diff --git a/.builds/archlinux.yml b/.builds/archlinux.yml
index 2c8ffcf45..31854274d 100644
--- a/.builds/archlinux.yml
+++ b/.builds/archlinux.yml
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ packages:
   - libdisplay-info
   - libegl
   - libinput
+  - libsfdo
   - libxcb
   - libxkbcommon
   - meson
diff --git a/.builds/freebsd.yml b/.builds/freebsd.yml
index a3df06e6d..923b16d25 100644
--- a/.builds/freebsd.yml
+++ b/.builds/freebsd.yml
@@ -39,7 +39,8 @@ tasks:
     cd subprojects
     ln -s ../../wlroots wlroots
     cd ..
-    meson setup build --fatal-meson-warnings -Dtray=enabled -Dsd-bus-provider=basu
+    # libsfdo is not packaged for FreeBSD yet; tray is disabled here.
+    meson setup build --fatal-meson-warnings -Dtray=disabled
 - build: |
     cd sway
     ninja -C build
diff --git a/include/swaybar/tray/icon.h b/include/swaybar/tray/icon.h
deleted file mode 100644
index 3673674b9..000000000
--- a/include/swaybar/tray/icon.h
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,43 +0,0 @@
-#ifndef _SWAYBAR_TRAY_ICON_H
-#define _SWAYBAR_TRAY_ICON_H
-
-#include "list.h"
-
-struct icon_theme_subdir {
-	char *name;
-	int size;
-
-	enum {
-		THRESHOLD,
-		SCALABLE,
-		FIXED
-	} type;
-
-	int max_size;
-	int min_size;
-	int threshold;
-};
-
-struct icon_theme {
-	char *name;
-	char *comment;
-	list_t *inherits; // char *
-	list_t *directories; // char *
-
-	char *dir;
-	list_t *subdirs; // struct icon_theme_subdir *
-};
-
-void init_themes(list_t **themes, list_t **basedirs);
-void finish_themes(list_t *themes, list_t *basedirs);
-
-/*
- * Finds an icon of a specified size given a list of themes and base directories.
- * If the icon is found, the pointers min_size & max_size are set to minimum &
- * maximum size that the icon can be scaled to, respectively.
- * Returns: path of icon (which should be freed), or NULL if the icon is not found.
- */
-char *find_icon(list_t *themes, list_t *basedirs, char *name, int size,
-		char *theme, int *min_size, int *max_size);
-
-#endif
diff --git a/include/swaybar/tray/item.h b/include/swaybar/tray/item.h
index 73937a0cc..955d9e3d1 100644
--- a/include/swaybar/tray/item.h
+++ b/include/swaybar/tray/item.h
@@ -28,9 +28,9 @@ struct swaybar_sni {
 	// icon properties
 	struct swaybar_tray *tray;
 	cairo_surface_t *icon;
-	int min_size;
-	int max_size;
+	int icon_size;
 	int target_size;
+	struct sfdo_icon_theme *icon_theme_override; // non-NULL if IconThemePath set
 
 	// dbus properties
 	char *watcher_id;
diff --git a/include/swaybar/tray/tray.h b/include/swaybar/tray/tray.h
index d2e80a6d4..5d7c42f87 100644
--- a/include/swaybar/tray/tray.h
+++ b/include/swaybar/tray/tray.h
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 #include <basu/sd-bus.h>
 #endif
 #include <cairo.h>
+#include <sfdo-icon.h>
 #include <stdint.h>
 #include "swaybar/tray/host.h"
 #include "list.h"
@@ -30,13 +31,15 @@ struct swaybar_tray {
 	struct swaybar_watcher *watcher_xdg;
 	struct swaybar_watcher *watcher_kde;
 
-	list_t *basedirs; // char *
-	list_t *themes; // struct swaybar_theme *
+	struct sfdo_icon_ctx *icon_ctx;
+	struct sfdo_icon_theme *icon_theme;
+	char *icon_theme_name;
 };
 
 struct swaybar_tray *create_tray(struct swaybar *bar);
 void destroy_tray(struct swaybar_tray *tray);
 void tray_in(int fd, short mask, void *data);
+void tray_reload_icon_theme(struct swaybar_tray *tray, const char *name);
 uint32_t render_tray(cairo_t *cairo, struct swaybar_output *output, double *x);
 
 #endif
diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 17d65c334..7623ab699 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -97,9 +97,12 @@ else
 	sdbus = dependency(get_option('sd-bus-provider'), required: get_option('tray'))
 endif
 
