diff --git a/libfwupd/fwupd-client.c b/libfwupd/fwupd-client.c
index 0e64a33ba..0c28458b1 100644
--- a/libfwupd/fwupd-client.c
+++ b/libfwupd/fwupd-client.c
@@ -287,6 +287,26 @@ fwupd_client_parse_devices_from_variant (GVariant *val)
 	return array;
 }
 
+static GPtrArray *
+fwupd_client_parse_remotes_from_data (GVariant *devices)
+{
+	GPtrArray *remotes = NULL;
+	gsize sz;
+	g_autoptr(GVariant) untuple = NULL;
+
+	remotes = g_ptr_array_new_with_free_func ((GDestroyNotify) g_object_unref);
+	untuple = g_variant_get_child_value (devices, 0);
+	sz = g_variant_n_children (untuple);
+	for (guint i = 0; i < sz; i++) {
+		FwupdRemote *remote;
+		g_autoptr(GVariant) data = g_variant_get_child_value (untuple, i);
+		remote = fwupd_remote_new_from_data (data);
+		g_ptr_array_add (remotes, remote);
+	}
+
+	return remotes;
+}
+
 static void
 fwupd_client_fixup_dbus_error (GError *error)
 {
@@ -1251,131 +1271,6 @@ fwupd_client_update_metadata_with_id (FwupdClient *client,
 	return TRUE;
 }
 
-static GPtrArray *
-fwupd_client_get_config_paths (void)
-{
-	GPtrArray *paths = g_ptr_array_new_with_free_func (g_free);
-	const gchar *remotes_dir;
-	const gchar *system_prefixlibdir = "/usr/lib/fwupd";
-	const gchar *system_sysconfdir = "/etc/fwupd";
-	g_autofree gchar *sysconfdir = NULL;
-
-	/* only set by the self test program */
-	remotes_dir = g_getenv ("FU_SELF_TEST_REMOTES_DIR");
-	if (remotes_dir != NULL) {
-		g_ptr_array_add (paths, g_strdup (remotes_dir));
-		return paths;
-	}
-
-	/* use sysconfig, and then fall back to /etc */
-	sysconfdir = g_build_filename (SYSCONFDIR, "fwupd", NULL);
-	if (g_file_test (sysconfdir, G_FILE_TEST_EXISTS)) {
-		g_ptr_array_add (paths, g_steal_pointer (&sysconfdir));
-	} else {
-		g_debug ("falling back to system path");
-		if (g_file_test (system_sysconfdir, G_FILE_TEST_EXISTS))
-			g_ptr_array_add (paths, g_strdup (system_sysconfdir));
-	}
-
-	/* add in system-wide locations */
-	if (g_file_test (system_prefixlibdir, G_FILE_TEST_EXISTS))
-		g_ptr_array_add (paths, g_strdup (system_prefixlibdir));
-
-	return paths;
-}
-
-static gboolean
-fwupd_client_add_remotes_for_path (FwupdClient *client,
-				   GPtrArray *remotes,
-				   const gchar *path,
-				   GCancellable *cancellable,
-				   GError **error)
-{
-	const gchar *tmp;
-	g_autofree gchar *path_remotes = NULL;
-	g_autoptr(GDir) dir = NULL;
-
-	path_remotes = g_build_filename (path, "remotes.d", NULL);
-	if (!g_file_test (path_remotes, G_FILE_TEST_EXISTS))
-		return TRUE;
-	dir = g_dir_open (path_remotes, 0, error);
-	if (dir == NULL)
-		return FALSE;
-	while ((tmp = g_dir_read_name (dir)) != NULL) {
-		g_autofree gchar *filename = g_build_filename (path_remotes, tmp, NULL);
-		g_autoptr(FwupdRemote) remote = fwupd_remote_new ();
-		g_debug ("loading from %s", filename);
-		if (!fwupd_remote_load_from_filename (remote, filename,
-						      cancellable, error))
-			return FALSE;
-		g_ptr_array_add (remotes, g_steal_pointer (&remote));
-	}
-	return TRUE;
-}
-
-static gint
-fwupd_client_remote_sort_cb (gconstpointer a, gconstpointer b)
-{
-	FwupdRemote *remote_a = *((FwupdRemote **) a);
-	FwupdRemote *remote_b = *((FwupdRemote **) b);
-
-	/* use priority first */
-	if (fwupd_remote_get_priority (remote_a) < fwupd_remote_get_priority (remote_b))
-		return 1;
-	if (fwupd_remote_get_priority (remote_a) > fwupd_remote_get_priority (remote_b))
-		return -1;
-
-	/* fall back to name */
-	return g_strcmp0 (fwupd_remote_get_id (remote_a),
-			  fwupd_remote_get_id (remote_b));
-}
-
-static FwupdRemote *
-fwupd_client_get_remote_by_id_noref (GPtrArray *remotes, const gchar *remote_id)
-{
-	for (guint i = 0; i < remotes->len; i++) {
-		FwupdRemote *remote = g_ptr_array_index (remotes, i);
-		if (g_strcmp0 (remote_id, fwupd_remote_get_id (remote)) == 0)
-			return remote;
-	}
-	return NULL;
-}
-
-static guint
-fwupd_client_remotes_depsolve_with_direction (GPtrArray *remotes, gint inc)
-{
-	guint cnt = 0;
-	for (guint i = 0; i < remotes->len; i++) {
-		FwupdRemote *remote = g_ptr_array_index (remotes, i);
-		gchar **order = inc < 0 ? fwupd_remote_get_order_after (remote) :
-					  fwupd_remote_get_order_before (remote);
-		if (order == NULL)
-			continue;
-		for (guint j = 0; order[j] != NULL; j++) {
-			FwupdRemote *remote2;
-			if (g_strcmp0 (order[j], fwupd_remote_get_id (remote)) == 0) {
-				g_warning ("ignoring self-dep remote %s", order[j]);
-				continue;
-			}
-			remote2 = fwupd_client_get_remote_by_id_noref (remotes, order[j]);
-			if (remote2 == NULL) {
-				g_warning ("ignoring unfound remote %s", order[j]);
-				continue;
-			}
-			if (fwupd_remote_get_priority (remote) > fwupd_remote_get_priority (remote2))
-				continue;
-			g_debug ("ordering %s=%s+%i",
-				 fwupd_remote_get_id (remote),
-				 fwupd_remote_get_id (remote2),
-				 inc);
-			fwupd_remote_set_priority (remote, fwupd_remote_get_priority (remote2) + inc);
-
-			/* increment changes counter */
-			cnt++;
-		}
-	}
-	return cnt;
-}
 /**
  * fwupd_client_get_remotes:
  * @client: A #FwupdClient
@@ -1391,64 +1286,42 @@ fwupd_client_remotes_depsolve_with_direction (GPtrArray *remotes, gint inc)
 GPtrArray *
 fwupd_client_get_remotes (FwupdClient *client, GCancellable *cancellable, GError **error)
 {
-	guint depsolve_check;
-	g_autoptr(GPtrArray) paths = NULL;
-	g_autoptr(GPtrArray) remotes = NULL;
+	FwupdClientPrivate *priv = GET_PRIVATE (client);
+	g_autoptr(GVariant) val = NULL;
 
 	g_return_val_if_fail (FWUPD_IS_CLIENT (client), NULL);
 	g_return_val_if_fail (cancellable == NULL || G_IS_CANCELLABLE (cancellable), NULL);
 	g_return_val_if_fail (error == NULL || *error == NULL, NULL);
 
-	/* get a list of all config paths */
-	paths = fwupd_client_get_config_paths ();
-	if (paths->len == 0) {
-		g_set_error_literal (error,
-				     FWUPD_ERROR,
-				     FWUPD_ERROR_NOT_FOUND,
-				     "No search paths found");
+	/* connect */
+	if (!fwupd_client_connect (client, cancellable, error))
+		return NULL;
+
+	/* call into daemon */
+	val = g_dbus_proxy_call_sync (priv->proxy,
+				      "GetRemotes",
+				      NULL,
+				      G_DBUS_CALL_FLAGS_NONE,
+				      -1,
+				      cancellable,
+				      error);
+	if (val == NULL) {
+		if (error != NULL)
+			fwupd_client_fixup_dbus_error (*error);
 		return NULL;
 	}
+	return fwupd_client_parse_remotes_from_data (val);
+}
 
-	/* look for all remotes */
-	remotes = g_ptr_array_new_with_free_func ((GDestroyNotify) g_object_unref);
-	for (guint i = 0; i < paths->len; i++) {
-		const gchar *path = g_ptr_array_index (paths, i);
-		g_debug ("using config path of %s", path);
-		if (!fwupd_client_add_remotes_for_path (client, remotes, path,
-							cancellable, error))
-			return FALSE;
+static FwupdRemote *
+fwupd_client_get_remote_by_id_noref (GPtrArray *remotes, const gchar *remote_id)
+{
+	for (guint i = 0; i < remotes->len; i++) {
+		FwupdRemote *remote = g_ptr_array_index (remotes, i);
+		if (g_strcmp0 (remote_id, fwupd_remote_get_id (remote)) == 0)
+			return remote;
 	}
-
-	/* nothing found */
-	if (remotes->len == 0) {
-		g_set_error_literal (error,
-				     FWUPD_ERROR,
-				     FWUPD_ERROR_NOT_FOUND,
-				     "No remotes found in search paths");
-		return NULL;
-	}
-
-	/* depsolve */
-	for (depsolve_check = 0; depsolve_check < 100; depsolve_check++) {
-		guint cnt = 0;
-		cnt += fwupd_client_remotes_depsolve_with_direction (remotes, 1);
-		cnt += fwupd_client_remotes_depsolve_with_direction (remotes, -1);
-		if (cnt == 0)
-			break;
-	}
-	if (depsolve_check == 100) {
-		g_set_error_literal (error,
-				     FWUPD_ERROR,
-				     FWUPD_ERROR_INTERNAL,
-				     "Cannot depsolve remotes ordering");
-		return NULL;
-	}
-
-	/* order these by priority, then name */
-	g_ptr_array_sort (remotes, fwupd_client_remote_sort_cb);
-
-	/* success */
-	return g_steal_pointer (&remotes);
+	return NULL;
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/libfwupd/fwupd-remote-private.h b/libfwupd/fwupd-remote-private.h
index 734ea0125..349d3f268 100644
--- a/libfwupd/fwupd-remote-private.h
+++ b/libfwupd/fwupd-remote-private.h
@@ -26,6 +26,9 @@
 
 G_BEGIN_DECLS
 
+FwupdRemote	*fwupd_remote_new_from_data		(GVariant	*data);
+GVariant	*fwupd_remote_to_data			(FwupdRemote	*self,
+							 const gchar	*type_string);
 gboolean	 fwupd_remote_load_from_filename	(FwupdRemote	*self,
 							 const gchar	*filename,
 							 GCancellable	*cancellable,
diff --git a/libfwupd/fwupd-remote.c b/libfwupd/fwupd-remote.c
index 434bc2e06..5597ecb80 100644
--- a/libfwupd/fwupd-remote.c
+++ b/libfwupd/fwupd-remote.c
@@ -368,6 +368,94 @@ fwupd_remote_get_id (FwupdRemote *self)
 	return self->id;
 }
 
+static void
+fwupd_remote_to_variant_builder (FwupdRemote *self, GVariantBuilder *builder)
+{
+	if (self->id != NULL) {
+		g_variant_builder_add (builder, "{sv}", "Id",
+				       g_variant_new_string (self->id));
+	}
+	if (self->username != NULL) {
+		g_variant_builder_add (builder, "{sv}", "Username",
+				       g_variant_new_string (self->username));
+	}
+	if (self->password != NULL) {
+		g_variant_builder_add (builder, "{sv}", "Password",
+				       g_variant_new_string (self->password));
+	}
+	if (self->url != NULL) {
+		g_variant_builder_add (builder, "{sv}", "Url",
+				       g_variant_new_string (self->url));
+	}
+	if (self->priority != 0) {
+		g_variant_builder_add (builder, "{sv}", "Priority",
+				       g_variant_new_int32 (self->priority));
+	}
+	g_variant_builder_add (builder, "{sv}", "Enabled",
+			       g_variant_new_boolean (self->enabled));
+}
+
+static void
+fwupd_remote_set_from_variant_iter (FwupdRemote *self, GVariantIter *iter)
+{
+	GVariant *value;
+	const gchar *key;
+	g_autoptr(GVariantIter) iter2 = g_variant_iter_copy (iter);
+	g_autoptr(GVariantIter) iter3 = g_variant_iter_copy (iter);
+
+	/* three passes, as we have to construct Id -> Url -> * */
+	while (g_variant_iter_loop (iter, "{sv}", &key, &value)) {
+		if (g_strcmp0 (key, "Id") == 0)
+			fwupd_remote_set_id (self, g_variant_get_string (value, NULL));
+	}
+	while (g_variant_iter_loop (iter2, "{sv}", &key, &value)) {
+		if (g_strcmp0 (key, "Url") == 0)
+			fwupd_remote_set_url (self, g_variant_get_string (value, NULL));
+	}
+	while (g_variant_iter_loop (iter3, "{sv}", &key, &value)) {
+		if (g_strcmp0 (key, "Username") == 0) {
+			fwupd_remote_set_username (self, g_variant_get_string (value, NULL));
+		} else if (g_strcmp0 (key, "Password") == 0) {
+			fwupd_remote_set_password (self, g_variant_get_string (value, NULL));
+		} else if (g_strcmp0 (key, "Enabled") == 0) {
+			self->enabled = g_variant_get_boolean (value);
+		} else if (g_strcmp0 (key, "Priority") == 0) {
+			self->priority = g_variant_get_int32 (value);
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+/**
+ * fwupd_remote_to_data:
+ * @remote: A #FwupdRemote
+ * @type_string: The Gvariant type string, e.g. "a{sv}" or "(a{sv})"
+ *
+ * Creates a GVariant from the remote data.
+ *
+ * Returns: the GVariant, or %NULL for error
+ *
+ * Since: 0.9.5
+ **/
+GVariant *
+fwupd_remote_to_data (FwupdRemote *self, const gchar *type_string)
+{
+	GVariantBuilder builder;
+
+	g_return_val_if_fail (FWUPD_IS_REMOTE (self), NULL);
+	g_return_val_if_fail (type_string != NULL, NULL);
+
+	/* create an array with all the metadata in */
+	g_variant_builder_init (&builder, G_VARIANT_TYPE_ARRAY);
+	fwupd_remote_to_variant_builder (self, &builder);
+
+	/* supported types */
+	if (g_strcmp0 (type_string, "a{sv}") == 0)
+		return g_variant_new ("a{sv}", &builder);
+	if (g_strcmp0 (type_string, "(a{sv})") == 0)
+		return g_variant_new ("(a{sv})", &builder);
+	return NULL;
+}
+
 static void
 fwupd_remote_get_property (GObject *obj, guint prop_id,
 			   GValue *value, GParamSpec *pspec)
@@ -464,6 +552,39 @@ fwupd_remote_finalize (GObject *obj)
 	G_OBJECT_CLASS (fwupd_remote_parent_class)->finalize (obj);
 }
 
+/**
+ * fwupd_remote_new_from_data:
+ * @data: a #GVariant
+ *
+ * Creates a new remote using packed data.
+ *
+ * Returns: a new #FwupdRemote, or %NULL if @data was invalid
+ *
+ * Since: 0.9.5
+ **/
+FwupdRemote *
+fwupd_remote_new_from_data (GVariant *data)
+{
+	FwupdRemote *rel = NULL;
+	const gchar *type_string;
+	g_autoptr(GVariantIter) iter = NULL;
+
+	type_string = g_variant_get_type_string (data);
+	if (g_strcmp0 (type_string, "(a{sv})") == 0) {
+		rel = fwupd_remote_new ();
+		g_variant_get (data, "(a{sv})", &iter);
+		fwupd_remote_set_from_variant_iter (rel, iter);
+		fwupd_remote_set_from_variant_iter (rel, iter);
+	} else if (g_strcmp0 (type_string, "a{sv}") == 0) {
+		rel = fwupd_remote_new ();
+		g_variant_get (data, "a{sv}", &iter);
+		fwupd_remote_set_from_variant_iter (rel, iter);
+	} else {
+		g_warning ("type %s not known", type_string);
+	}
+	return rel;
+}
+
 /**
  * fwupd_remote_new:
  *
diff --git a/src/fu-config.c b/src/fu-config.c
index 7eed66c94..18d0a9980 100644
--- a/src/fu-config.c
+++ b/src/fu-config.c
@@ -26,12 +26,17 @@
 
