diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index fed47d4..61be70e 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -6,6 +6,10 @@ SPDX-License-Identifier: EUPL-1.2
 
 # Changelog
 
+## Development
+
+- `Machine.block` command to directly control block temperatures.
+
 ## Version 0.11.0
 
 - Initial support for 384-well blocks, at least in data/file reading.
diff --git a/src/qslib/machine.py b/src/qslib/machine.py
index d718654..b564e5c 100644
--- a/src/qslib/machine.py
+++ b/src/qslib/machine.py
@@ -251,9 +251,7 @@ def run_command_to_ack(self, command: str | SCPICommand) -> str:
             raise ConnectionError(f"Not connected to {self.host}")
         loop = asyncio.get_event_loop()
         try:
-            return loop.run_until_complete(
-                self.connection.run_command(command, just_ack=True)
-            )
+            return loop.run_until_complete(self.connection.run_command(command, just_ack=True))
         except CommandError as e:
             e.__traceback__ = None
             raise e
@@ -351,15 +349,11 @@ def list_files(
     ) -> list[str] | list[dict[str, Any]]:
         loop = asyncio.get_event_loop()
         return loop.run_until_complete(
-            self.connection.list_files(
-                path, leaf=leaf, verbose=verbose, recursive=recursive
-            )
+            self.connection.list_files(path, leaf=leaf, verbose=verbose, recursive=recursive)
         )
 
     @_ensure_connection(AccessLevel.Observer)
-    def read_file(
-        self, path: str, context: str | None = None, leaf: str = "FILE"
-    ) -> bytes:
+    def read_file(self, path: str, context: str | None = None, leaf: str = "FILE") -> bytes:
         """Read a file.
 
         Parameters
@@ -375,9 +369,7 @@ def read_file(
         bytes
             returned file
         """
-        return asyncio.get_event_loop().run_until_complete(
-            self.connection.read_file(path, context, leaf)
-        )
+        return asyncio.get_event_loop().run_until_complete(self.connection.read_file(path, context, leaf))
 
     @_ensure_connection(AccessLevel.Controller)
     def write_file(self, path: str, data: str | bytes) -> None:
@@ -385,11 +377,7 @@ def write_file(self, path: str, data: str | bytes) -> None:
             data = data.encode()
 
         self.run_command_bytes(
-            b"FILE:WRITE "
-            + path.encode()
-            + b" <quote.base64>\n"
-            + base64.encodebytes(data)
-            + b"\n</quote.base64>"
+            b"FILE:WRITE " + path.encode() + b" <quote.base64>\n" + base64.encodebytes(data) + b"\n</quote.base64>"
         )
 
     @_ensure_connection(AccessLevel.Observer)
@@ -405,9 +393,7 @@ def list_runs_in_storage(self) -> list[str]:
         """
         x = self.run_command("FILE:LIST? public_run_complete:")
         a = x.split("\n")[1:-1]
-        return [
-            re.sub("^public_run_complete:", "", s)[:-4] for s in a if s.endswith(".eds")
-        ]
+        return [re.sub("^public_run_complete:", "", s)[:-4] for s in a if s.endswith(".eds")]
 
     @_ensure_connection(AccessLevel.Observer)
     def load_run_from_storage(self, path: str) -> "Experiment":  # type: ignore
@@ -418,9 +404,7 @@ def load_run_from_storage(self, path: str) -> "Experiment":  # type: ignore
         return Experiment.from_machine_storage(self, path)
 
     @_ensure_connection(AccessLevel.Guest)
-    def save_run_from_storage(
-        self, machine_path: str, download_path: str | IO[bytes], overwrite: bool = False
-    ) -> None:
+    def save_run_from_storage(self, machine_path: str, download_path: str | IO[bytes], overwrite: bool = False) -> None:
         """Download a file from run storage on the machine.
 
