diff --git a/daemon/Makefile b/daemon/Makefile
index 636c0dce0..223310af5 100644
--- a/daemon/Makefile
+++ b/daemon/Makefile
@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@ CFLAGS+=	$(shell pkg-config xmlrpc --cflags 2> /dev/null)
 CFLAGS+=	$(shell pkg-config xmlrpc_util --cflags 2> /dev/null)
 CFLAGS+=	$(shell pkg-config --cflags json-glib-1.0)
 CFLAGS+=	$(shell pkg-config --cflags libwebsockets)
+CFLAGS+=	$(shell pkg-config --cflags libnftnl)
+CFLAGS+=	$(shell pkg-config --cflags libmnl)
 ifeq ($(with_iptables_option),yes)
 CFLAGS+=	$(shell pkg-config --cflags libiptc)
 CFLAGS+=	-DWITH_IPTABLES_OPTION
@@ -39,6 +41,9 @@ CFLAGS+=        $(shell mysql_config --cflags)
 else
 CFLAGS+=	-DWITHOUT_CODECLIB
 endif
+ifeq ($(without_nftables),yes)
+CFLAGS+=	-DWITHOUT_NFTABLES
+endif
 
 ### compile time options:
 #CFLAGS+=	-DSRTCP_KEY_DERIVATION_RFC_COMPLIANCE
@@ -59,6 +64,8 @@ LDLIBS+=	$(shell pkg-config xmlrpc_util --libs 2> /dev/null)
 LDLIBS+=	-lhiredis
 LDLIBS+=	$(shell pkg-config --libs json-glib-1.0)
 LDLIBS+=	$(shell pkg-config --libs libwebsockets)
+LDLIBS+=	$(shell pkg-config --libs libnftnl)
+LDLIBS+=	$(shell pkg-config --libs libmnl)
 ifeq ($(with_iptables_option),yes)
 LDLIBS+=	$(shell pkg-config --libs libiptc)
 endif
@@ -86,6 +93,9 @@ SRCS=		main.c kernel.c helpers.c control_tcp.c call.c control_udp.c redis.c \
 		media_socket.c homer.c recording.c statistics.c cdr.c ssrc.c iptables.c tcp_listener.c \
 		codec.c load.c dtmf.c timerthread.c media_player.c jitter_buffer.c t38.c websocket.c \
 		mqtt.c janus.strhash.c audio_player.c
+ifneq ($(without_nftables),yes)
+SRCS+=		nftables.c
+endif
 LIBSRCS=	loglib.c auxlib.c rtplib.c str.c socket.c streambuf.c ssllib.c dtmflib.c mix_buffer.c poller.c
 ifeq ($(with_transcoding),yes)
 LIBSRCS+=	codeclib.strhash.c resample.c
diff --git a/daemon/main.c b/daemon/main.c
index bbc0217f0..e66bba102 100644
--- a/daemon/main.c
+++ b/daemon/main.c
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@
 #include "codec.h"
 #include "mqtt.h"
 #include "janus.h"
+#include "nftables.h"
 
 
 
@@ -484,12 +485,22 @@ static void options(int *argc, char ***argv) {
 	AUTO_CLEANUP_GBUF(dcc);
 	AUTO_CLEANUP_GBUF(use_audio_player);
 	AUTO_CLEANUP_GBUF(control_pmtu);
+#ifndef WITHOUT_NFTABLES
+	bool nftables_start = false;
+	bool nftables_stop = false;
+#endif
 
 	rwlock_lock_w(&rtpe_config.config_lock);
 
 	GOptionEntry e[] = {
 		{ "table",	't', 0, G_OPTION_ARG_INT,	&rtpe_config.kernel_table,		"Kernel table to use",		"INT"		},
 		{ "no-fallback",'F', 0, G_OPTION_ARG_NONE,	&rtpe_config.no_fallback,	"Only start when kernel module is available", NULL },
+#ifndef WITHOUT_NFTABLES
+		{ "nftables-chain",0,0, G_OPTION_ARG_STRING,	&rtpe_config.nftables_chain,	"Name of nftables chain to manage", "STR" },
+		{ "nftables-base-chain",0,0, G_OPTION_ARG_STRING,&rtpe_config.nftables_base_chain,"Name of nftables base chain to use", "STR" },
+		{ "nftables-start",0,0, G_OPTION_ARG_NONE,	&nftables_start,		"Just add nftables rules and exit", NULL },
+		{ "nftables-stop",0, 0, G_OPTION_ARG_NONE,	&nftables_stop,			"Just remove nftables rules and exit", NULL },
+#endif
 		{ "interface",	'i', 0, G_OPTION_ARG_STRING_ARRAY,&if_a,	"Local interface for RTP",	"[NAME/]IP[!IP]"},
 		{ "save-interface-ports",'S', 0, G_OPTION_ARG_NONE,	&rtpe_config.save_interface_ports,	"Bind ports only on first available interface of desired family", NULL },
 		{ "subscribe-keyspace", 'k', 0, G_OPTION_ARG_STRING_ARRAY,&ks_a,	"Subscription keyspace list",	"INT INT ..."},
@@ -642,11 +653,40 @@ static void options(int *argc, char ***argv) {
 	if (rtpe_config.dtls_ciphers == NULL)
 		rtpe_config.dtls_ciphers = g_strdup("DEFAULT:!NULL:!aNULL:!SHA256:!SHA384:!aECDH:!AESGCM+AES256:!aPSK");
 
+#ifndef WITHOUT_NFTABLES
+	if (rtpe_config.nftables_chain == NULL)
+		rtpe_config.nftables_chain = g_strdup("rtpengine");
+
+	if (rtpe_config.nftables_base_chain == NULL)
+		rtpe_config.nftables_base_chain = g_strdup("INPUT");
+#endif
+
 	if (codecs) {
 		codeclib_init(1);
 		exit(0);
 	}
 
+#ifndef WITHOUT_NFTABLES
+	if (nftables_start || nftables_stop) {
+		if (!rtpe_config.nftables_chain || !rtpe_config.nftables_chain[0])
+			die("Cannot do nftables setup without knowing which nftables chain (--nftables-chain=...)");
+		if (rtpe_config.kernel_table < 0)
+			die("Cannot do nftables setup without configured kernel table number");
+		if (nftables_start && nftables_stop)
+			die("Cannot do both --nftables-start and --nftables-stop");
+		const char *err;
+		if (nftables_start)
+			err = nftables_setup(rtpe_config.nftables_chain, rtpe_config.nftables_base_chain,
+					rtpe_config.kernel_table);
+		else // nftables_stop
+			err = nftables_shutdown(rtpe_config.nftables_chain, rtpe_config.nftables_base_chain);
+		if (err)
+			die("Failed to perform nftables action: %s (%s)", err, strerror(errno));
+		printf("Success\n");
+		exit(0);
+	}
+#endif
+
 	if (!if_a)
 		die("Missing option --interface");
 
@@ -1128,11 +1168,15 @@ static void create_everything(void) {
 
 	if (rtpe_config.kernel_table < 0)
 		goto no_kernel;
+#ifndef WITHOUT_NFTABLES
+	const char *err = nftables_setup(rtpe_config.nftables_chain, rtpe_config.nftables_base_chain,
+			rtpe_config.kernel_table);
+	if (err)
+		die("Failed to create nftables chains or rules: %s (%s)", err, strerror(errno));
+#endif
 	if (kernel_setup_table(rtpe_config.kernel_table)) {
-		if (rtpe_config.no_fallback) {
-			ilog(LOG_CRIT, "Userspace fallback disallowed - exiting");
-			exit(-1);
-		}
+		if (rtpe_config.no_fallback)
+			die("Userspace fallback disallowed - exiting");
 		goto no_kernel;
 	}
 
@@ -1409,6 +1453,9 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv) {
 	poller_free(&rtpe_poller);
 	poller_map_free(&rtpe_poller_map);
 	interfaces_free();
+#ifndef WITHOUT_NFTABLES
+	nftables_shutdown(rtpe_config.nftables_chain, rtpe_config.nftables_base_chain);
+#endif
 
 	return 0;
 }
diff --git a/daemon/nftables.c b/daemon/nftables.c
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c826cbecb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/daemon/nftables.c
@@ -0,0 +1,592 @@
+#include "nftables.h"
+
+#include <stdlib.h>
+#include <time.h>
+#include <string.h>
+#include <errno.h>
+#include <netinet/in.h>
+#include <netinet/ip.h>
+#include <netinet/ip6.h>
+