 #include "fu-config.h"
 
+#include "fwupd-error.h"
+#include "fwupd-remote-private.h"
+
 static void fu_config_finalize	 (GObject *obj);
 
 struct _FuConfig
 {
 	GObject			 parent_instance;
 	GKeyFile		*keyfile;
+	GPtrArray		*remotes;
+	GPtrArray		*monitors;
 	GPtrArray		*blacklist_devices;
 	GPtrArray		*blacklist_plugins;
 	gboolean		 enable_option_rom;
@@ -47,15 +52,217 @@ fu_config_get_sysconfig_dir (void)
 	return "/etc";
 }
 
+static GPtrArray *
+fu_config_get_config_paths (void)
+{
+	GPtrArray *paths = g_ptr_array_new_with_free_func (g_free);
+	const gchar *remotes_dir;
+	const gchar *system_prefixlibdir = "/usr/lib/fwupd";
+	const gchar *system_sysconfdir = "/etc/fwupd";
+	g_autofree gchar *sysconfdir = NULL;
+
+	/* only set by the self test program */
+	remotes_dir = g_getenv ("FU_SELF_TEST_REMOTES_DIR");
+	if (remotes_dir != NULL) {
+		g_ptr_array_add (paths, g_strdup (remotes_dir));
+		return paths;
+	}
+
+	/* use sysconfig, and then fall back to /etc */
+	sysconfdir = g_build_filename (SYSCONFDIR, "fwupd", NULL);
+	if (g_file_test (sysconfdir, G_FILE_TEST_EXISTS)) {
+		g_ptr_array_add (paths, g_steal_pointer (&sysconfdir));
+	} else {
+		g_debug ("falling back to system path");
+		if (g_file_test (system_sysconfdir, G_FILE_TEST_EXISTS))
+			g_ptr_array_add (paths, g_strdup (system_sysconfdir));
+	}
+
+	/* add in system-wide locations */
+	if (g_file_test (system_prefixlibdir, G_FILE_TEST_EXISTS))
+		g_ptr_array_add (paths, g_strdup (system_prefixlibdir));
+
+	return paths;
+}
+
+static void
+fu_config_monitor_changed_cb (GFileMonitor *monitor,
+			      GFile *file,
+			      GFile *other_file,
+			      GFileMonitorEvent event_type,
+			      gpointer user_data)
+{
+	FuConfig *self = FU_CONFIG (user_data);
+	g_autoptr(GError) error = NULL;
+	g_autofree gchar *filename = g_file_get_path (file);
+	g_debug ("%s changed, reloading all configs", filename);
+	if (!fu_config_load (self, &error))
+		g_warning ("failed to rescan config: %s", error->message);
+}
+
+static gboolean
+fu_config_add_remotes_for_path (FuConfig *self, const gchar *path, GError **error)
+{
+	const gchar *tmp;
+	g_autofree gchar *path_remotes = NULL;
+	g_autoptr(GDir) dir = NULL;
+
+	path_remotes = g_build_filename (path, "remotes.d", NULL);
+	if (!g_file_test (path_remotes, G_FILE_TEST_EXISTS))
+		return TRUE;
+	dir = g_dir_open (path_remotes, 0, error);
+	if (dir == NULL)
+		return FALSE;
+	while ((tmp = g_dir_read_name (dir)) != NULL) {
+		GFileMonitor *monitor;
+		g_autofree gchar *filename = g_build_filename (path_remotes, tmp, NULL);
+		g_autoptr(FwupdRemote) remote = fwupd_remote_new ();
+		g_autoptr(GFile) file = g_file_new_for_path (filename);
+		g_debug ("loading from %s", filename);
+		if (!fwupd_remote_load_from_filename (remote, filename,
+						      NULL, error))
+			return FALSE;
+		g_ptr_array_add (self->remotes, g_steal_pointer (&remote));
+
+		/* set up a notify watch */
+		monitor = g_file_monitor (file, G_FILE_MONITOR_NONE, NULL, error);
+		if (monitor == NULL)
+			return FALSE;
+		g_signal_connect (monitor, "changed",
+				  G_CALLBACK (fu_config_monitor_changed_cb), self);
+		g_ptr_array_add (self->monitors, monitor);
+	}
+	return TRUE;
+}
+
+static gint
+fu_config_remote_sort_cb (gconstpointer a, gconstpointer b)
+{
+	FwupdRemote *remote_a = *((FwupdRemote **) a);
