diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index 0f618766..6741082a 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ authors = ["Alessandro Decina <alessandro.d@gmail.com>"]
 edition = "2018"
 
 [dependencies]
-libc = "0.2"
+libc = { version = "0.2", features = ["extra_traits"] }
 thiserror = "1"
 object = "0.23"
 bytes = "1"
diff --git a/scripts/gen-bindings b/scripts/gen-bindings
index 09703be2..c12fac4b 100755
--- a/scripts/gen-bindings
+++ b/scripts/gen-bindings
@@ -74,6 +74,16 @@ PERF_VARS="\
     PERF_EVENT_.*
     "
 
+NETLINK_TYPES="\
+    ifinfomsg
+    "
+
+NETLINK_VARS="\
+    NLMSG_ALIGNTO \
+    IFLA_XDP_FD \
+    XDP_FLAGS_.*
+    "
+
 bindgen $LIBBPF_DIR/include/uapi/linux/bpf.h \
     --no-layout-tests \
     --default-enum-style moduleconsts \
@@ -116,4 +126,15 @@ bindgen include/perf_wrapper.h \
     $(for var in $PERF_VARS; do
         echo --whitelist-var "$var"
     done) \
-    > $OUTPUT_DIR/perf_bindings.rs
\ No newline at end of file
+    > $OUTPUT_DIR/perf_bindings.rs
+
+bindgen include/netlink_wrapper.h \
+    --no-layout-tests \
+    --default-enum-style moduleconsts \
+    $(for ty in $NETLINK_TYPES; do
+        echo --whitelist-type "$ty"
+    done) \
+    $(for var in $NETLINK_VARS; do
+        echo --whitelist-var "$var"
+    done) \
+    > $OUTPUT_DIR/netlink_bindings.rs
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/generated/mod.rs b/src/generated/mod.rs
index 3030c9be..582f7a60 100644
--- a/src/generated/mod.rs
+++ b/src/generated/mod.rs
@@ -5,9 +5,11 @@
 mod bpf_bindings;
 mod btf_bindings;
 mod btf_internal_bindings;
+mod netlink_bindings;
 mod perf_bindings;
 
 pub use bpf_bindings::*;
 pub use btf_bindings::*;
 pub use btf_internal_bindings::*;
+pub use netlink_bindings::*;
 pub use perf_bindings::*;
diff --git a/src/programs/mod.rs b/src/programs/mod.rs
index 7be70c9f..6341aaf7 100644
--- a/src/programs/mod.rs
+++ b/src/programs/mod.rs
@@ -58,6 +58,13 @@ pub enum ProgramError {
         io_error: io::Error,
     },
 
+    #[error("error attaching XDP program using netlink: {io_error}")]
+    NetlinkXdpFailed {
+        program: String,
+        #[source]
+        io_error: io::Error,
+    },
+
     #[error("unkown network interface {name}")]
     UnkownInterface { name: String },
 
diff --git a/src/programs/xdp.rs b/src/programs/xdp.rs
index e3c8162f..c30210a7 100644
--- a/src/programs/xdp.rs
+++ b/src/programs/xdp.rs
@@ -2,11 +2,13 @@ use std::{cell::RefCell, ffi::CString, rc::Rc};
 
 use libc::if_nametoindex;
 
-use crate::RawFd;
+use crate::{generated::XDP_FLAGS_REPLACE, RawFd};
 use crate::{
     generated::{bpf_attach_type::BPF_XDP, bpf_prog_type::BPF_PROG_TYPE_XDP},
     programs::{load_program, FdLink, Link, LinkRef, ProgramData, ProgramError},
     sys::bpf_link_create,
+    sys::kernel_version,
+    sys::netlink_set_xdp_fd,
 };
 
 #[derive(Debug)]
@@ -34,15 +36,72 @@ impl Xdp {
             })?;
         }
 
-        let link_fd = bpf_link_create(prog_fd, if_index, BPF_XDP, 0).map_err(|(_, io_error)| {
-            ProgramError::BpfLinkCreateFailed {
-                program: self.name(),
-                io_error,
-            }
-        })? as RawFd;
-        let link = Rc::new(RefCell::new(FdLink { fd: Some(link_fd) }));
-        self.data.links.push(link.clone());
+        let k_ver = kernel_version().unwrap();
+        if k_ver >= (5, 7, 0) {
+            let link_fd =
+                bpf_link_create(prog_fd, if_index, BPF_XDP, 0).map_err(|(_, io_error)| {
+                    ProgramError::BpfLinkCreateFailed {
+                        program: self.name(),
+                        io_error,
+                    }
+                })? as RawFd;
+            let link = Rc::new(RefCell::new(XdpLink::FdLink(FdLink { fd: Some(link_fd) })));
+            self.data.links.push(link.clone());
 
-        Ok(LinkRef::new(&link))
+            Ok(LinkRef::new(&link))
+        } else {
+            unsafe { netlink_set_xdp_fd(if_index, prog_fd, None, 0) }.map_err(|io_error| {
+                ProgramError::NetlinkXdpFailed {
+                    program: self.name(),
+                    io_error,
+                }
+            })?;
+
+            let link = Rc::new(RefCell::new(XdpLink::NlLink(NlLink {
+                if_index,
+                prog_fd: Some(prog_fd),
+            })));
+            self.data.links.push(link.clone());
+
+            Ok(LinkRef::new(&link))
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug)]
+struct NlLink {
+    if_index: i32,
+    prog_fd: Option<RawFd>,
+}
+
+impl Link for NlLink {
+    fn detach(&mut self) -> Result<(), ProgramError> {
+        if let Some(fd) = self.prog_fd.take() {
+            let _ = unsafe { netlink_set_xdp_fd(self.if_index, -1, Some(fd), XDP_FLAGS_REPLACE) };
+            Ok(())
+        } else {
+            Err(ProgramError::AlreadyDetached)
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl Drop for NlLink {
+    fn drop(&mut self) {
+        let _ = self.detach();
+    }
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug)]
+enum XdpLink {
+    FdLink(FdLink),
+    NlLink(NlLink),
+}
+
+impl Link for XdpLink {
+    fn detach(&mut self) -> Result<(), ProgramError> {
+        match self {
+            XdpLink::FdLink(link) => link.detach(),
+            XdpLink::NlLink(link) => link.detach(),
+        }
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/sys/mod.rs b/src/sys/mod.rs
index 08bafc05..35c193c0 100644
--- a/src/sys/mod.rs
+++ b/src/sys/mod.rs
@@ -1,19 +1,18 @@
 mod bpf;
+mod netlink;
 mod perf_event;
 
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod fake;
 
-use std::{
-    ffi::{CStr, CString},
-    io, mem,
-};
+use std::{ffi::CString, io, mem};
 
 use libc::{c_int, c_long, c_ulong, pid_t, utsname};
 
 pub(crate) use bpf::*;
 #[cfg(test)]
 pub(crate) use fake::*;
+pub(crate) use netlink::*;
 pub(crate) use perf_event::*;
 
 use crate::generated::{bpf_attr, bpf_cmd, perf_event_attr};
diff --git a/src/sys/netlink.rs b/src/sys/netlink.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9f908cab
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/sys/netlink.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,265 @@
+use std::{io, mem, os::unix::io::RawFd, ptr};
+use thiserror::Error;
+
+use libc::{
+    c_int, close, getsockname, nlattr, nlmsgerr, nlmsghdr, recv, send, setsockopt, sockaddr_nl,
+    socket, AF_NETLINK, AF_UNSPEC, IFLA_XDP, NETLINK_ROUTE, NLA_ALIGNTO, NLA_F_NESTED, NLMSG_DONE,
+    NLMSG_ERROR, NLM_F_ACK, NLM_F_MULTI, NLM_F_REQUEST, RTM_SETLINK, SOCK_RAW, SOL_NETLINK,
+};
+
+use crate::generated::{
+    _bindgen_ty_41::{IFLA_XDP_EXPECTED_FD, IFLA_XDP_FD, IFLA_XDP_FLAGS},
+    ifinfomsg, NLMSG_ALIGNTO, XDP_FLAGS_REPLACE,
+};
+
+const NETLINK_EXT_ACK: c_int = 11;
+
+// Safety: marking this as unsafe overall because of all the pointer math required to comply with
+// netlink alignments
+pub(crate) unsafe fn netlink_set_xdp_fd(
+    if_index: i32,
+    fd: RawFd,
+    old_fd: Option<RawFd>,
+    flags: u32,
+) -> Result<(), io::Error> {
+    let sock = NetlinkSocket::open().unwrap();
+
+    let seq = 1;
+    // Safety: Request is POD so this is safe
+    let mut req = mem::zeroed::<Request>();
+
+    req.header = nlmsghdr {
+        nlmsg_len: (mem::size_of::<nlmsghdr>() + mem::size_of::<ifinfomsg>()) as u32,
+        nlmsg_flags: (NLM_F_REQUEST | NLM_F_ACK) as u16,
+        nlmsg_type: RTM_SETLINK,
+        nlmsg_pid: 0,
+        nlmsg_seq: seq,
+    };
+    req.if_info.ifi_family = AF_UNSPEC as u8;
+    req.if_info.ifi_index = if_index;
+
+    let attrs_addr = &req as *const _ as usize + req.header.nlmsg_len as usize;
+    let attrs_addr = align_to(attrs_addr, NLMSG_ALIGNTO as usize);
+    let nla_hdr_len = align_to(mem::size_of::<nlattr>(), NLA_ALIGNTO as usize);
+
+    // length of the root attribute
+    let mut nla_len = nla_hdr_len as u16;
+
+    // set the program fd
+    let mut offset = attrs_addr + nla_len as usize;
+    let attr = nlattr {
+        nla_type: IFLA_XDP_FD as u16,
+        // header len + fd
+        nla_len: (nla_hdr_len + mem::size_of::<RawFd>()) as u16,
+    };
+    // write the header
+    ptr::write(offset as *mut nlattr, attr);
+    offset += nla_hdr_len;
+    // write the fd
+    ptr::write(offset as *mut RawFd, fd);
+    offset += 4;
+    nla_len += attr.nla_len;
+
+    if flags > 0 {
+        // set the flags
+        let attr = nlattr {
+            nla_type: IFLA_XDP_FLAGS as u16,
+            // header len + flags
+            nla_len: (nla_hdr_len + mem::size_of::<u32>()) as u16,
+        };
+        // write the header
+        ptr::write(offset as *mut nlattr, attr);
+        offset += nla_hdr_len;
+        // write the flags
+        ptr::write(offset as *mut u32, flags);
+        offset += 4;
+        nla_len += attr.nla_len;
+    }
+
+    if flags & XDP_FLAGS_REPLACE != 0 {
+        // set the expected fd
+        let attr = nlattr {
+            nla_type: IFLA_XDP_EXPECTED_FD as u16,
+            // header len + fd
+            nla_len: (nla_hdr_len + mem::size_of::<RawFd>()) as u16,
+        };
+        // write the header
+        ptr::write(offset as *mut nlattr, attr);
+        offset += nla_hdr_len;
+        // write the old fd
+        ptr::write(offset as *mut RawFd, old_fd.unwrap());
+        // offset += 4;
+        nla_len += attr.nla_len;
+    }
+
+    // now write the root header
+    let attr = nlattr {
+        nla_type: NLA_F_NESTED as u16 | IFLA_XDP as u16,
+        nla_len,
+    };
+    offset = attrs_addr;
+    ptr::write(offset as *mut nlattr, attr);
+
+    req.header.nlmsg_len += align_to(nla_len as usize, NLA_ALIGNTO as usize) as u32;
+
+    if send(
+        sock.sock,
+        &req as *const _ as *const _,
+        req.header.nlmsg_len as usize,
+        0,
+    ) < 0
+    {
+        return Err(io::Error::last_os_error())?;
+    }
+
+    sock.recv()?;
+
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+#[repr(C)]
+struct Request {
+    header: nlmsghdr,
+    if_info: ifinfomsg,
+    attrs: [u8; 64],
+}
+
+struct NetlinkSocket {
+    sock: RawFd,
+    nl_pid: u32,
+}
+
+impl NetlinkSocket {
+    fn open() -> Result<NetlinkSocket, io::Error> {
+        // Safety: libc wrapper
+        let sock = unsafe { socket(AF_NETLINK, SOCK_RAW, NETLINK_ROUTE) };
+        if sock < 0 {
+            return Err(io::Error::last_os_error())?;
+        }
+
+        let enable = 1i32;
+        // Safety: libc wrapper
+        unsafe {
+            setsockopt(
+                sock,
+                SOL_NETLINK,
+                NETLINK_EXT_ACK,
+                &enable as *const _ as *const _,
+                mem::size_of::<i32>() as u32,
+            )
+        };
+
+        // Safety: sockaddr_nl is POD so this is safe
+        let mut addr = unsafe { mem::zeroed::<sockaddr_nl>() };
+        addr.nl_family = AF_NETLINK as u16;
+        let mut addr_len = mem::size_of::<sockaddr_nl>() as u32;
+        // Safety: libc wrapper
+        if unsafe { getsockname(sock, &mut addr as *mut _ as *mut _, &mut addr_len as *mut _) } < 0
+        {
+            return Err(io::Error::last_os_error())?;
+        }
+
+        Ok(NetlinkSocket {
+            sock,
+            nl_pid: addr.nl_pid,
+        })
+    }
+
+    fn recv(&self) -> Result<(), io::Error> {
+        let mut buf = [0u8; 4096];
+
+        let mut multipart = true;
+        while multipart {
+            multipart = false;
+            // Safety: libc wrapper
+            let len = unsafe { recv(self.sock, buf.as_mut_ptr() as *mut _, buf.len(), 0) };
+            if len < 0 {
+                return Err(io::Error::last_os_error())?;
+            }
+            if len == 0 {
+                break;
+            }
+
+            let len = len as usize;
+            let mut offset = 0;
+            while offset < len {
+                let message = NetlinkMessage::read(&buf[offset..])?;
+                offset += align_to(message.header.nlmsg_len as usize, NLMSG_ALIGNTO as usize);
+
+                multipart = message.header.nlmsg_flags & NLM_F_MULTI as u16 != 0;
+
+                match message.header.nlmsg_type as i32 {
+                    NLMSG_ERROR => {
+                        let err = message.error.unwrap();
+                        if err.error == 0 {
+                            // this is an ACK
+                            continue;
+                        }
+                        return Err(io::Error::new(
+                            io::ErrorKind::Other,
+                            format!("netlink error: {}", err.error),
+                        ));
+                    }
+                    NLMSG_DONE => break,
+                    _ => {}
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        Ok(())
+    }
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug)]
+struct NetlinkMessage {
+    header: nlmsghdr,
+    data: Vec<u8>,
+    error: Option<nlmsgerr>,
+}
+
+impl NetlinkMessage {
+    fn read(buf: &[u8]) -> Result<NetlinkMessage, io::Error> {
+        if mem::size_of::<nlmsghdr>() > buf.len() {
+            return Err(io::Error::new(io::ErrorKind::Other, "need more data"));
+        }
+
+        // Safety: nlmsghdr is POD so read is safe
+        let header = unsafe { ptr::read_unaligned(buf.as_ptr() as *const nlmsghdr) };
+        let data_offset = align_to(mem::size_of::<nlmsghdr>(), NLMSG_ALIGNTO as usize);
+        if data_offset >= buf.len() {
+            return Err(io::Error::new(io::ErrorKind::Other, "need more data"));
+        }
+
+        let (data, error) = if header.nlmsg_type == NLMSG_ERROR as u16 {
+            if data_offset + mem::size_of::<nlmsgerr>() > buf.len() {
+                return Err(io::Error::new(io::ErrorKind::Other, "need more data"));
+            }
+            (
+                Vec::new(),
+                // Safety: nlmsgerr is POD so read is safe
+                Some(unsafe {
+                    ptr::read_unaligned(buf[data_offset..].as_ptr() as *const nlmsgerr)
+                }),
+            )
+        } else {
+            (buf[data_offset..].to_vec(), None)
+        };
+
+        Ok(NetlinkMessage {
+            header,
+            data,
+            error,
+        })
+    }
+}
+
+impl Drop for NetlinkSocket {
+    fn drop(&mut self) {
+        // Safety: libc wrapper
+        unsafe { close(self.sock) };
+    }
+}
+
+fn align_to(v: usize, align: usize) -> usize {
+    (v + (align - 1)) & !(align - 1)
+}