diff --git a/octoprint_enclosure/__init__.py b/octoprint_enclosure/__init__.py
index bfedb92..f07ea9c 100644
--- a/octoprint_enclosure/__init__.py
+++ b/octoprint_enclosure/__init__.py
@@ -72,7 +72,15 @@ class EnclosurePlugin(octoprint.plugin.StartupPlugin, octoprint.plugin.TemplateP
     development_mode = False
     dummy_value = 30.0
     dummy_delta = 0.5
-
+    
+    def __init__(self):
+        # mqtt helper
+        self.mqtt_publish = lambda *args, **kwargs: None
+        # hardcoded
+        self.mqtt_root_topic = "octoprint/plugins/enclosure"
+        self.mqtt_sensor_topic = self.mqtt_root_topic + "/" + "enclosure"
+        self.mqtt_message = "{\"temperature\": 0, \"humidity\": 0}"
+  
     def start_timer(self):
         """
         Function to start timer that checks enclosure temperature
@@ -134,7 +142,15 @@ class EnclosurePlugin(octoprint.plugin.StartupPlugin, octoprint.plugin.TemplateP
         return -1
 
     # ~~ StartupPlugin mixin
-    def on_after_startup(self):
+    def on_after_startup(self):   
+        helpers = self._plugin_manager.get_helpers("mqtt", "mqtt_publish", "mqtt_subscribe", "mqtt_unsubscribe")
+        
+        if helpers:
+            if "mqtt_publish" in helpers:
+                self.mqtt_publish = helpers["mqtt_publish"]
+        else:
+            self._logger.info("mqtt helpers not found. mqtt functions won't work")       
+        
         self.pwm_instances = []
         self.event_queue = []
         self.rpi_outputs_not_changed = []
@@ -820,6 +836,9 @@ class EnclosurePlugin(octoprint.plugin.StartupPlugin, octoprint.plugin.TemplateP
                     self.handle_temperature_events()
                     self.handle_pwm_linked_temperature()
                     self.update_ui()
+                    self.mqtt_sensor_topic = self.mqtt_root_topic + "/" + sensor['label']
+                    self.mqtt_message = {"temperature":  temp, "humidity": hum}
+                    self.mqtt_publish(self.mqtt_sensor_topic, self.mqtt_message)
         except Exception as ex:
             self.log_error(ex)
 
@@ -982,6 +1001,7 @@ class EnclosurePlugin(octoprint.plugin.StartupPlugin, octoprint.plugin.TemplateP
             else:
                 if sensor['temp_sensor_type'] in ["11", "22", "2302"]:
                     temp, hum = self.read_dht_temp(sensor['temp_sensor_type'], sensor['gpio_pin'])
+                    airquality = 0
                 elif sensor['temp_sensor_type'] == "18b20":
                     temp = self.read_18b20_temp(sensor['ds18b20_serial'])
                     hum = 0
diff --git a/octoprint_enclosure/getDHTTemp.py b/octoprint_enclosure/getDHTTemp.py
index cb9bfef..e898977 100644
--- a/octoprint_enclosure/getDHTTemp.py
+++ b/octoprint_enclosure/getDHTTemp.py
@@ -1,9 +1,10 @@
 import sys
+import time
 import adafruit_dht
 
 
 # Parse command line parameters.
-sensor_args =   {   
+sensor_args =   {
                     '11': adafruit_dht.DHT11,
                     '22': adafruit_dht.DHT22,
                     '2302': adafruit_dht.DHT22
@@ -16,12 +17,29 @@ else:
     sys.exit(1)
 
 dht_dev = sensor(pin)
-humidity = dht_dev.humidity
-temperature = dht_dev.temperature
 
-if humidity is not None and temperature is not None:
-    print('{0:0.1f} | {1:0.1f}'.format(temperature, humidity))
-else:
-    print('-1 | -1')
+# DHT sensor read fails quite often, causing enclosure plugin to report value of 0.
+# If this happens, retry as suggested in the adafruit_dht docs.
+max_retries = 3
+retry_count = 0
+while retry_count <= max_retries:
+    try:
+        humidity = dht_dev.humidity
+        temperature = dht_dev.temperature
 
-sys.exit(1)
+        if humidity is not None and temperature is not None:
+            print('{0:0.1f} | {1:0.1f}'.format(temperature, humidity))
+            sys.exit(1)
+    except RuntimeError as e:
+        time.sleep(2)
+        retry_count += 1
+        continue
+    except Exception as e:
+        dht_dev.exit()
+        raise e
+
+    time.sleep(1)
+    retry_count += 1
+
+print('-1 | -1')
+sys.exit(1)
\ No newline at end of file