diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index 58b97c34..5e73b62e 100644
--- a/.travis.yml
+++ b/.travis.yml
@@ -9,44 +9,40 @@ matrix:
     include:
         - python: "3.6"
           os: linux
-          dist: trusty
-          env: TOXENV=py36
+          dist: bionic
+          env: TOXENV=py36-fuse2
         - python: "3.7"
           os: linux
-          dist: xenial
-          env: TOXENV=py37
-        - python: "3.7-dev"
-          os: linux
-          dist: xenial
-          env: TOXENV=py37
+          dist: bionic
+          env: TOXENV=py37-fuse2
         - python: "3.8"
           os: linux
-          dist: xenial
-          env: TOXENV=py38
+          dist: focal
+          env: TOXENV=py38-fuse2
         - python: "3.8-dev"
           os: linux
-          dist: xenial
-          env: TOXENV=py38
-        - python: "3.9-dev"
-          os: linux
-          dist: xenial
-          env: TOXENV=py39
+          dist: focal
+          env: TOXENV=py38-fuse3
         - python: "3.9-dev"
           os: linux
           dist: focal
-          env: TOXENV=py39
-        - python: "3.6"
+          env: TOXENV=py39-fuse2
+        - python: "3.9-dev"
           os: linux
-          dist: xenial
+          dist: focal
+          env: TOXENV=py39-fuse3
+        - python: "3.8"
+          os: linux
+          dist: focal
           env: TOXENV=flake8
         - language: generic
           os: osx
           osx_image: xcode8.3  # This is the latest working xcode image with osxfuse compatibility; later images come with an OS X version which doesn't allow kernel extensions
-          env: TOXENV=py36
+          env: TOXENV=py36-fuse2
         - language: generic
           os: osx
           osx_image: xcode11.3
-          env: TOXENV=py37 SKIPFUSE=true
+          env: TOXENV=py37  # No FUSE testing, because recent versions of macOS don't allow kernel extensions of osxfuse.
     allow_failures:
         - os: osx  # OS X builds often take too long and time out, even though tests don't actually fail
 
diff --git a/.travis/install.sh b/.travis/install.sh
index 8c2e6781..77bf7f09 100755
--- a/.travis/install.sh
+++ b/.travis/install.sh
@@ -48,7 +48,8 @@ then
     #sudo apt-get install -y liblz4-dev  # Too old on trusty and xenial, but might be useful in future versions
     #sudo apt-get install -y libzstd-dev  # Too old on trusty and xenial, but might be useful in future versions
     sudo apt-get install -y libacl1-dev
-    sudo apt-get install -y libfuse-dev fuse  # Required for Python llfuse module
+    sudo apt-get install -y libfuse-dev fuse || true  # Required for Python llfuse module
+    sudo apt-get install -y libfuse3-dev fuse3 || true  # Required for Python pyfuse3 module
 
 else
 
@@ -67,12 +68,3 @@ pip install -r requirements.d/development.txt
 pip install codecov
 python setup.py --version
 
-# Recent versions of OS X don't allow kernel extensions which makes the osxfuse tests fail; those versions are marked with SKIPFUSE=true in .travis.yml
-if [ "${SKIPFUSE}" = "true" ]
-then
-    truncate -s 0 requirements.d/fuse.txt
-    pip install -e .
-else
-    pip install -e .[fuse]
-fi
-
diff --git a/Vagrantfile b/Vagrantfile
index e99b8a42..2266d590 100644
--- a/Vagrantfile
+++ b/Vagrantfile
@@ -15,7 +15,9 @@ def packages_debianoid(user)
     apt-get -y -qq update
     apt-get -y -qq dist-upgrade
     # for building borgbackup and dependencies:
-    apt install -y libssl-dev libacl1-dev liblz4-dev libzstd-dev libfuse-dev fuse pkg-config
+    apt install -y libssl-dev libacl1-dev liblz4-dev libzstd-dev pkg-config
+    apt install -y libfuse-dev fuse || true
+    apt install -y libfuse3-dev fuse3 || true
     usermod -a -G fuse #{user}
     chgrp fuse /dev/fuse
     chmod 666 /dev/fuse
@@ -43,7 +45,9 @@ def packages_freebsd
     # install all the (security and other) updates, base system
     freebsd-update --not-running-from-cron fetch install
     # for building borgbackup and dependencies:
-    pkg install -y liblz4 zstd fusefs-libs pkgconf
+    pkg install -y liblz4 zstd pkgconf
+    pkg install -y fusefs-libs || true
+    pkg install -y fusefs-libs3 || true
     pkg install -y git bash  # fakeroot causes lots of troubles on freebsd
     # for building python:
     pkg install -y python37 py37-sqlite3 py37-virtualenv py37-pip
@@ -160,7 +164,7 @@ def build_pyenv_venv(boxname)
 end
 
