (dev,
-					    (FuDeviceLockerFunc) fu_nitrokey_device_open,
-					    (FuDeviceLockerFunc) fu_nitrokey_device_close,
-					    &error);
+	locker = fu_device_locker_new (dev, &error);
 	if (locker == NULL) {
 		g_warning ("failed to open device: %s", error->message);
 		return;
diff --git a/plugins/steelseries/fu-plugin-steelseries.c b/plugins/steelseries/fu-plugin-steelseries.c
index b2c0c661f..80f454113 100644
--- a/plugins/steelseries/fu-plugin-steelseries.c
+++ b/plugins/steelseries/fu-plugin-steelseries.c
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@
 
 #include "config.h"
 
-#include <appstream-glib.h>
 #include <string.h>
 
 #include "fu-plugin.h"
@@ -39,10 +38,7 @@ fu_plugin_steelseries_device_added_cb (GUsbContext *ctx,
 	gboolean ret;
 	gsize actual_len = 0;
 	guint8 data[32];
-	g_autofree gchar *devid1 = NULL;
 	g_autofree gchar *version = NULL;
-	g_autoptr(AsProfile) profile = as_profile_new ();
-	g_autoptr(AsProfileTask) ptask = NULL;
 	g_autoptr(FuDevice) dev = NULL;
 	g_autoptr(FuDeviceLocker) locker = NULL;
 	g_autoptr(GError) error_local = NULL;
@@ -53,12 +49,6 @@ fu_plugin_steelseries_device_added_cb (GUsbContext *ctx,
 	if (g_usb_device_get_pid (usb_device) != 0x1702)
 		return;
 
-	/* profile */
-	ptask = as_profile_start (profile, "FuPluginSteelseries:added{%04x:%04x}",
-				  g_usb_device_get_vid (usb_device),
-				  g_usb_device_get_pid (usb_device));
-	g_assert (ptask != NULL);
-
 	/* is already in database */
 	platform_id = g_usb_device_get_platform_id (usb_device);
 	dev = fu_plugin_cache_lookup (plugin, platform_id);
@@ -122,8 +112,7 @@ fu_plugin_steelseries_device_added_cb (GUsbContext *ctx,
 	}
 
 	/* insert to hash if valid */
-	dev = fu_device_new ();
-	fu_device_set_id (dev, platform_id);
+	dev = fu_usb_device_new (usb_device);
 	fu_device_set_name (dev, "SteelSeries Rival 100");
 	fu_device_set_vendor (dev, "SteelSeries");
 	fu_device_set_summary (dev, "An optical gaming mouse");
@@ -132,12 +121,6 @@ fu_plugin_steelseries_device_added_cb (GUsbContext *ctx,
 				   data[0], data[1], data[2]);
 	fu_device_set_version (dev, version);
 
-	/* use the USB VID:PID hash */
-	devid1 = g_strdup_printf ("USB\\VID_%04X&PID_%04X",
-				  g_usb_device_get_vid (usb_device),
-				  g_usb_device_get_pid (usb_device));
-	fu_device_add_guid (dev, devid1);
-
 	/* we're done here */
 	if (!g_usb_device_release_interface (usb_device, iface_idx,
 					     G_USB_DEVICE_CLAIM_INTERFACE_BIND_KERNEL_DRIVER,
diff --git a/plugins/usb/fu-plugin-usb.c b/plugins/usb/fu-plugin-usb.c
index b2072c33e..cfa03af8f 100644
--- a/plugins/usb/fu-plugin-usb.c
+++ b/plugins/usb/fu-plugin-usb.c
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 /* -*- Mode: C; tab-width: 8; indent-tabs-mode: t; c-basic-offset: 8 -*-
  *
- * Copyright (C) 2016 Richard Hughes <richard@hughsie.com>
+ * Copyright (C) 2016-2017 Richard Hughes <richard@hughsie.com>
  *
  * Licensed under the GNU General Public License Version 2
  *
@@ -21,23 +21,9 @@
 
 #include "config.h"
 
-#include <appstream-glib.h>
-
 #include "fu-plugin.h"
 #include "fu-plugin-vfuncs.h"
 
-static gchar *
-_bcd_version_from_uint16 (guint16 val)
-{
-#if AS_CHECK_VERSION(0,7,3)
-	return as_utils_version_from_uint16 (val, AS_VERSION_PARSE_FLAG_USE_BCD);
-#else
-	guint maj = ((val >> 12) & 0x0f) * 10 + ((val >> 8) & 0x0f);
-	guint min = ((val >> 4) & 0x0f) * 10 + (val & 0x0f);
-	return g_strdup_printf ("%u.%u", maj, min);
-#endif
-}
-
 static void
 fu_plugin_usb_device_added_cb (GUsbContext *ctx,
 				 GUsbDevice *device,
@@ -45,13 +31,7 @@ fu_plugin_usb_device_added_cb (GUsbContext *ctx,
 {
 	const gchar *platform_id = NULL;
 	guint8 idx = 0x00;
-	g_autofree gchar *devid1 = NULL;
-	g_autofree gchar *devid2 = NULL;
 	g_autofree gchar *product = NULL;
-	g_autofree gchar *vendor_id = NULL;
-	g_autofree gchar *version = NULL;
-	g_autoptr(AsProfile) profile = as_profile_new ();
-	g_autoptr(AsProfileTask) ptask = NULL;
 	g_autoptr(FuDevice) dev = NULL;
 	g_autoptr(FuDeviceLocker) locker = NULL;
 	g_autoptr(GError) error = NULL;
@@ -59,10 +39,6 @@ fu_plugin_usb_device_added_cb (GUsbContext *ctx,
 	/* ignore hubs */
 	if (g_usb_device_get_device_class (device) == G_USB_DEVICE_CLASS_HUB)
 		return;
-	ptask = as_profile_start (profile, "FuPluginUsb:added{%04x:%04x}",
-				  g_usb_device_get_vid (device),
-				  g_usb_device_get_pid (device));
-	g_assert (ptask != NULL);
 
 	/* is already in database */
 	platform_id = g_usb_device_get_platform_id (device);
@@ -80,38 +56,17 @@ fu_plugin_usb_device_added_cb (GUsbContext *ctx,
 	}
 
 	/* insert to hash if valid */
-	dev = fu_device_new ();
-	fu_device_set_id (dev, platform_id);
-
-	/* get product */
-	idx = g_usb_device_get_product_index (device);
-	if (idx != 0x00) {
-		g_autoptr(AsProfileTask) ptask2 = NULL;
-		ptask2 = as_profile_start_literal (profile, "FuPluginUsb:get-string-desc");
-		g_assert (ptask2 != NULL);
-		product = g_usb_device_get_string_descriptor (device, idx, NULL);
-	}
-	if (product == NULL) {
-		g_debug ("no product string descriptor");
-		return;
-	}
-	fu_device_set_name (dev, product);
+	dev = fu_usb_device_new (device);
 
 	/* get version number, falling back to the USB device release */
 	idx = g_usb_device_get_custom_index (device,
 					     G_USB_DEVICE_CLASS_VENDOR_SPECIFIC,
 					     'F', 'W', NULL);
-	if (idx != 0x00)
+	if (idx != 0x00) {
+		g_autofree gchar *version = NULL;
 		version = g_usb_device_get_string_descriptor (device, idx, NULL);
-	if (version == NULL) {
-		guint16 release = g_usb_device_get_release (device);
-		version = _bcd_version_from_uint16 (release);
+		fu_device_set_version (dev, version);
 	}
-	fu_device_set_version (dev, version);
-
-	/* set vendor ID */
-	vendor_id = g_strdup_printf ("USB:0x%04X", g_usb_device_get_vid (device));
-	fu_device_set_vendor_id (dev, vendor_id);
 
 	/* get GUID from the descriptor if set */
 	idx = g_usb_device_get_custom_index (device,
@@ -123,17 +78,6 @@ fu_plugin_usb_device_added_cb (GUsbContext *ctx,
 		fu_device_add_guid (dev, guid);
 	}
 
-	/* also fall back to the USB VID:PID hash */
-	devid1 = g_strdup_printf ("USB\\VID_%04X&PID_%04X",
-				  g_usb_device_get_vid (device),
-				  g_usb_device_get_pid (device));
-	fu_device_add_guid (dev, devid1);
-	devid2 = g_strdup_printf ("USB\\VID_%04X&PID_%04X&REV_%04X",
-				  g_usb_device_get_vid (device),
-				  g_usb_device_get_pid (device),
-				  g_usb_device_get_release (device));
-	fu_device_add_guid (dev, devid2);
-
 	/* use a small delay for hotplugging so that other, better, plugins
 	 * can claim this interface and add the FuDevice */
 	fu_plugin_device_add_delay (plugin, dev);
diff --git a/src/fu-device-locker.c b/src/fu-device-locker.c
index 91bede563..df7327f75 100644
--- a/src/fu-device-locker.c
+++ b/src/fu-device-locker.c
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
 #include <gusb.h>
 
 #include "fu-device-locker.h"
+#include "fu-usb-device.h"
 
 /**
  * SECTION:fu-device-locker
@@ -86,8 +87,10 @@ fu_device_locker_init (FuDeviceLocker *self)
  * manually closed using g_clear_object().
  *
  * The functions used for opening and closing the device are set automatically.
- * If the @device is not a type or supertype of @GUsbDevice then this function
- * will not work. For custom objects please use fu_device_locker_new_full().
+ * If the @device is not a type or supertype of #GUsbDevice or #FuUsbDevice
+ * then this function will not work.
+ *
+ * For custom objects please use fu_device_locker_new_full().
  *
  * NOTE: If the @open_func failed then the @close_func will not be called.
  *
@@ -108,6 +111,14 @@ fu_device_locker_new (gpointer device, GError **error)
 						  (FuDeviceLockerFunc) g_usb_device_close,
 						  error);
 	}
+
+	/* FuUsbDevice */
+	if (FU_IS_USB_DEVICE (device)) {
+		return fu_device_locker_new_full (device,
+						  (FuDeviceLockerFunc) fu_usb_device_open,
+						  (FuDeviceLockerFunc) fu_usb_device_close,
+						  error);
+	}
 	g_set_error_literal (error,
 			     G_IO_ERROR,
 			     G_IO_ERROR_NOT_SUPPORTED,
diff --git a/src/fu-plugin.h b/src/fu-plugin.h
index b7cb87993..498cac600 100644
--- a/src/fu-plugin.h
+++ b/src/fu-plugin.h
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@
 #include "fu-device-locker.h"
 #include "fu-quirks.h"
 #include "fu-hwids.h"
+#include "fu-usb-device.h"
 
 G_BEGIN_DECLS
 
diff --git a/src/fu-usb-device.c b/src/fu-usb-device.c
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7189c7def
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/fu-usb-device.c
@@ -0,0 +1,319 @@
+/* -*- Mode: C; tab-width: 8; indent-tabs-mode: t; c-basic-offset: 8 -*-
+ *
+ * Copyright (C) 2017 Richard Hughes <richard@hughsie.com>
+ *
+ * Licensed under the GNU Lesser General Public License Version 2.1
+ *
+ * This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
+ * modify it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public
+ * License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either
+ * version 2.1 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU
+ * Lesser General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public
+ * License along with this library; if not, write to the Free Software
+ * Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA  02110-1301 USA
+ */
+
+#include "config.h"
+
+#include <appstream-glib.h>
+
+#include "fu-usb-device.h"
+
+/**
+ * SECTION:fu-device
+ * @short_description: a USB device
+ *
+ * An object that represents a USB device.
+ *
+ * See also: #FuDevice
+ */
+
+typedef struct
+{
+	GUsbDevice		*usb_device;
+	FuDeviceLocker		*usb_device_locker;
+} FuUsbDevicePrivate;
+
+G_DEFINE_TYPE_WITH_PRIVATE (FuUsbDevice, fu_usb_device, FU_TYPE_DEVICE)
+enum {
+	PROP_0,
+	PROP_USB_DEVICE,
+	PROP_LAST
+};
+
+#define GET_PRIVATE(o) (fu_usb_device_get_instance_private (o))
+
+static void
+fu_usb_device_get_property (GObject *object, guint prop_id,
+			    GValue *value, GParamSpec *pspec)
+{
+	FuUsbDevice *device = FU_USB_DEVICE (object);
+	FuUsbDevicePrivate *priv = GET_PRIVATE (device);
+	switch (prop_id) {
+	case PROP_USB_DEVICE:
+		g_value_set_object (value, priv->usb_device);
+		break;
+	default:
+		G_OBJECT_WARN_INVALID_PROPERTY_ID (object, prop_id, pspec);
+		break;
+	}
+}
+
+static void
+fu_usb_device_set_property (GObject *object, guint prop_id,
+			    const GValue *value, GParamSpec *pspec)
+{
+	FuUsbDevice *device = FU_USB_DEVICE (object);
+	switch (prop_id) {
+	case PROP_USB_DEVICE:
+		fu_usb_device_set_dev (device, g_value_get_object (value));
+		break;
+	default:
+		G_OBJECT_WARN_INVALID_PROPERTY_ID (object, prop_id, pspec);
+		break;
+	}
+}
+
+static void
+fu_usb_device_finalize (GObject *object)
+{
+	FuUsbDevice *device = FU_USB_DEVICE (object);
+	FuUsbDevicePrivate *priv = GET_PRIVATE (device);
+
+	if (priv->usb_device_locker != NULL)
+		g_object_unref (priv->usb_device_locker);
+	if (priv->usb_device != NULL)
+		g_object_unref (priv->usb_device);
+
+	G_OBJECT_CLASS (fu_usb_device_parent_class)->finalize (object);
+}
+
+static void
+fu_usb_device_init (FuUsbDevice *device)
+{
+}
+
+static void
+fu_usb_device_class_init (FuUsbDeviceClass *klass)
+{
+	GObjectClass *object_class = G_OBJECT_CLASS (klass);
+	GParamSpec *pspec;
+
+	object_class->finalize = fu_usb_device_finalize;
+	object_class->get_property = fu_usb_device_get_property;
+	object_class->set_property = fu_usb_device_set_property;
+
+	pspec = g_param_spec_object ("usb-device", NULL, NULL,
+				     G_USB_TYPE_DEVICE,
+				     G_PARAM_READWRITE |
+				     G_PARAM_CONSTRUCT |
+				     G_PARAM_STATIC_NAME);
+	g_object_class_install_property (object_class, PROP_USB_DEVICE, pspec);
+}
+
+/**
+ * fu_usb_device_open:
+ * @device: A #FuUsbDevice
+ * @error: A #GError, or %NULL
+ *
+ * Opens a USB device, optionally running a object-specific vfunc.
+ *
+ * Returns: %TRUE for success
+ *
+ * Since: 1.0.2
+ **/
+gboolean
+fu_usb_device_open (FuUsbDevice *device, GError **error)
+{
+	FuUsbDevicePrivate *priv = GET_PRIVATE (device);
+	FuUsbDeviceClass *klass = FU_USB_DEVICE_GET_CLASS (device);
+	guint idx;
+	g_autoptr(AsProfile) profile = as_profile_new ();
+	g_autoptr(AsProfileTask) ptask = NULL;
+	g_autoptr(FuDeviceLocker) locker = NULL;
+
+	g_return_val_if_fail (FU_IS_USB_DEVICE (device), FALSE);
+	g_return_val_if_fail (error == NULL || *error == NULL, FALSE);
+
+	/* already open */
+	if (priv->usb_device_locker != NULL)
+		return TRUE;
+
+	/* profile */
+	ptask = as_profile_start (profile, "%s:added{%04x:%04x}",
+				  fu_device_get_plugin (FU_DEVICE (device)),
+				  g_usb_device_get_vid (priv->usb_device),
+				  g_usb_device_get_pid (priv->usb_device));
+	g_assert (ptask != NULL);
+
+	/* open */
+	locker = fu_device_locker_new (priv->usb_device, error);
+	if (locker == NULL)
+		return FALSE;
+
+	/* get vendor */
+	idx = g_usb_device_get_manufacturer_index (priv->usb_device);
+	if (idx != 0xff) {
+		g_autofree gchar *tmp = NULL;
+		tmp = g_usb_device_get_string_descriptor (priv->usb_device,
+							  idx, error);
+		if (tmp == NULL)
+			return FALSE;
+		fu_device_set_vendor (FU_DEVICE (device), tmp);
+	}
+
+	/* get product */
+	idx = g_usb_device_get_product_index (priv->usb_device);
+	if (idx != 0xff) {
+		g_autofree gchar *tmp = NULL;
+		tmp = g_usb_device_get_string_descriptor (priv->usb_device,
+							  idx, error);
+		if (tmp == NULL)
+			return FALSE;
+		fu_device_set_name (FU_DEVICE (device), tmp);
+	}
+
+	/* subclassed */
+	if (klass->open != NULL) {
+		if (!klass->open (device, error))
+			return FALSE;
+	}
+
+	/* success */
+	priv->usb_device_locker = g_steal_pointer (&locker);
+	return TRUE;
+}
+
+/**
+ * fu_usb_device_open:
+ * @device: A #FuUsbDevice
+ * @error: A #GError, or %NULL
+ *
+ * Closes a USB device, optionally running a object-specific vfunc.
+ *
+ * Returns: %TRUE for success
+ *
+ * Since: 1.0.2
+ **/
+gboolean
+fu_usb_device_close (FuUsbDevice *device, GError **error)
+{
+	FuUsbDevicePrivate *priv = GET_PRIVATE (device);
+	FuUsbDeviceClass *klass = FU_USB_DEVICE_GET_CLASS (device);
+
+	g_return_val_if_fail (FU_IS_USB_DEVICE (device), FALSE);
+	g_return_val_if_fail (error == NULL || *error == NULL, FALSE);
+
+	/* subclassed */
+	if (klass->close != NULL) {
+		if (!klass->close (device, error))
+			return FALSE;
+	}
+
+	g_clear_object (&priv->usb_device_locker);
+	return TRUE;
+}
+
+static gchar *
+_bcd_version_from_uint16 (guint16 val)
+{
+#if AS_CHECK_VERSION(0,7,3)
+	return as_utils_version_from_uint16 (val, AS_VERSION_PARSE_FLAG_USE_BCD);
+#else
+	guint maj = ((val >> 12) & 0x0f) * 10 + ((val >> 8) & 0x0f);
+	guint min = ((val >> 4) & 0x0f) * 10 + (val & 0x0f);
+	return g_strdup_printf ("%u.%u", maj, min);
+#endif
+}
+
+/**
+ * fu_usb_device_set_dev:
+ * @device: A #FuUsbDevice
+ * @usb_device: A #GUsbDevice, or %NULL
+ *
+ * Sets the #GUsbDevice to use.
+ *
+ * Since: 1.0.2
+ **/
+void
+fu_usb_device_set_dev (FuUsbDevice *device, GUsbDevice *usb_device)
+{
+	FuUsbDevicePrivate *priv = GET_PRIVATE (device);
+	guint16 release = g_usb_device_get_release (usb_device);
+	g_autofree gchar *devid1 = NULL;
+	g_autofree gchar *devid2 = NULL;
+	g_autofree gchar *vendor_id = NULL;
+
+	g_return_if_fail (FU_IS_USB_DEVICE (device));
+
+	/* allow replacement */
+	g_set_object (&priv->usb_device, usb_device);
+	if (usb_device == NULL)
+		return;
+
+	/* add both device IDs */
+	devid1 = g_strdup_printf ("USB\\VID_%04X&PID_%04X",
+				  g_usb_device_get_vid (usb_device),
+				  g_usb_device_get_pid (usb_device));
+	fu_device_add_guid (FU_DEVICE (device), devid1);
+	devid2 = g_strdup_printf ("USB\\VID_%04X&PID_%04X&REV_%04X",
+				  g_usb_device_get_vid (usb_device),
+				  g_usb_device_get_pid (usb_device),
+				  release);
+	fu_device_add_guid (FU_DEVICE (device), devid2);
+
+	/* set vendor ID */
+	vendor_id = g_strdup_printf ("USB:0x%04X", g_usb_device_get_vid (usb_device));
+	fu_device_set_vendor_id (FU_DEVICE (device), vendor_id);
+
+	/* set the version if the release has been set */
+	if (release != 0x0) {
