diff --git a/python/__init__.py b/python/__init__.py
index 424dd55c..178cb27c 100644
--- a/python/__init__.py
+++ b/python/__init__.py
@@ -16,7 +16,8 @@ from itertools import accumulate
 from .constants import McuType
 from .dfu import PandaDFU
 from .isotp import isotp_send, isotp_recv
-from .spi import SpiHandle, PandaSpiException
+from .spi import PandaSpiHandle, PandaSpiException
+from .usb import PandaUsbHandle
 
 __version__ = '0.0.10'
 
@@ -291,7 +292,7 @@ class Panda:
     handle = None
     spi_serial = None
     try:
-      handle = SpiHandle()
+      handle = PandaSpiHandle()
       dat = handle.controlRead(Panda.REQUEST_IN, 0xc3, 0, 0, 12)
       spi_serial = binascii.hexlify(dat).decode()
     except PandaSpiException:
@@ -342,7 +343,11 @@ class Panda:
         break
       context = usb1.USBContext()  # New context needed so new devices show up
 
-    return handle, usb_serial, bootstub, bcd
+    usb_handle = None
+    if handle is not None:
+      usb_handle = PandaUsbHandle(handle)
+
+    return usb_handle, usb_serial, bootstub, bcd
 
   @staticmethod
   def list():
diff --git a/python/base.py b/python/base.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d051e877
--- /dev/null
+++ b/python/base.py
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+from abc import ABC, abstractmethod
+from typing import List
+
+
+# This mimics the handle given by libusb1 for easy interoperability
+class BaseHandle(ABC):
+  @abstractmethod
+  def close(self) -> None:
+    ...
+
+  @abstractmethod
+  def controlWrite(self, request_type: int, request: int, value: int, index: int, data, timeout: int = 0) -> int:
+    ...
+
+  @abstractmethod
+  def controlRead(self, request_type: int, request: int, value: int, index: int, length: int, timeout: int = 0) -> bytes:
+    ...
+
+  @abstractmethod
+  def bulkWrite(self, endpoint: int, data: List[int], timeout: int = 0) -> int:
+    ...
+
+  @abstractmethod
+  def bulkRead(self, endpoint: int, length: int, timeout: int = 0) -> bytes:
+    ...
diff --git a/python/spi.py b/python/spi.py
index 3973e4d4..8b3cab10 100644
--- a/python/spi.py
+++ b/python/spi.py
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@ from contextlib import contextmanager
 from functools import reduce
 from typing import List
 
+from .base import BaseHandle
+
 try:
   import spidev
 except ImportError:
@@ -78,7 +80,7 @@ class SpiDevice:
     self._spidev.close()
 
 
-class SpiHandle:
+class PandaSpiHandle(BaseHandle):
   """
   A class that mimics a libusb1 handle for panda SPI communications.
   """
diff --git a/python/usb.py b/python/usb.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..3323ac70
--- /dev/null
+++ b/python/usb.py
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+from typing import List
+
+from .base import BaseHandle
+
+class PandaUsbHandle(BaseHandle):
+  def __init__(self, libusb_handle):
+    self._libusb_handle = libusb_handle
+
+  def close(self):
+    self._libusb_handle.close()
+
+  def controlWrite(self, request_type: int, request: int, value: int, index: int, data, timeout: int = 0):
+    return self._libusb_handle.controlWrite(request_type, request, value, index, data, timeout)
+
+  def controlRead(self, request_type: int, request: int, value: int, index: int, length: int, timeout: int = 0):
+    return self._libusb_handle.controlRead(request_type, request, value, index, length, timeout)
+
+  def bulkWrite(self, endpoint: int, data: List[int], timeout: int = 0) -> int:
+    return self._libusb_handle.bulkWrite(endpoint, data, timeout)
+
+  def bulkRead(self, endpoint: int, length: int, timeout: int = 0) -> bytes:
+    return self._libusb_handle.bulkRead(endpoint, length, timeout)
+