 def install_borg(fuse)
-  script = <<-EOF
+  return <<-EOF
     . ~/.bash_profile
     cd /vagrant/borg
     . borg-env/bin/activate
@@ -168,20 +172,8 @@ def install_borg(fuse)
     cd borg
     pip install -r requirements.d/development.txt
     python setup.py clean
+    pip install -e .[#{fuse}]
   EOF
-  if fuse
-    script += <<-EOF
-      # by using [fuse], setup.py can handle different FUSE requirements:
-      pip install -e .[fuse]
-    EOF
-  else
-    script += <<-EOF
-      pip install -e .
-      # do not install llfuse into the virtualenvs built by tox:
-      sed -i.bak '/fuse.txt/d' tox.ini
-    EOF
-  end
-  return script
 end
 
 def install_pyinstaller()
@@ -221,10 +213,10 @@ def run_tests(boxname)
     # otherwise: just use the system python
     if which fakeroot 2> /dev/null; then
       echo "Running tox WITH fakeroot -u"
-      fakeroot -u tox --skip-missing-interpreters -e py36,py37,py38,py39
+      fakeroot -u tox --skip-missing-interpreters
     else
       echo "Running tox WITHOUT fakeroot -u"
-      tox --skip-missing-interpreters -e py36,py37,py38,py39
+      tox --skip-missing-interpreters
     fi
   EOF
 end
@@ -263,7 +255,7 @@ Vagrant.configure(2) do |config|
     b.vm.provision "fs init", :type => :shell, :inline => fs_init("vagrant")
     b.vm.provision "packages debianoid", :type => :shell, :inline => packages_debianoid("vagrant")
     b.vm.provision "build env", :type => :shell, :privileged => false, :inline => build_sys_venv("focal64")
-    b.vm.provision "install borg", :type => :shell, :privileged => false, :inline => install_borg(true)
+    b.vm.provision "install borg", :type => :shell, :privileged => false, :inline => install_borg("llfuse")
     b.vm.provision "run tests", :type => :shell, :privileged => false, :inline => run_tests("focal64")
   end
 
@@ -275,7 +267,7 @@ Vagrant.configure(2) do |config|
     b.vm.provision "fs init", :type => :shell, :inline => fs_init("vagrant")
     b.vm.provision "packages debianoid", :type => :shell, :inline => packages_debianoid("vagrant")
     b.vm.provision "build env", :type => :shell, :privileged => false, :inline => build_sys_venv("bionic64")
-    b.vm.provision "install borg", :type => :shell, :privileged => false, :inline => install_borg(true)
+    b.vm.provision "install borg", :type => :shell, :privileged => false, :inline => install_borg("llfuse")
     b.vm.provision "run tests", :type => :shell, :privileged => false, :inline => run_tests("bionic64")
   end
 
@@ -289,7 +281,7 @@ Vagrant.configure(2) do |config|
     b.vm.provision "install pyenv", :type => :shell, :privileged => false, :inline => install_pyenv("buster64")
     b.vm.provision "install pythons", :type => :shell, :privileged => false, :inline => install_pythons("buster64")
     b.vm.provision "build env", :type => :shell, :privileged => false, :inline => build_pyenv_venv("buster64")
-    b.vm.provision "install borg", :type => :shell, :privileged => false, :inline => install_borg(true)
+    b.vm.provision "install borg", :type => :shell, :privileged => false, :inline => install_borg("llfuse")
     b.vm.provision "install pyinstaller", :type => :shell, :privileged => false, :inline => install_pyinstaller()
     b.vm.provision "build binary with pyinstaller", :type => :shell, :privileged => false, :inline => build_binary_with_pyinstaller("buster64")
     b.vm.provision "run tests", :type => :shell, :privileged => false, :inline => run_tests("buster64")
@@ -305,7 +297,7 @@ Vagrant.configure(2) do |config|
     b.vm.provision "install pyenv", :type => :shell, :privileged => false, :inline => install_pyenv("stretch64")
     b.vm.provision "install pythons", :type => :shell, :privileged => false, :inline => install_pythons("stretch64")
     b.vm.provision "build env", :type => :shell, :privileged => false, :inline => build_pyenv_venv("stretch64")
-    b.vm.provision "install borg", :type => :shell, :privileged => false, :inline => install_borg(true)
+    b.vm.provision "install borg", :type => :shell, :privileged => false, :inline => install_borg("llfuse")
     b.vm.provision "install pyinstaller", :type => :shell, :privileged => false, :inline => install_pyinstaller()
     b.vm.provision "build binary with pyinstaller", :type => :shell, :privileged => false, :inline => build_binary_with_pyinstaller("stretch64")
     b.vm.provision "run tests", :type => :shell, :privileged => false, :inline => run_tests("stretch64")
@@ -319,7 +311,7 @@ Vagrant.configure(2) do |config|
     b.vm.provision "fs init", :type => :shell, :inline => fs_init("vagrant")
     b.vm.provision "packages arch", :type => :shell, :privileged => true, :inline => packages_arch
     b.vm.provision "build env", :type => :shell, :privileged => false, :inline => build_sys_venv("arch64")
-    b.vm.provision "install borg", :type => :shell, :privileged => false, :inline => install_borg(true)
+    b.vm.provision "install borg", :type => :shell, :privileged => false, :inline => install_borg("llfuse")
     b.vm.provision "run tests", :type => :shell, :privileged => false, :inline => run_tests("arch64")
   end
 
@@ -334,7 +326,7 @@ Vagrant.configure(2) do |config|
     b.vm.provision "install pyenv", :type => :shell, :privileged => false, :inline => install_pyenv("freebsd64")
     b.vm.provision "install pythons", :type => :shell, :privileged => false, :inline => install_pythons("freebsd64")
     b.vm.provision "build env", :type => :shell, :privileged => false, :inline => build_pyenv_venv("freebsd64")
-    b.vm.provision "install borg", :type => :shell, :privileged => false, :inline => install_borg(true)
+    b.vm.provision "install borg", :type => :shell, :privileged => false, :inline => install_borg("llfuse")
     b.vm.provision "install pyinstaller", :type => :shell, :privileged => false, :inline => install_pyinstaller()
     b.vm.provision "build binary with pyinstaller", :type => :shell, :privileged => false, :inline => build_binary_with_pyinstaller("freebsd64")
     b.vm.provision "run tests", :type => :shell, :privileged => false, :inline => run_tests("freebsd64")
@@ -349,7 +341,7 @@ Vagrant.configure(2) do |config|
     b.vm.provision "fs init", :type => :shell, :inline => fs_init("vagrant")
     b.vm.provision "packages openbsd", :type => :shell, :inline => packages_openbsd
     b.vm.provision "build env", :type => :shell, :privileged => false, :inline => build_sys_venv("openbsd64")
-    b.vm.provision "install borg", :type => :shell, :privileged => false, :inline => install_borg(false)
+    b.vm.provision "install borg", :type => :shell, :privileged => false, :inline => install_borg("nofuse")
     b.vm.provision "run tests", :type => :shell, :privileged => false, :inline => run_tests("openbsd64")
   end
 
@@ -373,7 +365,7 @@ Vagrant.configure(2) do |config|
     b.vm.provision "fix pyenv", :type => :shell, :privileged => false, :inline => fix_pyenv_darwin("darwin64")
     b.vm.provision "install pythons", :type => :shell, :privileged => false, :inline => install_pythons("darwin64")
     b.vm.provision "build env", :type => :shell, :privileged => false, :inline => build_pyenv_venv("darwin64")
-    b.vm.provision "install borg", :type => :shell, :privileged => false, :inline => install_borg(true)
+    b.vm.provision "install borg", :type => :shell, :privileged => false, :inline => install_borg("llfuse")
     b.vm.provision "install pyinstaller", :type => :shell, :privileged => false, :inline => install_pyinstaller()
     b.vm.provision "build binary with pyinstaller", :type => :shell, :privileged => false, :inline => build_binary_with_pyinstaller("darwin64")
     b.vm.provision "run tests", :type => :shell, :privileged => false, :inline => run_tests("darwin64")
@@ -389,7 +381,7 @@ Vagrant.configure(2) do |config|
     b.vm.provision "fs init", :type => :shell, :inline => fs_init("vagrant")
     b.vm.provision "packages openindiana", :type => :shell, :inline => packages_openindiana
     b.vm.provision "build env", :type => :shell, :privileged => false, :inline => build_sys_venv("openindiana64")
-    b.vm.provision "install borg", :type => :shell, :privileged => false, :inline => install_borg(false)
+    b.vm.provision "install borg", :type => :shell, :privileged => false, :inline => install_borg("nofuse")
     b.vm.provision "run tests", :type => :shell, :privileged => false, :inline => run_tests("openindiana64")
   end
 
diff --git a/conftest.py b/conftest.py
index 6fd59610..d1505033 100644
--- a/conftest.py
+++ b/conftest.py
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ from borg.logger import setup_logging
 # Ensure that the loggers exist for all tests
 setup_logging()
 
-from borg.testsuite import has_lchflags, has_llfuse
+from borg.testsuite import has_lchflags, has_llfuse, has_pyfuse3
 from borg.testsuite import are_symlinks_supported, are_hardlinks_supported, is_utime_fully_supported
 from borg.testsuite.platform import fakeroot_detected, are_acls_working
 from borg import xattr
@@ -33,7 +33,8 @@ def clean_env(tmpdir_factory, monkeypatch):
     monkeypatch.setenv('XDG_CONFIG_HOME', str(tmpdir_factory.mktemp('xdg-config-home')))
     monkeypatch.setenv('XDG_CACHE_HOME', str(tmpdir_factory.mktemp('xdg-cache-home')))
     # also avoid to use anything from the outside environment:
-    keys = [key for key in os.environ if key.startswith('BORG_')]
+    keys = [key for key in os.environ
+            if key.startswith('BORG_') and key not in ('BORG_FUSE_IMPL', )]
     for key in keys:
         monkeypatch.delenv(key, raising=False)
 
@@ -41,7 +42,8 @@ def clean_env(tmpdir_factory, monkeypatch):
 def pytest_report_header(config, startdir):
     tests = {
         "BSD flags": has_lchflags,
-        "fuse": has_llfuse,
+        "fuse2": has_llfuse,
+        "fuse3": has_pyfuse3,
         "root": not fakeroot_detected(),
         "symlinks": are_symlinks_supported(),
         "hardlinks": are_hardlinks_supported(),
diff --git a/docs/development.rst b/docs/development.rst
index 7e31131c..5abe3acd 100644
--- a/docs/development.rst
+++ b/docs/development.rst
@@ -288,7 +288,7 @@ Usage::
 Creating standalone binaries
 ----------------------------
 
-Make sure you have everything built and installed (including llfuse and fuse).
+Make sure you have everything built and installed (including fuse stuff).
 When using the Vagrant VMs, pyinstaller will already be installed.
 
 With virtual env activated::
diff --git a/docs/global.rst.inc b/docs/global.rst.inc
index ead84340..14725f73 100644
--- a/docs/global.rst.inc
+++ b/docs/global.rst.inc
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 .. _msgpack: https://msgpack.org/
 .. _`msgpack-python`: https://pypi.python.org/pypi/msgpack-python/
 .. _llfuse: https://pypi.python.org/pypi/llfuse/
+.. _pyfuse3: https://pypi.python.org/pypi/pyfuse3/
 .. _userspace filesystems: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filesystem_in_Userspace
 .. _Cython: http://cython.org/
 .. _virtualenv: https://pypi.python.org/pypi/virtualenv/
diff --git a/docs/installation.rst b/docs/installation.rst
index 860b6993..c7711cbc 100644
--- a/docs/installation.rst
+++ b/docs/installation.rst
@@ -159,8 +159,12 @@ following dependencies first:
   it will fall back to using the bundled code, see above).
   These must be present before invoking setup.py!
 * some other Python dependencies, pip will automatically install them for you.
-* optionally, the llfuse_ Python package is required if you wish to mount an
-  archive as a FUSE filesystem. See setup.py about the version requirements.
+* optionally, if you wish to mount an archive as a FUSE filesystem, you need
+  a FUSE implementation for Python:
+
+  - Either pyfuse3_ (preferably, newer and maintained) or llfuse_ (older,
+    unmaintained now). See also the BORG_FUSE_IMPL env variable.
+  - See setup.py about the version requirements.
 
 If you have troubles finding the right package names, have a look at the
 distribution specific sections below or the Vagrantfile in the git repository,
@@ -186,7 +190,8 @@ Install the dependencies with development headers::
     liblz4-dev libzstd-dev \
     build-essential \
     pkg-config python3-pkgconfig
-    sudo apt-get install libfuse-dev fuse    # optional, for FUSE support
+    sudo apt-get install libfuse-dev fuse    # needed for llfuse
+    sudo apt-get install libfuse3-dev fuse3  # needed for pyfuse3
 
 In case you get complaints about permission denied on ``/etc/fuse.conf``: on
 Ubuntu this means your user is not in the ``fuse`` group. Add yourself to that
@@ -203,7 +208,8 @@ Install the dependencies with development headers::
     lz4-devel libzstd-devel \
     pkgconf python3-pkgconfig
     sudo dnf install gcc gcc-c++ redhat-rpm-config
-    sudo dnf install fuse-devel fuse         # optional, for FUSE support
+    sudo dnf install fuse-devel fuse         # needed for llfuse
+    sudo dnf install fuse3-devel fuse3       # needed for pyfuse3
 
 openSUSE Tumbleweed / Leap
 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++
@@ -218,7 +224,8 @@ Alternatively, you can enumerate all build dependencies in the command line::
     libacl-devel openssl-devel \
     python3-Cython python3-Sphinx python3-msgpack-python \
     python3-pytest python3-setuptools python3-setuptools_scm \
-    python3-sphinx_rtd_theme python3-llfuse gcc gcc-c++
+    python3-sphinx_rtd_theme gcc gcc-c++
+    sudo zypper install python3-llfuse  # llfuse
 
 Mac OS X
 ++++++++
@@ -234,7 +241,7 @@ For FUSE support to mount the backup archives, you need at least version 3.0 of
 FUSE for OS X, which is available via `github
 <https://github.com/osxfuse/osxfuse/releases/latest>`__, or via Homebrew::
 
-    brew cask install osxfuse
+    brew cask install osxfuse  # needed for llfuse
 
 
 FreeBSD
@@ -248,7 +255,7 @@ and commands to make FUSE work for using the mount command.
      pkg install -y python3 pkgconf
      pkg install openssl
      pkg install liblz4 zstd
-     pkg install fusefs-libs
+     pkg install fusefs-libs  # needed for llfuse
      pkg install -y git
      python3.5 -m ensurepip # to install pip for Python3
      To use the mount command:
@@ -308,15 +315,17 @@ This will use ``pip`` to install the latest release from PyPi::
 
     # might be required if your tools are outdated
     pip install -U pip setuptools wheel
+
     # install Borg + Python dependencies into virtualenv
     pip install borgbackup
     # or alternatively (if you want FUSE support):
-    pip install borgbackup[fuse]
+    pip install borgbackup[llfuse]  # to use llfuse
+    pip install borgbackup[pyfuse3]  # to use pyfuse3
 
 To upgrade Borg to a new version later, run the following after
 activating your virtual environment::
 
-    pip install -U borgbackup  # or ... borgbackup[fuse]
+    pip install -U borgbackup  # or ... borgbackup[llfuse/pyfuse3]
 
 .. _git-installation:
 
@@ -339,8 +348,12 @@ While we try not to break master, there are no guarantees on anything.
     cd borg
     pip install -r requirements.d/development.txt
     pip install -r requirements.d/docs.txt  # optional, to build the docs
-    pip install -r requirements.d/fuse.txt  # optional, for FUSE support
-    pip install -e .  # in-place editable mode
+
+    pip install -e .           # in-place editable mode
+    or
+    pip install -e .[pyfuse3]  # in-place editable mode, use pyfuse3
+    or
+    pip install -e .[llfuse]   # in-place editable mode, use llfuse
 
     # optional: run all the tests, on all supported Python versions
     # requires fakeroot, available through your package manager
diff --git a/docs/usage/general/environment.rst.inc b/docs/usage/general/environment.rst.inc
index 87a3f84b..ae796be3 100644
--- a/docs/usage/general/environment.rst.inc
+++ b/docs/usage/general/environment.rst.inc
@@ -64,6 +64,16 @@ General:
         When set to no (default: yes), system information (like OS, Python version, ...) in
         exceptions is not shown.
         Please only use for good reasons as it makes issues harder to analyze.
+    BORG_FUSE_IMPL
+        Choose the lowlevel FUSE implementation borg shall use for ``borg mount``.
+        This is a comma-separated list of implementation names, they are tried in the
+        given order, e.g.:
+
+        - ``pyfuse3,llfuse``: default, first try to load pyfuse3, then try to load llfuse.
+        - ``llfuse,pyfuse3``: first try to load llfuse, then try to load pyfuse3.
+        - ``pyfuse3``: only try to load pyfuse3
+        - ``llfuse``: only try to load llfuse
+        - ``none``: do not try to load an implementation
     BORG_WORKAROUNDS
         A list of comma separated strings that trigger workarounds in borg,
         e.g. to work around bugs in other software.
diff --git a/requirements.d/fuse.txt b/requirements.d/fuse.txt
deleted file mode 100644
index 08dee458..00000000
--- a/requirements.d/fuse.txt
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,4 +0,0 @@
-# low-level FUSE support library for "borg mount"
-# please see the comments in setup.py about llfuse.
-llfuse >=1.3.4, <1.3.7; python_version <"3.9"  # broken on py39
-llfuse >=1.3.7, <2.0; python_version >="3.9"  # broken on freebsd
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index e19159c8..4152f9da 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -78,14 +78,17 @@ install_requires = [
 ]
 
 # note for package maintainers: if you package borgbackup for distribution,
-# please add llfuse as a *requirement* on all platforms that have a working
-# llfuse package. "borg mount" needs llfuse to work.
-# if you do not have llfuse, do not require it, most of borgbackup will work.
+# please (if available) add pyfuse3 (preferably) or llfuse (not maintained any more)
+# as a *requirement*. "borg mount" needs one of them to work.
+# if neither is available, do not require it, most of borgbackup will work.
 extras_require = {
-    'fuse': [
-        'llfuse >=1.3.4, <1.3.7; python_version <"3.9"',  # broken on py39
-        'llfuse >=1.3.7, <2.0; python_version >="3.9"',  # broken on freebsd
+    'llfuse': [
+        'llfuse >= 1.3.8',
     ],
+    'pyfuse3': [
+        'pyfuse3 >= 3.1.1',
+    ],
+    'nofuse': [],
 }
 
 compress_source = 'src/borg/compress.pyx'
diff --git a/src/borg/archiver.py b/src/borg/archiver.py
index 53832609..02bfe1ad 100644
--- a/src/borg/archiver.py
+++ b/src/borg/archiver.py
@@ -1258,10 +1258,9 @@ class Archiver:
         """Mount archive or an entire repository as a FUSE filesystem"""
         # Perform these checks before opening the repository and asking for a passphrase.
 
-        try:
-            import borg.fuse
-        except ImportError as e:
-            self.print_error('borg mount not available: loading FUSE support failed [ImportError: %s]' % str(e))
+        from .fuse_impl import llfuse, BORG_FUSE_IMPL
+        if llfuse is None:
+            self.print_error('borg mount not available: no FUSE support, BORG_FUSE_IMPL=%s.' % BORG_FUSE_IMPL)
             return self.exit_code
 
         if not os.path.isdir(args.mountpoint) or not os.access(args.mountpoint, os.R_OK | os.W_OK | os.X_OK):
diff --git a/src/borg/fuse.py b/src/borg/fuse.py
index bc8b59be..841a7261 100644
--- a/src/borg/fuse.py
+++ b/src/borg/fuse.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import errno
+import functools
 import io
 import os
 import stat
@@ -9,7 +10,23 @@ import time
 from collections import defaultdict
 from signal import SIGINT
 
-import llfuse
+from .fuse_impl import llfuse, has_pyfuse3
+
+
+if has_pyfuse3:
+    import trio
+
+    def async_wrapper(fn):
+        @functools.wraps(fn)
+        async def wrapper(*args, **kwargs):
+            return fn(*args, **kwargs)
+        return wrapper
+else:
+    trio = None
+
+    def async_wrapper(fn):
+        return fn
+
 
 from .logger import create_logger
 logger = create_logger()
@@ -26,7 +43,15 @@ from .remote import RemoteRepository
 
 
 def fuse_main():
-    return llfuse.main(workers=1)
+    if has_pyfuse3:
+        try:
+            trio.run(llfuse.main)
+        except:
+            return 1  # TODO return signal number if it was killed by signal
+        else:
+            return None
+    else:
+        return llfuse.main(workers=1)
 
 
 # size of some LRUCaches (1 element per simultaneously open file)
@@ -533,6 +558,7 @@ class FuseOperations(llfuse.Operations, FuseBackend):
         finally:
             llfuse.close(umount)
 
+    @async_wrapper
     def statfs(self, ctx=None):
         stat_ = llfuse.StatvfsData()
         stat_.f_bsize = 512
@@ -546,7 +572,7 @@ class FuseOperations(llfuse.Operations, FuseBackend):
         stat_.f_namemax = 255  # == NAME_MAX (depends on archive source OS / FS)
         return stat_
 
-    def getattr(self, inode, ctx=None):
+    def _getattr(self, inode, ctx=None):
         item = self.get_item(inode)
         entry = llfuse.EntryAttributes()
         entry.st_ino = inode
@@ -568,10 +594,16 @@ class FuseOperations(llfuse.Operations, FuseBackend):
         entry.st_birthtime_ns = item.get('birthtime', mtime_ns)
         return entry
 
+    @async_wrapper
+    def getattr(self, inode, ctx=None):
+        return self._getattr(inode, ctx=ctx)
+
+    @async_wrapper
     def listxattr(self, inode, ctx=None):
         item = self.get_item(inode)
         return item.get('xattrs', {}).keys()
 
+    @async_wrapper
     def getxattr(self, inode, name, ctx=None):
         item = self.get_item(inode)
         try:
@@ -579,6 +611,7 @@ class FuseOperations(llfuse.Operations, FuseBackend):
         except KeyError:
             raise llfuse.FUSEError(llfuse.ENOATTR) from None
 
+    @async_wrapper
     def lookup(self, parent_inode, name, ctx=None):
         self.check_pending_archive(parent_inode)
         if name == b'.':
@@ -589,8 +622,9 @@ class FuseOperations(llfuse.Operations, FuseBackend):
             inode = self.contents[parent_inode].get(name)
             if not inode:
                 raise llfuse.FUSEError(errno.ENOENT)
-        return self.getattr(inode)
+        return self._getattr(inode)
 
+    @async_wrapper
     def open(self, inode, flags, ctx=None):
         if not self.allow_damaged_files:
             item = self.get_item(inode)
@@ -601,12 +635,14 @@ class FuseOperations(llfuse.Operations, FuseBackend):
                 logger.warning('File has damaged (all-zero) chunks. Try running borg check --repair. '
                                'Mount with allow_damaged_files to read damaged files.')
                 raise llfuse.FUSEError(errno.EIO)
-        return inode
+        return llfuse.FileInfo(fh=inode) if has_pyfuse3 else inode
 
+    @async_wrapper
     def opendir(self, inode, ctx=None):
         self.check_pending_archive(inode)
         return inode
 
+    @async_wrapper
     def read(self, fh, offset, size):
         parts = []
         item = self.get_item(fh)
@@ -650,12 +686,25 @@ class FuseOperations(llfuse.Operations, FuseBackend):
                 break
         return b''.join(parts)
 
-    def readdir(self, fh, off):
-        entries = [(b'.', fh), (b'..', self.parent[fh])]
-        entries.extend(self.contents[fh].items())
-        for i, (name, inode) in enumerate(entries[off:], off):
-            yield name, self.getattr(inode), i + 1
+    # note: we can't have a generator (with yield) and not a generator (async) in the same method
+    if has_pyfuse3:
+        async def readdir(self, fh, off, token):
+            entries = [(b'.', fh), (b'..', self.parent[fh])]
+            entries.extend(self.contents[fh].items())
+            for i, (name, inode) in enumerate(entries[off:], off):
+                attrs = self._getattr(inode)
+                if not llfuse.readdir_reply(token, name, attrs, i + 1):
+                    break
 
+    else:
+        def readdir(self, fh, off):
+            entries = [(b'.', fh), (b'..', self.parent[fh])]
+            entries.extend(self.contents[fh].items())
+            for i, (name, inode) in enumerate(entries[off:], off):
+                attrs = self._getattr(inode)
+                yield name, attrs, i + 1
+
+    @async_wrapper
     def readlink(self, inode, ctx=None):
         item = self.get_item(inode)
         return os.fsencode(item.source)
diff --git a/src/borg/fuse_impl.py b/src/borg/fuse_impl.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..390ac576
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/borg/fuse_impl.py
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+"""
+load library for lowlevel FUSE implementation
+"""
+
+import os
+
+BORG_FUSE_IMPL = os.environ.get('BORG_FUSE_IMPL', 'pyfuse3,llfuse')
+
+for FUSE_IMPL in BORG_FUSE_IMPL.split(','):
+    FUSE_IMPL = FUSE_IMPL.strip()
+    if FUSE_IMPL == 'pyfuse3':
+        try:
+            import pyfuse3 as llfuse
+        except ImportError:
+            pass
+        else:
+            has_llfuse = False
+            has_pyfuse3 = True
+            break
+    elif FUSE_IMPL == 'llfuse':
+        try:
+            import llfuse
+        except ImportError:
+            pass
+        else:
+            has_llfuse = True
+            has_pyfuse3 = False
+            break
+    elif FUSE_IMPL == 'none':
+        pass
+    else:
+        raise RuntimeError("unknown fuse implementation in BORG_FUSE_IMPL: '%s'" % BORG_FUSE_IMPL)
+else:
+    llfuse = None
+    has_llfuse = False
+    has_pyfuse3 = False
diff --git a/src/borg/testsuite/__init__.py b/src/borg/testsuite/__init__.py
index 844db8a8..be4b7c04 100644
--- a/src/borg/testsuite/__init__.py
+++ b/src/borg/testsuite/__init__.py
@@ -23,12 +23,10 @@ from .. import platform
 
 # Note: this is used by borg.selftest, do not use or import py.test functionality here.
 
-try:
-    import llfuse
-    # Does this version of llfuse support ns precision?
-    have_fuse_mtime_ns = hasattr(llfuse.EntryAttributes, 'st_mtime_ns')
-except ImportError:
-    have_fuse_mtime_ns = False
+from ..fuse_impl import llfuse, has_pyfuse3, has_llfuse
+
+# Does this version of llfuse support ns precision?
+have_fuse_mtime_ns = hasattr(llfuse.EntryAttributes, 'st_mtime_ns') if llfuse else False
 
 try:
     from pytest import raises
@@ -42,12 +40,6 @@ try:
 except OSError:
     has_lchflags = False
 
-try:
-    import llfuse
-    has_llfuse = True or llfuse  # avoids "unused import"
-except ImportError:
-    has_llfuse = False
-
 # The mtime get/set precision varies on different OS and Python versions
 if posix and 'HAVE_FUTIMENS' in getattr(posix, '_have_functions', []):
     st_mtime_ns_round = 0
diff --git a/src/borg/testsuite/archiver.py b/src/borg/testsuite/archiver.py
index d749c8ab..1f3a2efd 100644
--- a/src/borg/testsuite/archiver.py
+++ b/src/borg/testsuite/archiver.py
@@ -26,11 +26,6 @@ from unittest.mock import patch
 
 import pytest
 
-try:
-    import llfuse
-except ImportError:
-    pass
-
 import borg
 from .. import xattr, helpers, platform
 from ..archive import Archive, ChunkBuffer
@@ -55,7 +50,7 @@ from ..locking import LockFailed
 from ..logger import setup_logging
 from ..remote import RemoteRepository, PathNotAllowed
 from ..repository import Repository
-from . import has_lchflags, has_llfuse
+from . import has_lchflags, llfuse
 from . import BaseTestCase, changedir, environment_variable, no_selinux
 from . import are_symlinks_supported, are_hardlinks_supported, are_fifos_supported, is_utime_fully_supported, is_birthtime_fully_supported
 from .platform import fakeroot_detected
@@ -798,7 +793,7 @@ class ArchiverTestCase(ArchiverTestCaseBase):
     requires_hardlinks = pytest.mark.skipif(not are_hardlinks_supported(), reason='hardlinks not supported')
 
     @requires_hardlinks
-    @unittest.skipUnless(has_llfuse, 'llfuse not installed')
+    @unittest.skipUnless(llfuse, 'llfuse not installed')
     def test_fuse_mount_hardlinks(self):
         self._extract_hardlinks_setup()
         mountpoint = os.path.join(self.tmpdir, 'mountpoint')
@@ -1661,7 +1656,7 @@ class ArchiverTestCase(ArchiverTestCaseBase):
             # verify that command works with read-only repo when using --bypass-lock
             self.cmd('list', self.repository_location, '--bypass-lock')
 
-    @unittest.skipUnless(has_llfuse, 'llfuse not installed')
+    @unittest.skipUnless(llfuse, 'llfuse not installed')
     def test_readonly_mount(self):
         self.cmd('init', '--encryption=repokey', self.repository_location)
         self.create_src_archive('test')
@@ -1754,7 +1749,7 @@ class ArchiverTestCase(ArchiverTestCaseBase):
         # delete of the whole repository ignores features
         self.cmd('delete', self.repository_location)
 
-    @unittest.skipUnless(has_llfuse, 'llfuse not installed')
+    @unittest.skipUnless(llfuse, 'llfuse not installed')
     def test_unknown_feature_on_mount(self):
         self.cmd('init', '--encryption=repokey', self.repository_location)
         self.cmd('create', self.repository_location + '::test', 'input')
@@ -2322,7 +2317,7 @@ class ArchiverTestCase(ArchiverTestCaseBase):
         assert 'positional arguments' not in self.cmd('help', 'init', '--epilog-only')
         assert 'This command initializes' not in self.cmd('help', 'init', '--usage-only')
 
-    @unittest.skipUnless(has_llfuse, 'llfuse not installed')
+    @unittest.skipUnless(llfuse, 'llfuse not installed')
     def test_fuse(self):
         def has_noatime(some_file):
             atime_before = os.stat(some_file).st_atime_ns
@@ -2423,7 +2418,7 @@ class ArchiverTestCase(ArchiverTestCaseBase):
                 else:
                     raise
 
-    @unittest.skipUnless(has_llfuse, 'llfuse not installed')
+    @unittest.skipUnless(llfuse, 'llfuse not installed')
     def test_fuse_versions_view(self):
         self.cmd('init', '--encryption=repokey', self.repository_location)
         self.create_regular_file('test', contents=b'first')
@@ -2455,7 +2450,7 @@ class ArchiverTestCase(ArchiverTestCaseBase):
                 assert os.stat(hl2).st_ino == os.stat(hl3).st_ino
                 assert open(hl3, 'rb').read() == b'123456'
 
-    @unittest.skipUnless(has_llfuse, 'llfuse not installed')
+    @unittest.skipUnless(llfuse, 'llfuse not installed')
     def test_fuse_allow_damaged_files(self):
         self.cmd('init', '--encryption=repokey', self.repository_location)
         self.create_src_archive('archive')
@@ -2480,7 +2475,7 @@ class ArchiverTestCase(ArchiverTestCaseBase):
         with self.fuse_mount(self.repository_location + '::archive', mountpoint, '-o', 'allow_damaged_files'):
             open(os.path.join(mountpoint, path)).close()
 
-    @unittest.skipUnless(has_llfuse, 'llfuse not installed')
+    @unittest.skipUnless(llfuse, 'llfuse not installed')
     def test_fuse_mount_options(self):
         self.cmd('init', '--encryption=repokey', self.repository_location)
         self.create_src_archive('arch11')
@@ -2502,7 +2497,7 @@ class ArchiverTestCase(ArchiverTestCaseBase):
         with self.fuse_mount(self.repository_location, mountpoint, '--prefix=nope'):
             assert sorted(os.listdir(os.path.join(mountpoint))) == []
 
-    @unittest.skipUnless(has_llfuse, 'llfuse not installed')
+    @unittest.skipUnless(llfuse, 'llfuse not installed')
     def test_migrate_lock_alive(self):
         """Both old_id and new_id must not be stale during lock migration / daemonization."""
         from functools import wraps
diff --git a/tox.ini b/tox.ini
index f84cc26a..b2f597de 100644
--- a/tox.ini
+++ b/tox.ini
@@ -2,16 +2,29 @@
 # fakeroot -u tox --recreate
 
 [tox]
-envlist = py{36,37,38,39},flake8
+envlist = py{36,37,38,39}-fuse{2,3}, flake8
 
 [testenv]
 deps =
-     -rrequirements.d/development.txt
-     -rrequirements.d/fuse.txt
+    -rrequirements.d/development.txt
 commands = py.test -v -n {env:XDISTN:1} -rs --cov=borg --cov-config=.coveragerc --benchmark-skip --pyargs {posargs:borg.testsuite}
 # fakeroot -u needs some env vars:
 passenv = *
 
+[testenv:py{36,37,38,39}-fuse2]
+setenv =
+    BORG_FUSE_IMPL=llfuse
+deps =
+    llfuse
+    {[testenv]deps}
+
+[testenv:py{36,37,38,39}-fuse3]
+setenv =
+    BORG_FUSE_IMPL=pyfuse3
+deps =
+    pyfuse3
+    {[testenv]deps}
+
 [testenv:flake8]
 changedir =
 deps =