+		g_autofree gchar *version = _bcd_version_from_uint16 (release);
+		fu_device_set_version (FU_DEVICE (device), version);
+	}
+
+	/* set USB platform ID automatically */
+	fu_device_set_platform_id (FU_DEVICE (device),
+				   g_usb_device_get_platform_id (usb_device));
+}
+
+/**
+ * fu_usb_device_get_dev:
+ * @device: A #FuUsbDevice
+ *
+ * Gets the #GUsbDevice.
+ *
+ * Returns: (transfer none): a #GUsbDevice, or %NULL
+ *
+ * Since: 1.0.2
+ **/
+GUsbDevice *
+fu_usb_device_get_dev (FuUsbDevice *device)
+{
+	FuUsbDevicePrivate *priv = GET_PRIVATE (device);
+	g_return_val_if_fail (FU_IS_USB_DEVICE (device), NULL);
+	return priv->usb_device;
+}
+
+/**
+ * fu_usb_device_new:
+ *
+ * Creates a new #FuUsbDevice.
+ *
+ * Returns: (transfer full): a #FuUsbDevice
+ *
+ * Since: 1.0.2
+ **/
+FuDevice *
+fu_usb_device_new (GUsbDevice *usb_device)
+{
+	FuUsbDevice *device = g_object_new (FU_TYPE_USB_DEVICE, NULL);
+	fu_usb_device_set_dev (device, usb_device);
+	return FU_DEVICE (device);
+}
diff --git a/src/fu-usb-device.h b/src/fu-usb-device.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b745fda51
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/fu-usb-device.h
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+/* -*- Mode: C; tab-width: 8; indent-tabs-mode: t; c-basic-offset: 8 -*-
+ *
+ * Copyright (C) 2017 Richard Hughes <richard@hughsie.com>
+ *
+ * Licensed under the GNU Lesser General Public License Version 2.1
+ *
+ * This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
+ * modify it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public
+ * License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either
+ * version 2.1 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU
+ * Lesser General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public
+ * License along with this library; if not, write to the Free Software
+ * Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA  02110-1301 USA
+ */
+
+#ifndef __FU_USB_DEVICE_H
+#define __FU_USB_DEVICE_H
+
+#include <glib-object.h>
+#include <gusb.h>
+
+#include "fu-plugin.h"
+
+G_BEGIN_DECLS
+
+#define FU_TYPE_USB_DEVICE (fu_usb_device_get_type ())
+G_DECLARE_DERIVABLE_TYPE (FuUsbDevice, fu_usb_device, FU, USB_DEVICE, FuDevice)
+
+struct _FuUsbDeviceClass
+{
+	FuDeviceClass	parent_class;
+	gboolean	 (*open)		(FuUsbDevice		*device,
+						 GError			**error);
+	gboolean	 (*close)		(FuUsbDevice		*device,
+						 GError			**error);
+	gpointer	__reserved[29];
+};
+
+FuDevice	*fu_usb_device_new			(GUsbDevice	*usb_device);
+GUsbDevice	*fu_usb_device_get_dev			(FuUsbDevice	*device);
+void		 fu_usb_device_set_dev			(FuUsbDevice	*device,
+							 GUsbDevice	*usb_device);
+gboolean	 fu_usb_device_open			(FuUsbDevice	*device,
+							 GError		**error);
+gboolean	 fu_usb_device_close			(FuUsbDevice	*device,
+							 GError		**error);
+
+G_END_DECLS
+
+#endif /* __FU_USB_DEVICE_H */
diff --git a/src/meson.build b/src/meson.build
index 57852b4d1..8d0383be7 100644
--- a/src/meson.build
+++ b/src/meson.build
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ libfwupdprivate = static_library(
     'fu-quirks.c',
     'fu-smbios.c',
     'fu-test.c',
+    'fu-usb-device.c',
   ],
   include_directories : [
     include_directories('..'),
@@ -133,6 +134,7 @@ executable(
     'fu-plugin.c',
     'fu-quirks.c',
     'fu-smbios.c',
+    'fu-usb-device.c',
   ],
   include_directories : [
     include_directories('..'),
@@ -195,6 +197,7 @@ if get_option('enable-tests')
       'fu-quirks.c',
       'fu-smbios.c',
       'fu-test.c',
+      'fu-usb-device.c',
     ],
     include_directories : [
       include_directories('..'),
@@ -248,6 +251,7 @@ if get_option('enable-introspection')
       'fu-plugin.h',
       'fu-quirks.c',
       'fu-quirks.h',
+      'fu-usb-device.c',
     ],
     nsversion : '1.0',
     namespace : 'Fu',