diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index e4b375c..1161de8 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -10,6 +10,11 @@ abstraction of the manual tiling structure.
 
 For more history and motivation, see [history.md](docs/history.md).
 
+## Sway
+
+Since sway is mostly compatible with i3, rust version supports sway in i3 mode, by using
+sway socket for i3 IPC.
+
 ## Preview
 
 Preview demonstrates directional switching (without touching active tabs) and tab navigation
diff --git a/rust/src/backend/i3/backend.rs b/rust/src/backend/i3/backend.rs
index 48d3a11..df95e5b 100644
--- a/rust/src/backend/i3/backend.rs
+++ b/rust/src/backend/i3/backend.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 use crate::backend::traits::*;
 use crate::logging::ResultExt;
+use crate::logging::OptionExt;
 use crate::logging;
 use crate::types::Windows;
 use super::client::{Client, Request};
@@ -7,20 +8,32 @@ use super::compass;
 
 use serde_json as json;
 use std::process;
+use std::thread;
 
 pub struct Backend {
     client: Client,
     root: json::Value,
 }
 
+fn get_sock_path(executable: &str) -> Option<String> {
+    process::Command::new(executable).arg("--get-socketpath").output()
+        .ok().filter(|o| o.status.success()).and_then(|o| String::from_utf8(o.stdout).ok())
+        .map(|s| s.trim().to_owned()).filter(|s| !s.is_empty())
+}
+
+fn get_sock_path_async() -> Option<String> {
+    thread::scope(|s| {
+        ["i3", "sway"].iter().map(|&bin| s.spawn(move || get_sock_path(bin)))
+            .find_map(|h| h.join().unwrap_or(None))
+    })
+}
+
 impl Backend {
     pub fn new() -> Self {
         // Establish a connection to the i3 IPC server and get the tree structure
-        let i3_socket_path_output = process::Command::new("i3").arg("--get-socketpath").output()
-            .expect_log("Failed to get i3 socket path");
-        let i3_path = String::from_utf8(i3_socket_path_output.stdout)
-            .expect_log("Failed to parse i3 socket path output");
-        let mut client = Client::new(&i3_path.trim())
+        let socket_path = get_sock_path_async()
+            .wanted("Failed to get socket path from i3 or sway").unwrap_or_default();
+        let mut client = Client::new(&socket_path.trim())
             .expect_log("Failed to connect to i3 IPC server");
         let root_string = client.request(Request::GetTree, "")
             .expect_log("Failed to get i3 tree JSON");