+#include <linux/netfilter.h>
+#include <linux/netfilter/nf_tables.h>
+
+#include <libmnl/libmnl.h>
+#include <libnftnl/table.h>
+#include <libnftnl/chain.h>
+#include <libnftnl/rule.h>
+#include <libnftnl/expr.h>
+
+#include "xt_RTPENGINE.h"
+
+#include "helpers.h"
+
+
+
+
+struct iterate_callbacks {
+	// called for each expression
+	int (*parse_expr)(struct nftnl_expr *e, void *data);
+
+	// called after all expressions have been parsed
+	void (*rule_final)(struct nftnl_rule *r, struct iterate_callbacks *);
+
+	// called after all rules have been iterated
+	const char *(*iterate_final)(struct mnl_socket *nl, int family, const char *chain,
+			uint32_t *seq, struct iterate_callbacks *);
+
+	// common arguments
+	const char *chain;
+	const char *base_chain;
+
+	// scratch area for rule callbacks, set to zero for every rule
+	union {
+		struct {
+			bool match_immediate:1;
+		};
+	} rule_scratch;
+
+	// scratch area for rule iterating
+	union {
+		struct {
+			GQueue handles;
+		};
+	} iterate_scratch;
+};
+
+struct add_rule_callbacks {
+	const char *(*callback)(struct nftnl_rule *, int family, struct add_rule_callbacks *);
+	const char *chain;
+	const char *base_chain;
+	int table;
+};
+
+
+
+static void expr_free(struct nftnl_expr **e) {
+	if (*e)
+		nftnl_expr_free(*e);
+}
+static void rule_free(struct nftnl_rule **r) {
+	if (*r)
+		nftnl_rule_free(*r);
+}
+static void chain_free(struct nftnl_chain **c) {
+	if (*c)
+		nftnl_chain_free(*c);
+}
+static void table_free(struct nftnl_table **t) {
+	if (*t)
+		nftnl_table_free(*t);
+}
+
+
+static int match_immediate_rtpe(struct nftnl_expr *e, void *data) {
+	struct iterate_callbacks *callbacks = data;
+
+	uint32_t len;
+	const char *n = nftnl_expr_get(e, NFTNL_EXPR_NAME, &len);
+	// match jumps to our configured chain
+	if (!strcmp(n, "immediate")) {
+		n = nftnl_expr_get(e, NFTNL_EXPR_IMM_CHAIN, &len);
+		if (n && !strcmp(n, callbacks->chain))
+			callbacks->rule_scratch.match_immediate = true;
+	}
+	// and also match top-level targets
+	else if (!strcmp(n, "target")) {
+		n = nftnl_expr_get(e, NFTNL_EXPR_TG_NAME, &len);
+		if (n && !strcmp(n, "RTPENGINE"))
+			callbacks->rule_scratch.match_immediate = true;
+	}
+	return 0;
+}
+
+
+static void check_immediate(struct nftnl_rule *r, struct iterate_callbacks *callbacks) {
+	if (!callbacks->rule_scratch.match_immediate)
+		return;
+
+	uint64_t handle = nftnl_rule_get_u64(r, NFTNL_RULE_HANDLE);
+	g_queue_push_tail(&callbacks->iterate_scratch.handles, g_slice_dup(uint64_t, &handle));
+}
+
+
+static int nftables_do_rule(const struct nlmsghdr *nlh, void *data) {
+	struct iterate_callbacks *callbacks = data;
+
+	AUTO_CLEANUP(struct nftnl_rule *r, rule_free) = nftnl_rule_alloc();
+	if (!r)
+		return MNL_CB_ERROR;
+
+	if (nftnl_rule_nlmsg_parse(nlh, r) < 0)
+		return MNL_CB_OK;
+
+	if (nftnl_expr_foreach(r, callbacks->parse_expr, callbacks) < 0)
+		return MNL_CB_OK;
+
+	callbacks->rule_final(r, callbacks);
+
+	return MNL_CB_OK;
+}
+
+
+static const char *__read_response(struct mnl_socket *nl, uint32_t seq, mnl_cb_t cb_data, void *data,
+		const char *err1, const char *err2)
+{
+	uint32_t portid = mnl_socket_get_portid(nl);
+	char buf[MNL_SOCKET_BUFFER_SIZE];
+
+	while (true) {
+		int ret = mnl_socket_recvfrom(nl, buf, sizeof(buf));
+		if (ret < 0)
+			return err1;
+		if (ret == 0)
+			break;
+
+		ret = mnl_cb_run(buf, ret, 0, portid, cb_data, data);
+		if (ret < 0)
+			return err2;
+		if (ret == 0)
+			break;
+	}
+
+	return NULL;
+}
+
+// macro for customised error strings
+#define read_response(instance, ...) __read_response(__VA_ARGS__, \
+		"failed to receive from netlink socket for " instance, \
+	"error returned from netlink for " instance)
+
+
+static const char *iterate_rules(struct mnl_socket *nl, int family, const char *chain,
+		uint32_t *seq,
+		struct iterate_callbacks callbacks)
+{
+	AUTO_CLEANUP(struct nftnl_rule *r, rule_free) = nftnl_rule_alloc();
+	if (!r)
+		return "failed to allocate rule for iteration";
+
+	nftnl_rule_set_u32(r, NFTNL_RULE_FAMILY, family);
+	nftnl_rule_set_str(r, NFTNL_RULE_TABLE, "filter");
+	nftnl_rule_set_str(r, NFTNL_RULE_CHAIN, chain);
+
+	char buf[MNL_SOCKET_BUFFER_SIZE];
+	struct nlmsghdr *nlh = nftnl_nlmsg_build_hdr(buf, NFT_MSG_GETRULE, family,
+			NLM_F_DUMP, *seq);
+
+	nftnl_rule_nlmsg_build_payload(nlh, r);
+
+	if (mnl_socket_sendto(nl, nlh, nlh->nlmsg_len) < 0)
+		return "failed to write to netlink socket for iteration";
+
+	const char *err = read_response("iterate rules", nl, *seq, nftables_do_rule, &callbacks);
+	if (err)
+		return err;
+
+	err = callbacks.iterate_final(nl, family, chain, seq, &callbacks);
+	if (err)
+		return err;
+
+	return NULL;
+}
+
+
+static bool set_rule_handle(struct nftnl_rule *r, void *data) {
+	uint64_t *handle = data;
+	nftnl_rule_set_u64(r, NFTNL_RULE_HANDLE, *handle);
+	return true;
+}
+
+
+typedef union {
+			void (*rule_fn)(struct nlmsghdr *nlh, struct nftnl_rule *t);
+			void (*generic_fn)(struct nlmsghdr *nlh, void *);
+} test;
+
+static const char *__batch_request(struct mnl_socket *nl, int family, uint32_t *seq,
+		uint16_t type, uint16_t flags,
+		union {
+			void (*table_fn)(struct nlmsghdr *, const struct nftnl_table *);
+			void (*rule_fn)(struct nlmsghdr *, struct nftnl_rule *);
+			void (*chain_fn)(struct nlmsghdr *, const struct nftnl_chain *);
+			void (*generic_fn)(struct nlmsghdr *, void *);
+		}  __attribute__ ((__transparent_union__)) build_payload,
+		void *ptr,
+		const char *err1, const char *err2, const char *err3)
+{
+	char buf[MNL_SOCKET_BUFFER_SIZE];
+	struct mnl_nlmsg_batch *batch = mnl_nlmsg_batch_start(buf, sizeof(buf));
+	nftnl_batch_begin(mnl_nlmsg_batch_current(batch), (*seq)++);
+	mnl_nlmsg_batch_next(batch);
+
+	uint32_t req_seq = *seq;
+	struct nlmsghdr *nlh = nftnl_nlmsg_build_hdr(mnl_nlmsg_batch_current(batch),
+			type, family,
+			flags | NLM_F_ACK, (*seq)++);
+	build_payload.generic_fn(nlh, ptr);
+	mnl_nlmsg_batch_next(batch);
+
+	nftnl_batch_end(mnl_nlmsg_batch_current(batch), (*seq)++);
+	mnl_nlmsg_batch_next(batch);
+
+	if (mnl_socket_sendto(nl, mnl_nlmsg_batch_head(batch), mnl_nlmsg_batch_size(batch)) < 0)
+		return err1;
+
+	mnl_nlmsg_batch_stop(batch);
+
+	return __read_response(nl, req_seq, NULL, NULL, err2, err3);
+}
+
+// macro for customised error strings
+#define batch_request(instance, ...) __batch_request(__VA_ARGS__, \
+		"failed to write to netlink socket for " instance, \
+		"failed to receive from netlink socket for " instance, \
+		"error returned from netlink for " instance)
+
+
+static const char *delete_rules(struct mnl_socket *nl, int family, const char *chain, uint32_t *seq,
+		bool (*callback)(struct nftnl_rule *r, void *data), void *data)
+{
+	AUTO_CLEANUP(struct nftnl_rule *r, rule_free) = nftnl_rule_alloc();
+	if (!r)
+		return "failed to allocate rule for deletion";
+
+	nftnl_rule_set_u32(r, NFTNL_RULE_FAMILY, family);
+	nftnl_rule_set_str(r, NFTNL_RULE_TABLE, "filter");
+	nftnl_rule_set_str(r, NFTNL_RULE_CHAIN, chain);
+
+	if (callback) {
+		if (!callback(r, data))
+			return NULL;
+	}
+
+	return batch_request("delete rule", nl, family, seq, NFT_MSG_DELRULE, 0,
+			nftnl_rule_nlmsg_build_payload, r);
+}
+
+
+
+static const char *iterate_delete_rules(struct mnl_socket *nl, int family, const char *chain, uint32_t *seq,
+		struct iterate_callbacks *callbacks)
+{
+
+	while (callbacks->iterate_scratch.handles.length) {
+		uint64_t *handle = g_queue_pop_head(&callbacks->iterate_scratch.handles);
+		// transfer to stack and free
+		uint64_t h = *handle;
+		g_slice_free(uint64_t, handle);
+
+		const char *err = delete_rules(nl, family, chain, seq, set_rule_handle, &h);
+		if (err)
+			return err;
+	}
+	return NULL;
+}
+
+
+static void nftables_socket_close(struct mnl_socket **nl) {
+	if (*nl)
+		mnl_socket_close(*nl);
+}
+
+
+static const char *local_input_chain(struct nftnl_chain *c) {
+	nftnl_chain_set_u32(c, NFTNL_CHAIN_HOOKNUM, NF_INET_LOCAL_IN);
+	nftnl_chain_set_u32(c, NFTNL_CHAIN_PRIO, 0);
+	nftnl_chain_set_u32(c, NFTNL_CHAIN_POLICY, NF_ACCEPT);
+	return NULL;
+}
+
+
+static const char *add_chain(struct mnl_socket *nl, int family, const char *chain, uint32_t *seq,
+		const char *(*callback)(struct nftnl_chain *))
+{
+	AUTO_CLEANUP(struct nftnl_chain *c, chain_free) = nftnl_chain_alloc();
+	if (!c)
+		return "failed to allocate chain for adding";
+
+	nftnl_chain_set_u32(c, NFTNL_RULE_FAMILY, family);
+	nftnl_chain_set_str(c, NFTNL_CHAIN_TABLE, "filter");
+	nftnl_chain_set_str(c, NFTNL_CHAIN_NAME, chain);
+
+	if (callback) {
+		const char *err = callback(c);
+		if (err)
+			return err;
+	}
+
+	return batch_request("add chain", nl, family, seq, NFT_MSG_NEWCHAIN, NLM_F_CREATE,
+			nftnl_chain_nlmsg_build_payload, c);
+}
+
+
+static const char *add_rule(struct mnl_socket *nl, int family, uint32_t *seq,
+		struct add_rule_callbacks callbacks)
+{
+	struct nftnl_rule *r = nftnl_rule_alloc();
+	if (!r)
+		return "failed to allocate rule for adding";
+
+	nftnl_rule_set_u32(r, NFTNL_RULE_FAMILY, family);
+	nftnl_rule_set_str(r, NFTNL_RULE_TABLE, "filter");
+
+	const char *err = callbacks.callback(r, family, &callbacks);
+	if (err)
+		return err;
+
+	return batch_request("add rule", nl, family, seq, NFT_MSG_NEWRULE, NLM_F_APPEND | NLM_F_CREATE,
+			nftnl_rule_nlmsg_build_payload, r);
+
+}
+
+
+static const char *input_immediate(struct nftnl_rule *r, int family, struct add_rule_callbacks *callbacks) {
+	nftnl_rule_set_str(r, NFTNL_RULE_CHAIN, callbacks->base_chain);
+
+	AUTO_CLEANUP(struct nftnl_expr *e, expr_free) = nftnl_expr_alloc("payload");
+	if (!e)
+		return "failed to allocate payload expr for immediate";
+
+	uint8_t proto = IPPROTO_UDP;
+
+	nftnl_expr_set_u32(e, NFTNL_EXPR_PAYLOAD_BASE, NFT_PAYLOAD_NETWORK_HEADER);
+	nftnl_expr_set_u32(e, NFTNL_EXPR_PAYLOAD_DREG, NFT_REG_1);
+	if (family == NFPROTO_IPV4)
+		nftnl_expr_set_u32(e, NFTNL_EXPR_PAYLOAD_OFFSET, offsetof(struct iphdr, protocol));
+	else if (family == NFPROTO_IPV6)
+		nftnl_expr_set_u32(e, NFTNL_EXPR_PAYLOAD_OFFSET, offsetof(struct ip6_hdr, ip6_nxt));
+	else
+		return "unsupported address family for immediate";
+	nftnl_expr_set_u32(e, NFTNL_EXPR_PAYLOAD_LEN, sizeof(proto));
+
+	nftnl_rule_add_expr(r, e);
+	e = NULL;
+
+	e = nftnl_expr_alloc("cmp");
+	if (!e)
+		return "failed to allocate cmp expr for immediate";
+
+	nftnl_expr_set_u32(e, NFTNL_EXPR_CMP_SREG, NFT_REG_1);
+	nftnl_expr_set_u32(e, NFTNL_EXPR_CMP_OP, NFT_CMP_EQ);
+	nftnl_expr_set(e, NFTNL_EXPR_CMP_DATA, &proto, sizeof(proto));
+
+	nftnl_rule_add_expr(r, e);
+	e = NULL;
+
+	e = nftnl_expr_alloc("counter");
+	if (!e)
+		return "failed to allocate counter expr for immediate";
+	nftnl_rule_add_expr(r, e);
+	e = NULL;
+
+	e = nftnl_expr_alloc("immediate");
+	if (!e)
+		return "failed to allocate immediate expr";
+
+	nftnl_expr_set_u32(e, NFTNL_EXPR_IMM_DREG, 0);
+	nftnl_expr_set_u32(e, NFTNL_EXPR_IMM_VERDICT, NFT_JUMP);
+	nftnl_expr_set_str(e, NFTNL_EXPR_IMM_CHAIN, callbacks->chain);
+
+	nftnl_rule_add_expr(r, e);
+	e = NULL;
+
+	return NULL;
+}
+
+
+static const char *rtpe_target(struct nftnl_rule *r, int family, struct add_rule_callbacks *callbacks) {
+	nftnl_rule_set_str(r, NFTNL_RULE_CHAIN, callbacks->chain);
+
+	AUTO_CLEANUP(struct nftnl_expr *e, expr_free) = nftnl_expr_alloc("target");
+	if (!e)
+		return "failed to allocate target expr for RTPENGINE";
+
+	nftnl_expr_set_str(e, NFTNL_EXPR_TG_NAME, "RTPENGINE");
+	nftnl_expr_set_u32(e, NFTNL_EXPR_TG_REV, 0);
+
+	struct xt_rtpengine_info info = { .id = callbacks->table };
+
+	nftnl_expr_set(e, NFTNL_EXPR_TG_INFO, &info, sizeof(info));
+
+	nftnl_rule_add_expr(r, e);
+	e = NULL;
+
+	e = nftnl_expr_alloc("counter");
+	if (!e)
+		return "failed to allocate counter expr for RTPENGINE";
+	nftnl_rule_add_expr(r, e);
+	e = NULL;
+
+	return NULL;
+}
+
+
+static const char *delete_chain(struct mnl_socket *nl, int family, uint32_t *seq, const char *chain) {
+	AUTO_CLEANUP(struct nftnl_chain *c, chain_free) = nftnl_chain_alloc();
+	if (!c)
+		return "failed to allocate chain for deletion";
+
+	nftnl_chain_set_u32(c, NFTNL_RULE_FAMILY, family);
+	nftnl_chain_set_str(c, NFTNL_CHAIN_TABLE, "filter");
+	nftnl_chain_set_str(c, NFTNL_CHAIN_NAME, chain);
+
+	return batch_request("delete chain", nl, family, seq, NFT_MSG_DELCHAIN, 0,
+			nftnl_chain_nlmsg_build_payload, c);
+}
+
+
+static const char *nftables_shutdown_family(struct mnl_socket *nl, int family, uint32_t *seq,
+		const char *chain, const char *base_chain, void *data)
+{
+	// clean up rules in legacy `INPUT` chain
+	const char *err = iterate_rules(nl, family, "INPUT", seq,
+			(struct iterate_callbacks) {
+				.parse_expr = match_immediate_rtpe,
+				.chain = chain,
+				.rule_final = check_immediate,
+				.iterate_final = iterate_delete_rules,
+			});
+	if (err)
+		return err;
+
+	// clean up rules in `input` chain
+	err = iterate_rules(nl, family, "input", seq,
+			(struct iterate_callbacks) {
+				.parse_expr = match_immediate_rtpe,
+				.chain = chain,
+				.rule_final = check_immediate,
+				.iterate_final = iterate_delete_rules,
+			});
+	if (err)
+		return err;
+
+	if (base_chain) {
+		// clean up rules in other base chain chain if any
+		err = iterate_rules(nl, family, base_chain, seq,
+				(struct iterate_callbacks) {
+					.parse_expr = match_immediate_rtpe,
+					.chain = chain,
+					.rule_final = check_immediate,
+					.iterate_final = iterate_delete_rules,
+				});
+		if (err)
+			return err;
+	}
+
+	// clear out custom chain if it already exists
+	err = delete_rules(nl, family, chain, seq, NULL, NULL);
+	if (err) {
+		if (errno != ENOENT) // ignore trying to delete stuff that doesn't exist
+			return err;
+	}
+
+	err = delete_chain(nl, family, seq, chain);
+	if (err) {
+		if (errno != ENOENT) // ignore trying to delete stuff that doesn't exist
+			return err;
+	}
+
+	return NULL;
+}
+
+
+static const char *add_table(struct mnl_socket *nl, int family, uint32_t *seq) {
+	AUTO_CLEANUP(struct nftnl_table *t, table_free) = nftnl_table_alloc();
+	if (!t)
+		return "failed to allocate table";
+
+	nftnl_table_set_u32(t, NFTNL_TABLE_FAMILY, family);
+	nftnl_table_set_str(t, NFTNL_TABLE_NAME, "filter");
+
+	return batch_request("add table", nl, family, seq, NFT_MSG_NEWTABLE, NLM_F_CREATE,
+			nftnl_table_nlmsg_build_payload, t);
+}
+
+
+static const char *nftables_setup_family(struct mnl_socket *nl, int family, uint32_t *seq,
+		const char *chain, const char *base_chain, void *data)
+{
+	const char *err = nftables_shutdown_family(nl, family, seq, chain, base_chain, NULL);
+	if (err)
+		return err;
+
+	// create the table in case it doesn't exist
+	err = add_table(nl, family, seq);
+	if (err)
+		return err;
+
+	if (base_chain) {
+		// make sure we have a local input base chain
+		err = add_chain(nl, family, base_chain, seq, local_input_chain);
+		if (err)
+			return err;
+
+		// add custom chain
+		err = add_chain(nl, family, chain, seq, NULL);
+		if (err)
+			return err;
+
+		// add jump rule from input base chain to custom chain
+		err = add_rule(nl, family, seq, (struct add_rule_callbacks) {
+				.callback = input_immediate,
+				.chain = chain,
+				.base_chain = base_chain,
+			});
+		if (err)
+			return err;
+	}
+	else {
+		// create custom base chain
+		err = add_chain(nl, family, chain, seq, local_input_chain);
+		if (err)
+			return err;
+	}
+
+	// add rule for kernel forwarding
+	int *table = data;
+	return add_rule(nl, family, seq, (struct add_rule_callbacks) {
+			.callback = rtpe_target,
+			.chain = chain,
+			.table = *table,
+		});
+}
+
+
+static const char *nftables_do(const char *chain, const char *base_chain,
+		const char *(*do_func)(struct mnl_socket *nl, int family, uint32_t *seq,
+			const char *chain, const char *base_chain, void *data),
+		void *data)
+{
+	if (!chain || !chain[0])
+		return NULL;
+	if (!base_chain[0])
+		base_chain = NULL;
+
+	AUTO_CLEANUP(struct mnl_socket *nl, nftables_socket_close) = mnl_socket_open(NETLINK_NETFILTER);
+	if (!nl)
+		return "failed to open netlink socket";
+
+	if (mnl_socket_bind(nl, 0, MNL_SOCKET_AUTOPID) < 0)
+		return "failed to bind netlink socket";
+
+	uint32_t seq = time(NULL);
+
+	const char *err = do_func(nl, NFPROTO_IPV4, &seq, chain, base_chain, data);
+	if (err)
+		return err;
+	err = do_func(nl, NFPROTO_IPV6, &seq, chain, base_chain, data);
+	if (err)
+		return err;
+
+	return NULL;
+}
+
+
+const char *nftables_setup(const char *chain, const char *base_chain, int table) {
+	return nftables_do(chain, base_chain, nftables_setup_family, &table);
+}
+
+const char *nftables_shutdown(const char *chain, const char *base_chain) {
+	return nftables_do(chain, base_chain, nftables_shutdown_family, NULL);
+}
diff --git a/debian/control b/debian/control
index 9e9b6b763..b9dc17f05 100644
--- a/debian/control
+++ b/debian/control
@@ -29,9 +29,11 @@ Build-Depends:
  libiptc-dev,
  libjson-glib-dev,
  libjson-perl,
+ libmnl-dev,
  libmosquitto-dev,
  libncurses-dev,
  libnet-interface-perl,
+ libnftnl-dev,
  libopus-dev,
  libpcap0.8-dev,
  libpcre2-dev,
diff --git a/debian/ngcp-rtpengine-daemon.service b/debian/ngcp-rtpengine-daemon.service
index 9d29da5c9..267f7a3a3 100644
--- a/debian/ngcp-rtpengine-daemon.service
+++ b/debian/ngcp-rtpengine-daemon.service
@@ -12,9 +12,7 @@ PIDFile=/run/rtpengine/ngcp-rtpengine-daemon.pid
 User=rtpengine
 Group=rtpengine
 LimitNOFILE=150000
-ExecStartPre=+/usr/sbin/ngcp-rtpengine-iptables-setup start
 ExecStart=/usr/bin/rtpengine -f -E --no-log-timestamps --pidfile /run/rtpengine/ngcp-rtpengine-daemon.pid --config-file /etc/rtpengine/rtpengine.conf
-ExecStopPost=+/usr/sbin/ngcp-rtpengine-iptables-setup stop
 
 # Service cannot create writable executable memory mappings that are writable and executable at the same time
 MemoryDenyWriteExecute=true
@@ -82,7 +80,8 @@ LockPersonality=true
 NoNewPrivileges=true
 
 # Service has own user namespace, only root, nobody, and the uid/gid under which the service is running are mapped
-PrivateUsers=true
+# Setting this to true prevents setup of nftables rules for some reason
+PrivateUsers=false
 
 # Service user cannot leave SysV IPC objects around
 # NOTE: service runs as root, so option does not matter
diff --git a/include/main.h b/include/main.h
index f406c47ae..56cb22ae0 100644
--- a/include/main.h
+++ b/include/main.h
@@ -91,6 +91,8 @@ struct rtpengine_config {
 	char			*rec_format;
 	gboolean		rec_egress;
 	char			*iptables_chain;
+	char			*nftables_chain;
+	char			*nftables_base_chain;
 	int			load_limit;
 	int			cpu_limit;
 	uint64_t		bw_limit;
diff --git a/include/nftables.h b/include/nftables.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..bd1857910
--- /dev/null
+++ b/include/nftables.h
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+#ifndef _NFTABLES_H_
+#define _NFTABLES_H_
+
+const char *nftables_setup(const char *chain, const char *base_chain, int table);
+const char *nftables_shutdown(const char *chain, const char *base_chain);
+
+#endif