         Parameters
@@ -451,9 +435,7 @@ def save_run_from_storage(
 
     @_ensure_connection(AccessLevel.Observer)
     def _get_log_from_byte(self, name: str | bytes, byte: int) -> bytes:
-        logfuture: Future[
-            tuple[bytes, bytes, Future[tuple[bytes, bytes, None]] | None]
-        ] = asyncio.Future()
+        logfuture: Future[tuple[bytes, bytes, Future[tuple[bytes, bytes, None]] | None]] = asyncio.Future()
         if self.connection is None:
             raise Exception
         if isinstance(name, bytes):
@@ -489,9 +471,7 @@ def machine_status(self) -> MachineStatus:
     @_ensure_connection(AccessLevel.Observer)
     def get_running_protocol(self) -> Protocol:
         p = _unwrap_tags(self.run_command("PROT? ${Protocol}"))
-        pn, svs, rm = self.run_command(
-            "RET ${Protocol} ${SampleVolume} ${RunMode}"
-        ).split()
+        pn, svs, rm = self.run_command("RET ${Protocol} ${SampleVolume} ${RunMode}").split()
         p = f"PROT -volume={svs} -runmode={rm} {pn} " + p
         return Protocol.from_scpicommand(SCPICommand.from_string(p))
 
@@ -509,9 +489,7 @@ def set_access_level(
                 " Change max_access level to continue."
             )
 
-        self.run_command(
-            f"ACC -stealth={stealth} -exclusive={exclusive} {access_level}"
-        )
+        self.run_command(f"ACC -stealth={stealth} -exclusive={exclusive} {access_level}")
         log.debug(f"Took access level {access_level} {exclusive=} {stealth=}")
         self._current_access_level = access_level
 
@@ -560,6 +538,42 @@ def drawer_close(self, lower_cover: bool = True, check: bool = True) -> None:
         if lower_cover:
             self.cover_lower(check=check, ensure_drawer=False)
 
+    @property
+    @_ensure_connection(AccessLevel.Observer)
+    def block(self) -> tuple[bool, float]:
+        """Returns whether the block is currently temperature-controlled, and the current block temperature setting."""
+        sbool, v = self.run_command("BLOCK?").split()
+        sbool = sbool.lower()
+        v = float(v)
+
+        if sbool == "on":
+            return True, v
+        elif sbool == "off":
+            return False, v
+        else:
+            raise ValueError(f"Block status {sbool} {v} is not understood.")
+
+    @block.setter
+    @_ensure_connection(AccessLevel.Controller)
+    def block(self, value: float | None | False | True | tuple[bool, float]):
+        """Set the block temperature control.
+
+        If a float is given, it will be set to that temperature; None or False will
+        turn off the block temperature control, and True will turn it on at the current set temperature.  A tuple can be given
+        to specify both the on/off status and the temperature."""
+        if (value is None) or (value is False):
+            bcom = "OFF"
+        elif value is True:
+            bcom = "ON"
+        elif isinstance(value, tuple):
+            bcom = f"{'ON' if value[0] else 'OFF'} {float(value[1])}"
+        else:
+            try:
+                bcom = f"ON {float(value)}"
+            except ValueError:
+                raise ValueError(f"Block value {value} is not understood.")
+        self.run_command(f"BLOCK {bcom}")
+
     @property
     def status(self) -> RunStatus:
         """Return the current status of the run."""
@@ -693,14 +707,10 @@ def at_access(
         log.debug(f"Took access level {access_level} {exclusive=} {stealth=}.")
         yield self
         self.set_access_level(fac, fex, fst)
-        log.debug(
-            f"Dropped access level {access_level}, returning to {fac} exclusive={fex} stealth={fst}."
-        )
+        log.debug(f"Dropped access level {access_level}, returning to {fac} exclusive={fex} stealth={fst}.")
 
     @contextmanager
-    def ensured_connection(
-        self, access_level: AccessLevel = AccessLevel.Observer
-    ) -> Generator[Machine, None, None]:
+    def ensured_connection(self, access_level: AccessLevel = AccessLevel.Observer) -> Generator[Machine, None, None]:
         if self.automatic:
             was_connected = self.connected
             if not was_connected: