diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index e344140..9cd0a24 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -187,15 +187,42 @@ set_target_properties(
 
 add_dependencies(xaie pyxrt)
 
+# ##############################################################################
+# own xrt bindings
+# ##############################################################################
+
+pybind11_add_module(_xrt xaiepy/xrt.cpp)
+target_include_directories(_xrt PRIVATE ${XRT_INCLUDE_DIR}
+                                        ${XRT_BINARY_DIR}/gen
+                                        ${Boost_INCLUDE_DIRS}
+)
+target_link_directories(_xrt PRIVATE ${XRT_LIB_DIR})
+target_link_libraries(_xrt PRIVATE xrt_coreutil uuid)
+set_target_properties(
+  _xrt
+  PROPERTIES
+    # pyxrt and xrt in general do a ridiculous dance with drivers
+    # https://github.com/Xilinx/XRT/blob/edcae12640ce96ec597c4c0cc1b2a850cfcc5c8b/src/runtime_src/core/common/module_loader.cpp#L201-L205
+    SKIP_BUILD_RPATH ON
+    BUILD_WITH_INSTALL_RPATH ON)
+add_dependencies(xaie _xrt)
+
 # ##############################################################################
 # finish
 # ##############################################################################
 
-set_target_properties(_bootgen _xclbinutil bootgen-lib cdo_driver xaie
-                      xclbinutil-lib PROPERTIES POSITION_INDEPENDENT_CODE ON)
+set_target_properties(
+  _bootgen
+  _xclbinutil
+  _xrt
+  bootgen-lib
+  cdo_driver
+  xaie
+  xclbinutil-lib
+  PROPERTIES POSITION_INDEPENDENT_CODE ON)
 
 set_target_properties(
-  _bootgen _xclbinutil pyxrt xaie xclbinutil-lib
+  _bootgen _xclbinutil pyxrt xaie xclbinutil-lib _xrt
   PROPERTIES LIBRARY_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY ${OUTPUT_DIR}
              ARCHIVE_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY ${OUTPUT_DIR}
              RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY ${OUTPUT_DIR})
diff --git a/examples/harness.py b/examples/harness.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8fbcc03
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/harness.py
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+from pathlib import Path
+
+import numpy as np
+from filelock import FileLock
+from xaiepy.xrt import XCLBin, list_kernels
+
+# don't forget LD_LIBRARY_PATH=/opt/xilinx/xrt/lib:/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu
+
+
+M = K = N = 64
+
+TEST = "basic_matrix_multiplication_matrix_vector"
+WORKDIR = Path(__file__).parent.absolute() / TEST / "module_dummy1_amdaie_xclbin_fb"
+NPU_INSTS_FP = f"{WORKDIR}/module_dummy1_amdaie_xclbin_fb.npu.txt"
+XCLBIN_PATH = f"{WORKDIR}/module_dummy1_amdaie_xclbin_fb.xclbin"
+KERNEL_NAME = "dummy2"
+NUM_ARGS = 3
+
+with open(NPU_INSTS_FP, "r") as f:
+    npu_insts = list(map(lambda n: int(n, 16), f.readlines()))
+
+instr_v = np.array(npu_insts, dtype=np.uint32)
+
+with open(NPU_INSTS_FP, "r") as f:
+    npu_insts = list(map(lambda n: int(n, 16), f.readlines()))
+
+list_kernels(XCLBIN_PATH)
+
+with FileLock("/tmp/npu.lock"):
+    xclbin = XCLBin(XCLBIN_PATH, KERNEL_NAME)
+    views = xclbin.mmap_buffers([(M, K), (K,), (M,)], np.float32)
+
+    xclbin.load_npu_instructions(npu_insts)
+
+    A = np.ones((M, K), dtype=np.float32)
+    B = 2 * np.ones((K,), dtype=np.float32)
+    C = np.zeros((M,), dtype=np.float32)
+
+    wraps = list(map(np.asarray, views))
+    np.copyto(wraps[0], A, casting="no")
+    np.copyto(wraps[1], B, casting="no")
+    np.copyto(wraps[2], C, casting="no")
+
+    xclbin.sync_buffers_to_device()
+    xclbin.run()
+    print("Running kernel")
+    xclbin.wait(30)
+    xclbin.sync_buffers_from_device()
+
+    print(wraps)
+    assert np.allclose(A @ B, wraps[2])
diff --git a/third_party/XRT b/third_party/XRT
index c678a94..fdba05d 160000
--- a/third_party/XRT
+++ b/third_party/XRT
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Subproject commit c678a9469f9b20fcb9a04bbedb5c51f8473faec0
+Subproject commit fdba05d985fc9a083af6dee1a18688e6f9796f5a
diff --git a/xaiepy/xrt.cpp b/xaiepy/xrt.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..636315f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/xaiepy/xrt.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,169 @@
+//===- XRTModule.cpp --------------------------------------------*- C++ -*-===//
+//
+// This file is licensed under the Apache License v2.0 with LLVM Exceptions.