+	FwupdRemote *remote_b = *((FwupdRemote **) b);
+
+	/* use priority first */
+	if (fwupd_remote_get_priority (remote_a) < fwupd_remote_get_priority (remote_b))
+		return 1;
+	if (fwupd_remote_get_priority (remote_a) > fwupd_remote_get_priority (remote_b))
+		return -1;
+
+	/* fall back to name */
+	return g_strcmp0 (fwupd_remote_get_id (remote_a),
+			  fwupd_remote_get_id (remote_b));
+}
+
+static FwupdRemote *
+fu_config_get_remote_by_id_noref (GPtrArray *remotes, const gchar *remote_id)
+{
+	for (guint i = 0; i < remotes->len; i++) {
+		FwupdRemote *remote = g_ptr_array_index (remotes, i);
+		if (g_strcmp0 (remote_id, fwupd_remote_get_id (remote)) == 0)
+			return remote;
+	}
+	return NULL;
+}
+
+static guint
+fu_config_remotes_depsolve_with_direction (FuConfig *self, gint inc)
+{
+	guint cnt = 0;
+	for (guint i = 0; i < self->remotes->len; i++) {
+		FwupdRemote *remote = g_ptr_array_index (self->remotes, i);
+		gchar **order = inc < 0 ? fwupd_remote_get_order_after (remote) :
+					  fwupd_remote_get_order_before (remote);
+		if (order == NULL)
+			continue;
+		for (guint j = 0; order[j] != NULL; j++) {
+			FwupdRemote *remote2;
+			if (g_strcmp0 (order[j], fwupd_remote_get_id (remote)) == 0) {
+				g_warning ("ignoring self-dep remote %s", order[j]);
+				continue;
+			}
+			remote2 = fu_config_get_remote_by_id_noref (self->remotes, order[j]);
+			if (remote2 == NULL) {
+				g_warning ("ignoring unfound remote %s", order[j]);
+				continue;
+			}
+			if (fwupd_remote_get_priority (remote) > fwupd_remote_get_priority (remote2))
+				continue;
+			g_debug ("ordering %s=%s+%i",
+				 fwupd_remote_get_id (remote),
+				 fwupd_remote_get_id (remote2),
+				 inc);
+			fwupd_remote_set_priority (remote, fwupd_remote_get_priority (remote2) + inc);
+
+			/* increment changes counter */
+			cnt++;
+		}
+	}
+	return cnt;
+}
+
+static gboolean
+fu_config_load_remotes (FuConfig *self, GError **error)
+{
+	guint depsolve_check;
+	g_autoptr(GPtrArray) paths = NULL;
+
+	/* get a list of all config paths */
+	paths = fu_config_get_config_paths ();
+	if (paths->len == 0) {
+		g_set_error_literal (error,
+				     FWUPD_ERROR,
+				     FWUPD_ERROR_NOT_FOUND,
+				     "No search paths found");
+		return FALSE;
+	}
+
+	/* look for all remotes */
+	for (guint i = 0; i < paths->len; i++) {
+		const gchar *path = g_ptr_array_index (paths, i);
+		g_debug ("using config path of %s", path);
+		if (!fu_config_add_remotes_for_path (self, path, error))
+			return FALSE;
+	}
+
+	/* depsolve */
+	for (depsolve_check = 0; depsolve_check < 100; depsolve_check++) {
+		guint cnt = 0;
+		cnt += fu_config_remotes_depsolve_with_direction (self, 1);
+		cnt += fu_config_remotes_depsolve_with_direction (self, -1);
+		if (cnt == 0)
+			break;
+	}
+	if (depsolve_check == 100) {
+		g_set_error_literal (error,
+				     FWUPD_ERROR,
+				     FWUPD_ERROR_INTERNAL,
+				     "Cannot depsolve remotes ordering");
+		return FALSE;
+	}
+
+	/* order these by priority, then name */
+	g_ptr_array_sort (self->remotes, fu_config_remote_sort_cb);
+
+	/* success */
+	return TRUE;
+}
+
 gboolean
 fu_config_load (FuConfig *self, GError **error)
 {
+	GFileMonitor *monitor;
 	g_autofree gchar *config_file = NULL;
 	g_auto(GStrv) devices = NULL;
 	g_auto(GStrv) plugins = NULL;
+	g_autoptr(GFile) file = NULL;
 
