diff --git a/ui/account.go b/ui/account.go
index 50f41e4..8353db3 100644
--- a/ui/account.go
+++ b/ui/account.go
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ func NewAccountTab(conf *config.AccountConfig) (*AccountTab, error) {
 	}
 	go work.Run()
 	work.PostAction(types.Configure{Config: conf})
+	work.PostAction(types.Connect{})
 	return &AccountTab{
 		Config: conf,
 		Worker: work,
diff --git a/worker/imap/worker.go b/worker/imap/worker.go
index 080927d..6971f8c 100644
--- a/worker/imap/worker.go
+++ b/worker/imap/worker.go
@@ -1,20 +1,43 @@
 package imap
 
 import (
-	"time"
+	"fmt"
+	"net/url"
+	"strings"
 
 	"git.sr.ht/~sircmpwn/aerc2/worker/types"
+	"github.com/emersion/go-imap"
+	"github.com/emersion/go-imap/client"
+	"github.com/emersion/go-imap-idle"
 )
 
+var errUnsupported = fmt.Errorf("unsupported command")
+
+type imapClient struct {
+	*client.Client
+	*idle.IdleClient
+}
+
 type IMAPWorker struct {
 	messages chan types.WorkerMessage
 	actions  chan types.WorkerMessage
+
+	config struct {
+		scheme   string
+		insecure bool
+		addr     string
+		user     *url.Userinfo
+	}
+
+	client  *imapClient
+	updates chan client.Update
 }
 
 func NewIMAPWorker() *IMAPWorker {
 	return &IMAPWorker{
 		messages: make(chan types.WorkerMessage, 50),
 		actions:  make(chan types.WorkerMessage, 50),
+		updates:  make(chan client.Update, 50),
 	}
 }
 
@@ -26,27 +49,104 @@ func (w *IMAPWorker) PostAction(msg types.WorkerMessage) {
 	w.actions <- msg
 }
 
-func (w *IMAPWorker) handleMessage(msg types.WorkerMessage) {
+func (w *IMAPWorker) handleMessage(msg types.WorkerMessage) error {
 	switch msg := msg.(type) {
 	case types.Ping:
-		w.messages <- types.Ack{
-			Message: types.RespondTo(msg),
+		// No-op
+	case types.Configure:
+		u, err := url.Parse(msg.Config.Source)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
 		}
+
+		w.config.scheme = u.Scheme
+		if strings.HasSuffix(w.config.scheme, "+insecure") {
+			w.config.scheme = strings.TrimSuffix(w.config.scheme, "+insecure")
+			w.config.insecure = true
+		}
+
+		w.config.addr = u.Host
+		if !strings.ContainsRune(w.config.addr, ':') {
+			w.config.addr += ":" + u.Scheme
+		}
+
+		w.config.scheme = u.Scheme
+		w.config.user = u.User
+	case types.Connect:
+		// TODO: populate TLS config
+
+		var (
+			c   *client.Client
+			err error
+		)
+		switch w.config.scheme {
+		case "imap":
+			c, err = client.Dial(w.config.addr)
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+
+			if !w.config.insecure {
+				if err := c.StartTLS(nil); err != nil {
+					return err
+				}
+			}
+		case "imaps":
+			c, err = client.DialTLS(w.config.addr, nil)
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+		default:
+			return fmt.Errorf("Unknown IMAP scheme %s", w.config.scheme)
+		}
+
+		if w.config.user != nil {
+			username := w.config.user.Username()
+			password, hasPassword := w.config.user.Password()
+			if !hasPassword {
+				// TODO: ask password
+			}
+			if err := c.Login(username, password); err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+		}
+
+		if _, err := c.Select(imap.InboxName, false); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+
+		c.Updates = w.updates
+		w.client = &imapClient{c, idle.NewClient(c)}
+
+		// TODO: don't idle right away
+		go w.client.IdleWithFallback(nil, 0)
 	default:
-		w.messages <- types.Unsupported{
-			Message: types.RespondTo(msg),
-		}
+		return errUnsupported
 	}
+	return nil
 }
 
 func (w *IMAPWorker) Run() {
-	// TODO: IMAP shit
 	for {
 		select {
 		case msg := <-w.actions:
-			w.handleMessage(msg)
-		default:
-			time.Sleep(100 * time.Millisecond)
+			fmt.Printf("<= %T\n", msg)
+			if err := w.handleMessage(msg); err == errUnsupported {
+				w.messages <- types.Unsupported{
+					Message: types.RespondTo(msg),
+				}
+			} else if err != nil {
+				w.messages <- types.Error{
+					Message: types.RespondTo(msg),
+					Error:   err,
+				}
+			} else {
+				w.messages <- types.Ack{
+					Message: types.RespondTo(msg),
+				}
+			}
+		case update := <-w.updates:
+			fmt.Printf("<= %T\n", update)
 		}
 	}
 }
diff --git a/worker/types/messages.go b/worker/types/messages.go
index a4d8ddb..e83bd6b 100644
--- a/worker/types/messages.go
+++ b/worker/types/messages.go
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ type Message struct {
 }
 
 // Meta-messages
+
 type Ack struct {
 	Message
 }
@@ -27,6 +28,7 @@ type Unsupported struct {
 }
 
 // Commands
+
 type Ping struct {
 	Message
 }