diff --git a/src/pca9685/pca9685.cxx b/src/pca9685/pca9685.cxx
index d274c218..1b4e9bf3 100644
--- a/src/pca9685/pca9685.cxx
+++ b/src/pca9685/pca9685.cxx
@@ -33,12 +33,21 @@ using namespace upm;
 using namespace std;
 
 
-PCA9685::PCA9685(int bus, uint8_t address)
+PCA9685::PCA9685(int bus, uint8_t address, bool raw)
 {
   m_addr = address;
 
   // setup our i2c link
-  if ( !(m_i2c = mraa_i2c_init(bus)) )
+  if ( raw )
+    {
+      m_i2c = mraa_i2c_init_raw(bus);
+    }
+  else
+    {
+      m_i2c = mraa_i2c_init(bus);
+    }
+
+  if ( !m_i2c)
     {
       cerr << "PCA9685: mraa_i2c_init() failed." << endl;
       return;
diff --git a/src/pca9685/pca9685.h b/src/pca9685/pca9685.h
index 52438189..d7b23cc8 100644
--- a/src/pca9685/pca9685.h
+++ b/src/pca9685/pca9685.h
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ namespace upm {
      * @param bus I2C bus to use
      * @param address Address for this device
      */
-    PCA9685(int bus, uint8_t address = PCA9685_DEFAULT_I2C_ADDR);
+    PCA9685(int bus, uint8_t address = PCA9685_DEFAULT_I2C_ADDR, bool raw = false);
 
     /**
      * PCA9685 destructor