 	g_return_val_if_fail (FU_IS_CONFIG (self), FALSE);
 
+	/* ensure empty in case we're called from a monitor change */
+	g_ptr_array_set_size (self->blacklist_devices, 0);
+	g_ptr_array_set_size (self->blacklist_plugins, 0);
+	g_ptr_array_set_size (self->monitors, 0);
+	g_ptr_array_set_size (self->remotes, 0);
+
 	/* load the main daemon config file */
 	config_file = g_build_filename (fu_config_get_sysconfig_dir (),
 					"fwupd.conf", NULL);
@@ -64,6 +271,15 @@ fu_config_load (FuConfig *self, GError **error)
 					G_KEY_FILE_NONE, error))
 		return FALSE;
 
+	/* set up a notify watch */
+	file = g_file_new_for_path (config_file);
+	monitor = g_file_monitor (file, G_FILE_MONITOR_NONE, NULL, error);
+	if (monitor == NULL)
+		return FALSE;
+	g_signal_connect (monitor, "changed",
+			  G_CALLBACK (fu_config_monitor_changed_cb), self);
+	g_ptr_array_add (self->monitors, monitor);
+
 	/* optional, at the moment */
 	self->enable_option_rom =
 		g_key_file_get_boolean (self->keyfile,
@@ -97,9 +313,21 @@ fu_config_load (FuConfig *self, GError **error)
 		}
 	}
 
+	/* load remotes */
+	if (!fu_config_load_remotes (self, error))
+		return FALSE;
+
+	/* success */
 	return TRUE;
 }
 
+GPtrArray *
+fu_config_get_remotes (FuConfig *self)
+{
+	g_return_val_if_fail (FU_IS_CONFIG (self), NULL);
+	return self->remotes;
+}
+
 GPtrArray *
 fu_config_get_blacklist_devices (FuConfig *self)
 {
@@ -134,6 +362,8 @@ fu_config_init (FuConfig *self)
 	self->keyfile = g_key_file_new ();
 	self->blacklist_devices = g_ptr_array_new_with_free_func (g_free);
 	self->blacklist_plugins = g_ptr_array_new_with_free_func (g_free);
+	self->remotes = g_ptr_array_new_with_free_func ((GDestroyNotify) g_object_unref);
+	self->monitors = g_ptr_array_new_with_free_func ((GDestroyNotify) g_object_unref);
 }
 
 static void
@@ -144,6 +374,8 @@ fu_config_finalize (GObject *obj)
 	g_key_file_unref (self->keyfile);
 	g_ptr_array_unref (self->blacklist_devices);
 	g_ptr_array_unref (self->blacklist_plugins);
+	g_ptr_array_unref (self->remotes);
+	g_ptr_array_unref (self->monitors);
 
 	G_OBJECT_CLASS (fu_config_parent_class)->finalize (obj);
 }
diff --git a/src/fu-config.h b/src/fu-config.h
index 6f1931005..49866b569 100644
--- a/src/fu-config.h
+++ b/src/fu-config.h
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ gboolean	 fu_config_load				(FuConfig	*self,
 GPtrArray	*fu_config_get_blacklist_devices	(FuConfig	*self);
 GPtrArray	*fu_config_get_blacklist_plugins	(FuConfig	*self);
 gboolean	 fu_config_get_enable_option_rom	(FuConfig	*self);
+GPtrArray	*fu_config_get_remotes			(FuConfig	*self);
 
 G_END_DECLS
 
diff --git a/src/fu-main.c b/src/fu-main.c
index 071c5582f..a290386ee 100644
--- a/src/fu-main.c
+++ b/src/fu-main.c
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@
 #include "fwupd-common-private.h"
 #include "fwupd-enums-private.h"
 #include "fwupd-release-private.h"
+#include "fwupd-remote-private.h"
 #include "fwupd-resources.h"
 
 #include "fu-config.h"
@@ -1911,6 +1912,32 @@ fu_main_get_details_local_from_fd (FuMainPrivate *priv, gint fd, GError **error)
 	return g_variant_new ("(a{sa{sv}})", &builder);
 }
 
+static GVariant *
+fu_main_get_remotes_as_variant (FuMainPrivate *priv, GError **error)
+{
+	GVariantBuilder builder;
+	GPtrArray *remotes;
+
+	/* get the list of remotes */
+	remotes = fu_config_get_remotes (priv->config);
+	if (remotes->len == 0) {
+		g_set_error (error,
+			     FWUPD_ERROR,
+			     FWUPD_ERROR_INTERNAL,
+			     "no remotes configured");
+		return NULL;
+	}
+
+	g_variant_builder_init (&builder, G_VARIANT_TYPE_ARRAY);
+	for (guint i = 0; i < remotes->len; i++) {
+		GVariant *tmp;
+		FwupdRemote *remote = g_ptr_array_index (remotes, i);
+		tmp = fwupd_remote_to_data (remote, "a{sv}");
+		g_variant_builder_add_value (&builder, tmp);
+	}
+	return g_variant_new ("(aa{sv})", &builder);
+}
+
 static void
 fu_main_daemon_method_call (GDBusConnection *connection, const gchar *sender,
 			    const gchar *object_path, const gchar *interface_name,
@@ -1995,6 +2022,18 @@ fu_main_daemon_method_call (GDBusConnection *connection, const gchar *sender,
 		return;
 	}
 
+	/* return variant */
+	if (g_strcmp0 (method_name, "GetRemotes") == 0) {
+		g_debug ("Called %s()", method_name);
+		val = fu_main_get_remotes_as_variant (priv, &error);
+		if (val == NULL) {
+			fu_main_invocation_return_error (priv, invocation, error);
+			return;
+		}
+		fu_main_invocation_return_value (priv, invocation, val);
+		return;
+	}
+
 	/* return '' */
 	if (g_strcmp0 (method_name, "ClearResults") == 0) {
 		FuDeviceItem *item = NULL;
diff --git a/src/fu-util.c b/src/fu-util.c
index 4913afef7..3b665ddc9 100644
--- a/src/fu-util.c
+++ b/src/fu-util.c
@@ -1227,7 +1227,7 @@ fu_util_get_remotes (FuUtilPrivate *priv, gchar **values, GError **error)
 		if (uri != NULL) {
 			g_autofree gchar *uri_str = soup_uri_to_string (uri, FALSE);
 			/* TRANSLATORS: remote URI */
-			fu_util_print_data (_("URI"), uri_str);
+			fu_util_print_data (_("URL"), uri_str);
 		}
 		uri = fwupd_remote_get_uri_asc (remote);
 		if (uri != NULL) {
diff --git a/src/org.freedesktop.fwupd.xml b/src/org.freedesktop.fwupd.xml
index 27faa1b88..99cfdb246 100644
--- a/src/org.freedesktop.fwupd.xml
+++ b/src/org.freedesktop.fwupd.xml
@@ -294,6 +294,24 @@
       </arg>
     </method>
 
+    <!--***********************************************************-->
+    <method name='GetRemotes'>
+      <doc:doc>
+        <doc:description>
+          <doc:para>
+            Gets the list of remotes.
+          </doc:para>
+        </doc:description>
+      </doc:doc>
+      <arg type='aa{sv}' name='results' direction='out'>
+        <doc:doc>
+          <doc:summary>
+            <doc:para>The array remotes, with properties</doc:para>
+          </doc:summary>
+        </doc:doc>
+      </arg>
+    </method>
+
     <!--***********************************************************-->
     <method name='ClearResults'>
       <doc:doc>