diff --git a/README.rst b/README.rst
index e637785..71b2d01 100644
--- a/README.rst
+++ b/README.rst
@@ -75,9 +75,9 @@ For example::
 When using ``extra`` field make sure you don't use reserved names. From `Python documentation <https://docs.python.org/2/library/logging.html>`_.
      | "The keys in the dictionary passed in extra should not clash with the keys used by the logging system. (See the `Formatter <https://docs.python.org/2/library/logging.html#logging.Formatter>`_ documentation for more information on which keys are used by the logging system.)"
 
-To use the AMQPLogstashHandler you will need to install pika first.
+To use the AMQPLogstashHandler you will need to install kombu first.
 
-   pip install pika
+   pip install kombu
 
 For example::
 
diff --git a/logstash/handler_amqp.py b/logstash/handler_amqp.py
index 4209964..819ca2b 100644
--- a/logstash/handler_amqp.py
+++ b/logstash/handler_amqp.py
@@ -1,13 +1,13 @@
-import json
+import socket
+from logging.handlers import SocketHandler
+
 try:
     from urllib import urlencode
 except ImportError:
     from urllib.parse import urlencode
 
-from logging import Filter
-from logging.handlers import SocketHandler
+from kombu import Connection, Exchange, producers
 
-import pika
 from logstash import formatter
 
 
@@ -48,8 +48,6 @@ def __init__(self, host='localhost', port=5672, username='guest',
                  virtual_host='/', message_type='logstash', tags=None,
                  durable=False, passive=False, version=0, extra_fields=True,
                  fqdn=False, facility=None, exchange_routing_key=''):
-
-
         # AMQP parameters
         self.host = host
         self.port = port
@@ -76,54 +74,67 @@ def __init__(self, host='localhost', port=5672, username='guest',
         self.facility = facility
 
     def makeSocket(self, **kwargs):
-
-        return PikaSocket(self.host,
-                          self.port,
-                          self.username,
-                          self.password,
-                          self.virtual_host,
-                          self.exchange,
-                          self.routing_key,
-                          self.exchange_is_durable,
-                          self.declare_exchange_passively,
-                          self.exchange_type)
+        socket = KombuSocket(self.host,
+                             self.port,
+                             self.username,
+                             self.password,
+                             self.virtual_host,
+                             self.exchange,
+                             self.routing_key,
+                             self.exchange_is_durable,
+                             self.declare_exchange_passively,
+                             self.exchange_type)
+        socket.connect()
+        return socket
 
     def makePickle(self, record):
         return self.formatter.format(record)
 
+    def send(self, s):
+        """
+        Behaves exactly like SocketHandler.send() except that it allows
+        exceptions to bubble up to emit() so we can atleast be aware of
+        logging failures.
+        """
+        if self.sock is None:
+            self.createSocket()
 
-class PikaSocket(object):
+        if self.sock:
+            try:
+                self.sock.sendall(s)
+            except (OSError, socket.error): #pragma: no cover
+                self.sock.close()
+                self.sock = None  # so we can call createSocket next time
+                raise
 
-    def __init__(self, host, port, username, password, virtual_host, exchange,
-                routing_key, durable, passive, exchange_type):
 
-        # create connection parameters
-        credentials = pika.PlainCredentials(username, password)
-        parameters = pika.ConnectionParameters(host, port, virtual_host,
-                                               credentials)
+class KombuSocket(object):
 
-        # create connection & channel
-        self.connection = pika.BlockingConnection(parameters)
-        self.channel = self.connection.channel()
-
-        # create an exchange, if needed
-        self.channel.exchange_declare(exchange=exchange,
-                                      exchange_type=exchange_type,
-                                      passive=passive,
-                                      durable=durable)
-
-        # needed when publishing
-        self.spec = pika.spec.BasicProperties(delivery_mode=2)
+    def __init__(self, host, port, username, password, virtual_host, exchange,
+                routing_key, durable, passive, exchange_type):
+        # create connection
+        self.connection = Connection(hostname=host,
+                                     port=port,
+                                     userid=username,
+                                     password=password,
+                                     virtual_host=virtual_host)
+
+        # create exchange
+        self.exchange = Exchange(exchange, type=exchange_type, durable=durable)
+        self.exchange.passive = passive
+
+        # other publishing params
         self.routing_key = routing_key
-        self.exchange = exchange
-
 
     def sendall(self, data):
-
-        self.channel.basic_publish(self.exchange,
-                                   self.routing_key,
-                                   data,
-                                   properties=self.spec)
+        with producers[self.connection].acquire(block=True) as producer:
+            producer.publish(data,
+                             routing_key=self.routing_key,
+                             exchange=self.exchange,
+                             declare=[self.exchange])
+
+    def connect(self):
+        self.connection.connect()
 
     def close(self):
         try: