diff --git a/cli.py b/cli.py
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..4d94279
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cli.py
@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+import pifacedigitalio
+import pifacecommon.mcp23s17
+import sys
+
+button_count = 2
+
+# dirty workaround to disable reset of output pins
+def init_board_no_power_off(self):
+    ioconfig = (
+        pifacecommon.mcp23s17.BANK_OFF |
+        pifacecommon.mcp23s17.INT_MIRROR_OFF |
+        pifacecommon.mcp23s17.SEQOP_OFF |
+        pifacecommon.mcp23s17.DISSLW_OFF |
+        pifacecommon.mcp23s17.HAEN_ON |
+        pifacecommon.mcp23s17.ODR_OFF |
+        pifacecommon.mcp23s17.INTPOL_LOW
+    )
+    self.iocon.value = ioconfig
+    if self.iocon.value != ioconfig:
+        raise pifacedigitalio.NoPiFaceDigitalDetectedError(
+            "No PiFace Digital board detected (hardware_addr={h}, "
+            "bus={b}, chip_select={c}).".format(
+                h=self.hardware_addr, b=self.bus, c=self.chip_select))
+    else:
+        self.iodira.value = 0  # GPIOA as outputs
+        self.iodirb.value = 0xFF  # GPIOB as inputs
+        self.gppub.value = 0xFF  # input pullups on
+        self.enable_interrupts()
+
+setattr(pifacedigitalio.PiFaceDigital, 'init_board', init_board_no_power_off)
+
+def chch_status(pfd):
+    for i in range(button_count):
+        if pfd.output_pins[i].value != 0:
+            print(str(i) + ' on')
+        else:
+            print(str(i) + ' off')
+
+def chch_all_off(pfd):
+    for i in range(button_count):
+        pfd.output_pins[i].turn_off()
+
+def help():
+    print('valid commands: status, all_off')
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    # listener = pifacedigitalio.InputEventListener()
+    # listener.activate()
+    # chch_status_output(listener.chip)
+    try:
+        command = sys.argv[1]
+    except:
+        help()
+	exit(1)
+    if command=='status':
+        chch_status(pifacedigitalio.PiFaceDigital())
+    elif command=='all_off':
+	chch_all_off(pifacedigitalio.PiFaceDigital())
+    else:
+        help()