diff --git a/.config/i3/config.d/keymap.conf b/.config/i3/config.d/keymap.conf
index 86ac3b0..dd38697 100644
--- a/.config/i3/config.d/keymap.conf
+++ b/.config/i3/config.d/keymap.conf
@@ -43,8 +43,8 @@ bindsym XF86AudioMute        exec --no-startup-id x-volume mute
 bindsym XF86AudioMicMute     exec --no-startup-id x-mic-mute
 
 # brightness control
-bindsym XF86MonBrightnessUp   exec --no-startup-id x-brightness-up
-bindsym XF86MonBrightnessDown exec --no-startup-id x-brightness-down
+bindsym XF86MonBrightnessUp   exec --no-startup-id x-brightness up
+bindsym XF86MonBrightnessDown exec --no-startup-id x-brightness down
 
 # media controls
 bindsym XF86AudioPlay  exec playerctl play-pause
diff --git a/.local/bin/x-brightness b/.local/bin/x-brightness
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..ad6bb99
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.local/bin/x-brightness
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env sh
+
+[ -z "$AMOUNT" ] && AMOUNT=5
+
+notify() {
+	notify-send "$@" -h string:x-dunst-stack-tag:'brightnessctl' -a 'brightnessctl'
+}
+
+max=$(brightnessctl max)
+br=$(brightnessctl get)
+brp=$((100 * br / max))
+
+case "$1" in
+up) brp=$((brp + AMOUNT)) ;;
+down) brp=$((brp - AMOUNT)) ;;
+*)
+	echo 'E: could not decide what brightness action to perform!' >&2
+	notify 'could not decide what audio action to perform!' -u critical -t 5000
+	exit 1
+	;;
+esac
+brp=$((brp - (brp % AMOUNT)))
+
+brightnessctl set $brp%
+ico=display-brightness-symbolic
+notify -u low -i "$ico" -h "int:value:$brp" "brightness: $brp%"
diff --git a/.local/bin/x-brightness-down b/.local/bin/x-brightness-down
deleted file mode 100755
index 45e6059..0000000
--- a/.local/bin/x-brightness-down
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,4 +0,0 @@
-#!/usr/bin/sh
-br=$(brightnessctl set 5%- |
-	grep '%' | awk '{print $4}' | sed 's/[^0-9]//g')
-notify-send -u low -i display-brightness-symbolic -h int:value:"$br" -h string:x-dunst-stack-tag:'brightnessctl' -a 'brightnessctl' "brightness: $br%"
diff --git a/.local/bin/x-brightness-up b/.local/bin/x-brightness-up
deleted file mode 100755
index 671c57b..0000000
--- a/.local/bin/x-brightness-up
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,4 +0,0 @@
-#!/usr/bin/sh
-br=$(brightnessctl set 5%+ |
-	grep '%' | awk '{print $4}' | sed 's/[^0-9]//g')
-notify-send -i display-brightness-symbolic -u low -h int:value:"$br" -h string:x-dunst-stack-tag:'brightnessctl' -a 'brightnessctl' "brightness: $br%"