+// See https://llvm.org/LICENSE.txt for license information.
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0 WITH LLVM-exception
+//
+// Copyright (C) 2023, Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
+//
+//===----------------------------------------------------------------------===//
+
+#include "xrt/xrt_bo.h"
+#include "xrt/xrt_device.h"
+#include "xrt/xrt_kernel.h"
+
+#include <pybind11/numpy.h>
+#include <pybind11/pybind11.h>
+#include <pybind11/pytypes.h>
+#include <pybind11/stl.h>
+
+#include <algorithm>
+#include <cstring>
+#include <string>
+#include <vector>
+
+namespace py = pybind11;
+using namespace py::literals;
+
+constexpr size_t TRANSACTION_API_OP_CODE = 3;
+// group_id 0 is for the op code
+// group_id 1 is for npu instructions
+// group_id 2 is for number of npu instructions
+// host side buffers/args follow starting from position 3
+// see aiecc.main.emit_design_kernel_json
+constexpr size_t TRANSACTION_OP_CODE_IDX = 0;
+constexpr size_t INSTRUCTION_BO_IDX = 1;
+constexpr size_t INSTRUCTION_LEN_IDX = 2;
+constexpr size_t HOST_BUFFERS_START_IDX = 3;
+
+class PyXCLBin {
+public:
+  PyXCLBin(const std::string &xclBinPath, const std::string &kernelName,
+           int deviceIndex)
+      : xclBin(std::make_unique<xrt::xclbin>(xclBinPath)),
+        device(std::make_unique<xrt::device>(deviceIndex)) {
+    device->register_xclbin(*xclBin);
+    context = std::make_unique<xrt::hw_context>(*device, xclBin->get_uuid());
+    kernel = std::make_unique<xrt::kernel>(*context, kernelName);
+  }
+
+  void loadNPUInstructions(const std::vector<uint32_t> &insts) {
+    npuInstructions = std::make_unique<xrt::bo>(
+        *device, insts.size() * sizeof(uint32_t), XCL_BO_FLAGS_CACHEABLE,
+        kernel->group_id(INSTRUCTION_BO_IDX));
+    npuInstructions->write(insts.data());
+    npuInstructions->sync(XCL_BO_SYNC_BO_TO_DEVICE);
+  }
+
+  template <typename ElementT>
+  std::vector<py::memoryview>
+  mmapBuffers(std::vector<std::vector<int>> shapes) {
+    this->buffers.reserve(shapes.size());
+    std::vector<py::memoryview> views;
+    views.reserve(shapes.size());
+
+    auto initAndViewBuffer = [this](
+                                 std::vector<int> shape, int groupId,
+                                 std::vector<std::unique_ptr<xrt::bo>> &buffers,
+                                 std::vector<py::memoryview> &views) {
+      int nElements =
+          std::accumulate(shape.begin(), shape.end(), 1, std::multiplies<>());
+      int nBytes = nElements * sizeof(ElementT);
+      xrt::bo xrtBuf(*device, nBytes, XRT_BO_FLAGS_HOST_ONLY,
+                     kernel->group_id(groupId));
+      buffers.push_back(std::make_unique<xrt::bo>(xrtBuf));
+
+      ElementT *buf = xrtBuf.map<ElementT *>();
+      memset(buf, 0, nElements);
+
+      std::vector strides_{1};
+      for (int i = shape.size() - 1; i > 0; i--)
+        strides_.push_back(strides_.back() * shape[i]);
+      std::vector<int> strides;
+      // stride in bytes
+      std::transform(strides_.rbegin(), strides_.rend(),
+                     std::back_inserter(strides),
+                     [](int s) { return s * sizeof(ElementT); });
+      views.push_back(py::memoryview::from_buffer(buf, shape, strides));
+    };
+
+    for (size_t i = 0; i < shapes.size(); ++i)
+      initAndViewBuffer(shapes[i], HOST_BUFFERS_START_IDX + i, this->buffers,
+                        views);
+    return views;
+  }
+
+  uint64_t getBufferHostAddress(size_t idx) { return buffers[idx]->address(); }
+
+  void syncBuffersToDevice() {
+    for (auto &buf : this->buffers)
+      buf->sync(XCL_BO_SYNC_BO_TO_DEVICE);
+  }
+
+  void syncBuffersFromDevice() {
+    for (auto &buf : this->buffers)
+      buf->sync(XCL_BO_SYNC_BO_FROM_DEVICE);
+  }
+
+  void run() {
+    run_ = std::make_unique<xrt::run>(*kernel);
+    run_->set_arg(TRANSACTION_OP_CODE_IDX, TRANSACTION_API_OP_CODE);
+    run_->set_arg(INSTRUCTION_BO_IDX, *npuInstructions);
+    run_->set_arg(INSTRUCTION_LEN_IDX, npuInstructions->size());
+    for (size_t i = 0; i < buffers.size(); ++i)
+      run_->set_arg(HOST_BUFFERS_START_IDX + i, *buffers[i]);
+    run_->start();
+  }
+
+  void wait(const std::optional<int> timeout) { run_->wait2(); }
+
+  std::unique_ptr<xrt::xclbin> xclBin;
+  std::unique_ptr<xrt::device> device;
+  std::unique_ptr<xrt::hw_context> context;
+  std::unique_ptr<xrt::kernel> kernel;
+  std::unique_ptr<xrt::bo> npuInstructions;
+
+  std::vector<std::unique_ptr<xrt::bo>> buffers;
+
+  std::unique_ptr<xrt::run> run_;
+};
+
+PYBIND11_MODULE(_xrt, m) {
+
+  py::class_<PyXCLBin>(m, "XCLBin", py::module_local())
+      .def(py::init<const std::string &, const std::string &, int>(),
+           "xclbin_path"_a, "kernel_name"_a, "device_index"_a = 0)
+      .def("load_npu_instructions", &PyXCLBin::loadNPUInstructions, "insts"_a)
+      .def("sync_buffers_to_device", &PyXCLBin::syncBuffersToDevice)
+      .def("sync_buffers_from_device", &PyXCLBin::syncBuffersFromDevice)
+      .def("run", &PyXCLBin::run)
+      .def("wait", &PyXCLBin::wait, "timeout"_a = py::none())
+      .def(
+          "mmap_buffers",
+          [](PyXCLBin &self, const std::vector<std::vector<int>> &shapes,
+             const py::object &npFormat) {
+            auto npy = py::module_::import("numpy");
+            if (npFormat.is(npy.attr("int16")))
+              return self.mmapBuffers<int16_t>(shapes);
+            if (npFormat.is(npy.attr("int32")))
+              return self.mmapBuffers<int32_t>(shapes);
+            if (npFormat.is(npy.attr("float32")))
+              return self.mmapBuffers<float>(shapes);
+            if (npFormat.is(npy.attr("int64")))
+              return self.mmapBuffers<int64_t>(shapes);
+            if (npFormat.is(npy.attr("float64")))
+              return self.mmapBuffers<double>(shapes);
+            throw std::runtime_error("unsupported np format: " +
+                                     py::repr(npFormat).cast<std::string>());
+          },
+          "shapes"_a, "np_format"_a)
+      .def("_get_buffer_host_address", [](PyXCLBin &self, size_t idx) {
+        return self.getBufferHostAddress(idx);
+      });
+  m.def("list_kernels", [](std::string fp) {
+    auto xclbin = xrt::xclbin(fp);
+    auto xkernels = xclbin.get_kernels();
+    for (const auto &item : xkernels)
+      py::print(item.get_name());
+  });
+}
diff --git a/xaiepy/xrt.py b/xaiepy/xrt.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ae076db
--- /dev/null
+++ b/xaiepy/xrt.py
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+from ._xrt import *
\ No newline at end of file