diff --git a/src/main/kotlin/net/shadowfacts/phycon/network/block/cable/CableBlock.kt b/src/main/kotlin/net/shadowfacts/phycon/network/block/cable/CableBlock.kt
index 206d40f..ede82fa 100644
--- a/src/main/kotlin/net/shadowfacts/phycon/network/block/cable/CableBlock.kt
+++ b/src/main/kotlin/net/shadowfacts/phycon/network/block/cable/CableBlock.kt
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ import net.minecraft.world.World
 import net.shadowfacts.phycon.PhysicalConnectivity
 import net.shadowfacts.phycon.api.NetworkCable
 import net.shadowfacts.phycon.api.NetworkComponent
+import net.shadowfacts.phycon.init.PhyItems
 import net.shadowfacts.phycon.util.CableConnection
 import java.util.*
 
@@ -111,6 +112,38 @@ class CableBlock: Block(Settings.of(CABLE_MATERIAL)), NetworkCable {
 		}
 	}
 
+	override fun activate(state: BlockState, world: World, pos: BlockPos, player: PlayerEntity, hand: Hand, hitResult: BlockHitResult): Boolean {
+		if (player.getStackInHand(hand).item == PhyItems.SCREWDRIVER) {
+			val hitPos = Vec3d(hitResult.pos.x - pos.x, hitResult.pos.y - pos.y, hitResult.pos.z - pos.z)
+			val hitConnection = SIDE_SHAPES.entries.firstOrNull { (_, shape) ->
+				val box = shape.boundingBox
+				hitPos.x >= box.minX && hitPos.x <= box.maxX && hitPos.y >= box.minY && hitPos.y <= box.maxY && hitPos.z >= box.minZ && hitPos.z <= box.maxZ
+			}
+			if (hitConnection != null) {
+				val side = hitConnection.key
+				val prop = CONNECTIONS[side]
+				val newState = when (state[prop]) {
+					CableConnection.DISABLED -> {
+						// if the block this cable is connecting to on the side that will be re-enabled is a cable that
+						// is disabled on the side that connects it to us, we also re-enable that cable to make sure both
+						// "halves" of the connection are in the same state
+						val connectedToPos = pos.offset(side)
+						val connectedTo = world.getBlockState(connectedToPos)
+						if (connectedTo.block == this && connectedTo[CONNECTIONS[side.opposite]] == CableConnection.DISABLED) {
+							world.setBlockState(connectedToPos, connectedTo.with(CONNECTIONS[side.opposite], CableConnection.ON))
+						}
+
+						state.with(prop, if (connectedTo.block is NetworkComponent) CableConnection.ON else CableConnection.OFF)
+					}
+					else -> state.with(prop, CableConnection.DISABLED)
+				}
+				world.setBlockState(pos, newState)
+			}
+			return true
+		}
+		return false
+	}
+
 	@Environment(EnvType.CLIENT)
 	override fun getRenderLayer(): BlockRenderLayer {
 		return BlockRenderLayer.TRANSLUCENT