-tray_deps_found = sdbus.found()
+sfdo_icon = dependency('libsfdo-icon', version: '>=0.1.3', required: get_option('tray'))
+sfdo_basedir = dependency('libsfdo-basedir', version: '>=0.1.3', required: get_option('tray'))
+
+tray_deps_found = sdbus.found() and sfdo_icon.found() and sfdo_basedir.found()
 if get_option('tray').enabled() and not tray_deps_found
-	error('Building with -Dtray=enabled, but sd-bus has not been not found')
+	error('Building with -Dtray=enabled, but sd-bus or libsfdo has not been found')
 endif
 have_tray = (not get_option('tray').disabled()) and tray_deps_found
 
diff --git a/swaybar/ipc.c b/swaybar/ipc.c
index 68d8dd32d..ef6fc80ef 100644
--- a/swaybar/ipc.c
+++ b/swaybar/ipc.c
@@ -524,6 +524,8 @@ static bool handle_barconfig_update(struct swaybar *bar, const char *payload,
 		loop_remove_fd(bar->eventloop, bar->tray->fd);
 		destroy_tray(bar->tray);
 		bar->tray = NULL;
+	} else if (bar->tray) {
+		tray_reload_icon_theme(bar->tray, newcfg->icon_theme);
 	}
 #endif
 
diff --git a/swaybar/meson.build b/swaybar/meson.build
index 34bbdeea9..2b02040b9 100644
--- a/swaybar/meson.build
+++ b/swaybar/meson.build
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 tray_files = have_tray ? [
 	'tray/host.c',
-	'tray/icon.c',
 	'tray/item.c',
 	'tray/tray.c',
 	'tray/watcher.c'
@@ -18,7 +17,7 @@ swaybar_deps = [
 	wayland_cursor
 ]
 if have_tray
-	swaybar_deps += sdbus
+	swaybar_deps += [sdbus, sfdo_icon, sfdo_basedir]
 endif
 
 executable(
diff --git a/swaybar/tray/icon.c b/swaybar/tray/icon.c
deleted file mode 100644
index 659edd86f..000000000
--- a/swaybar/tray/icon.c
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,525 +0,0 @@
-#include <ctype.h>
-#include <dirent.h>
-#include <stdbool.h>
-#include <stdio.h>
-#include <stdlib.h>
-#include <string.h>
-#include <sys/stat.h>
-#include <unistd.h>
-#include <wordexp.h>
-#include "swaybar/tray/icon.h"
-#include "config.h"
-#include "list.h"
-#include "log.h"
-#include "stringop.h"
-
-static int cmp_id(const void *item, const void *cmp_to) {
-	return strcmp(item, cmp_to);
-}
-
-static bool dir_exists(char *path) {
-	struct stat sb;
-	return stat(path, &sb) == 0 && S_ISDIR(sb.st_mode);
-}
-
-static list_t *get_basedirs(void) {
-	list_t *basedirs = create_list();
-	list_add(basedirs, strdup("$HOME/.icons")); // deprecated
-
-	char *data_home = getenv("XDG_DATA_HOME");
-	list_add(basedirs, strdup(data_home && *data_home ?
-			"$XDG_DATA_HOME/icons" : "$HOME/.local/share/icons"));
-
-	list_add(basedirs, strdup("/usr/share/pixmaps"));
-
-	char *data_dirs = getenv("XDG_DATA_DIRS");
-	if (!(data_dirs && *data_dirs)) {
-		data_dirs = "/usr/local/share:/usr/share";
-	}
-	data_dirs = strdup(data_dirs);
-	char *dir = strtok(data_dirs, ":");
-	do {
-		char *path = format_str("%s/icons", dir);
-		list_add(basedirs, path);
-	} while ((dir = strtok(NULL, ":")));
-	free(data_dirs);
-
-	list_t *basedirs_expanded = create_list();
-	for (int i = 0; i < basedirs->length; ++i) {
-		wordexp_t p;
-		if (wordexp(basedirs->items[i], &p, WRDE_UNDEF) == 0) {
-			if (dir_exists(p.we_wordv[0])) {
-				list_add(basedirs_expanded, strdup(p.we_wordv[0]));
-			}
-			wordfree(&p);
-		}
-	}
-
-	list_free_items_and_destroy(basedirs);
-
-	return basedirs_expanded;
-}
-
-static void destroy_theme(struct icon_theme *theme) {
-	if (!theme) {
-		return;
-	}
-	free(theme->name);
-	free(theme->comment);
-	list_free_items_and_destroy(theme->inherits);
-	list_free_items_and_destroy(theme->directories);
-	free(theme->dir);
-
-	for (int i = 0; i < theme->subdirs->length; ++i) {
-		struct icon_theme_subdir *subdir = theme->subdirs->items[i];
-		free(subdir->name);
-		free(subdir);
-	}
-	list_free(theme->subdirs);
-	free(theme);
-}
-
-static const char *group_handler(char *old_group, char *new_group,
-		struct icon_theme *theme) {
-	if (!old_group) {
-		return new_group && strcmp(new_group, "Icon Theme") == 0 ? NULL :
-			"first group must be 'Icon Theme'";
-	}
-
-	if (strcmp(old_group, "Icon Theme") == 0) {
-		if (!theme->name) {
-			return "missing required key 'Name'";
-		} else if (!theme->comment) {
-			return "missing required key 'Comment'";
-		} else if (!theme->directories) {
-			return "missing required key 'Directories'";
-		} else {
-			for (char *c = theme->name; *c; ++c) {
-				if (*c == ',' || *c == ' ') {
-					return "malformed theme name";
-				}
-			}
-		}
-	} else {
-		if (theme->subdirs->length == 0) { // skip
-			return NULL;
-		}
-
-		struct icon_theme_subdir *subdir =
-			theme->subdirs->items[theme->subdirs->length - 1];
-		if (!subdir->size) {
-			return "missing required key 'Size'";
-		}
-
-		switch (subdir->type) {
-		case FIXED: subdir->max_size = subdir->min_size = subdir->size;
-			break;
-		case SCALABLE: {
-			if (!subdir->max_size) subdir->max_size = subdir->size;
-			if (!subdir->min_size) subdir->min_size = subdir->size;
-			break;
-		}
-		case THRESHOLD:
-			subdir->max_size = subdir->size + subdir->threshold;
-			subdir->min_size = subdir->size - subdir->threshold;
-		}
-	}
-
-	if (new_group && list_seq_find(theme->directories, cmp_id, new_group) != -1) {
-		struct icon_theme_subdir *subdir = calloc(1, sizeof(struct icon_theme_subdir));
-		if (!subdir) {
-			return "out of memory";
-		}
-		subdir->name = strdup(new_group);
-		subdir->threshold = 2;
-		list_add(theme->subdirs, subdir);
-	}
-
-	return NULL;
-}
-
-static const char *entry_handler(char *group, char *key, char *value,
-		struct icon_theme *theme) {
-	if (strcmp(group, "Icon Theme") == 0) {
-		if (strcmp(key, "Name") == 0) {
-			theme->name = strdup(value);
-		} else if (strcmp(key, "Comment") == 0) {
-			theme->comment = strdup(value);
-		} else if (strcmp(key, "Inherits") == 0) {
-			theme->inherits = split_string(value, ",");
-		} else if (strcmp(key, "Directories") == 0) {
-			theme->directories = split_string(value, ",");
-		} // Ignored: ScaledDirectories, Hidden, Example
-	} else {
-		if (theme->subdirs->length == 0) { // skip
-			return NULL;
-		}
-
-		struct icon_theme_subdir *subdir =
-			theme->subdirs->items[theme->subdirs->length - 1];
-		if (strcmp(subdir->name, group) != 0) { // skip
-			return NULL;
-		}
-
-		if (strcmp(key, "Context") == 0) {
-			return NULL; // ignored, but explicitly handled to not fail parsing
-		} else if (strcmp(key, "Type") == 0) {
-			if (strcmp(value, "Fixed") == 0) {
-				subdir->type = FIXED;
-			} else if (strcmp(value, "Scalable") == 0) {
-				subdir->type = SCALABLE;
-			} else if (strcmp(value, "Threshold") == 0) {
-				subdir->type = THRESHOLD;
-			} else {
-				return "invalid value - expected 'Fixed', 'Scalable' or 'Threshold'";
-			}
-			return NULL;
-		}
-
-		char *end;
-		int n = strtol(value, &end, 10);
-		if (*end != '\0') {
-			return "invalid value - expected a number";
-		}
-
-		if (strcmp(key, "Size") == 0) {
-			subdir->size = n;
-		} else if (strcmp(key, "MaxSize") == 0) {
-			subdir->max_size = n;
-		} else if (strcmp(key, "MinSize") == 0) {
-			subdir->min_size = n;
-		} else if (strcmp(key, "Threshold") == 0) {
-			subdir->threshold = n;
-		} // Ignored: Scale
-	}
-	return NULL;
-}
-
-/*
- * This is a Freedesktop Desktop Entry parser (essentially INI)
- * It calls entry_handler for every entry
- * and group_handler between every group (as well as at both ends)
- * Handlers return whether an error occurred, which stops parsing
- */
-static struct icon_theme *read_theme_file(char *basedir, char *theme_name) {
-	// look for index.theme file
-	char *path = format_str("%s/%s/index.theme", basedir, theme_name);
-	FILE *theme_file = fopen(path, "r");
-	free(path);
-	if (!theme_file) {
-		return NULL;
-	}
-
-	struct icon_theme *theme = calloc(1, sizeof(struct icon_theme));
-	if (!theme) {
-		fclose(theme_file);
-		return NULL;
-	}
-	theme->subdirs = create_list();
-
-	list_t *groups = create_list();
-
-	const char *error = NULL;
-	int line_no = 0;
-	char *full_line = NULL;
-	size_t full_len = 0;
-	ssize_t nread;
-	while ((nread = getline(&full_line, &full_len, theme_file)) != -1) {
-		++line_no;
-
-		char *line = full_line - 1;
-		while (isspace(*++line)) {} // remove leading whitespace
-		if (!*line || line[0] == '#') continue; // ignore blank lines & comments
-
-		int len = nread - (line - full_line);
-		while (isspace(line[--len])) {}
-		line[++len] = '\0'; // remove trailing whitespace
-
-		if (line[0] == '[') { // group header
-			// check well-formed
-			int i = 1;
-			for (; !iscntrl(line[i]) && line[i] != '[' && line[i] != ']'; ++i) {}
-			if (i != --len || line[i] != ']') {
-				error = "malformed group header";
-				break;
-			}
-
-			line[len] = '\0';
-
-			// check group is not duplicate
-			if (list_seq_find(groups, cmp_id, &line[1]) != -1) {
-				error = "duplicate group";
-				break;
-			}
-
-			// call handler
-			char *last_group = groups->length > 0 ? groups->items[groups->length - 1] : NULL;
-			error = group_handler(last_group, &line[1], theme);
-			if (error) {
-				break;
-			}
-
-			list_add(groups, strdup(&line[1]));
-		} else { // key-value pair
-			if (groups->length == 0) {
-				error = "unexpected content before first header";
-				break;
-			}
-
-			// check well-formed
-			int eok = 0;
-			for (; isalnum(line[eok]) || line[eok] == '-'; ++eok) {} // TODO locale?
-			int i = eok - 1;
-			while (isspace(line[++i])) {}
-			if (line[i] != '=') {
-				error = "malformed key-value pair";
-				break;
-			}
-
-			line[eok] = '\0'; // split into key-value pair
-			char *value = &line[i];
-			while (isspace(*++value)) {}
-			// TODO unescape value
-
-			error = entry_handler(groups->items[groups->length - 1], line,
-					value, theme);
-			if (error) {
-				break;
-			}
-		}
-	}
-
-	if (!error) {
-		if (groups->length > 0) {
-			error = group_handler(groups->items[groups->length - 1], NULL, theme);
-		} else {
-			error = "empty file";
-		}
-	}
-
-	if (!error) {
-		theme->dir = strdup(theme_name);
-	} else {
-		char *last_group = groups->length > 0 ? groups->items[groups->length-1] : "n/a";
-		sway_log(SWAY_DEBUG, "Failed to load theme '%s' - parsing of file "
-				"'%s/%s/index.theme' failed on line %d (group '%s'): %s",
-				theme_name, basedir, theme_name, line_no, last_group, error);
-		destroy_theme(theme);
-		theme = NULL;
-	}
-
-	free(full_line);
-	list_free_items_and_destroy(groups);
-	fclose(theme_file);
-	return theme;
-}
-
-static list_t *load_themes_in_dir(char *basedir) {
-	DIR *dir;
-	if (!(dir = opendir(basedir))) {
-		return NULL;
-	}
-
-	list_t *themes = create_list();
-	struct dirent *entry;
-	while ((entry = readdir(dir))) {
-		if (entry->d_name[0] == '.') continue;
-
-		struct icon_theme *theme = read_theme_file(basedir, entry->d_name);
-		if (theme) {
-			list_add(themes, theme);
-		}
-	}
-	closedir(dir);
-	return themes;
-}
-
-static void log_loaded_themes(list_t *themes) {
-	if (themes->length == 0) {
-		sway_log(SWAY_INFO, "Warning: no icon themes loaded");
-		return;
-	}
-
-	const char sep[] = ", ";
-	size_t sep_len = strlen(sep);
-
-	size_t len = 0;
-	for (int i = 0; i < themes->length; ++i) {
-		struct icon_theme *theme = themes->items[i];
-		len += strlen(theme->name) + sep_len;
-	}
-
-	char *str = malloc(len + 1);
-	if (!str) {
-		return;
-	}
-	char *p = str;
-	for (int i = 0; i < themes->length; ++i) {
-		if (i > 0) {
-			memcpy(p, sep, sep_len);
-			p += sep_len;
-		}
-
-		struct icon_theme *theme = themes->items[i];
-		size_t name_len = strlen(theme->name);
-		memcpy(p, theme->name, name_len);
-		p += name_len;
-	}
-	*p = '\0';
-
-	sway_log(SWAY_DEBUG, "Loaded icon themes: %s", str);
-	free(str);
-}
-
-void init_themes(list_t **themes, list_t **basedirs) {
-	*basedirs = get_basedirs();
-
-	*themes = create_list();
-	for (int i = 0; i < (*basedirs)->length; ++i) {
-		list_t *dir_themes = load_themes_in_dir((*basedirs)->items[i]);
-		if (dir_themes == NULL) {
-			continue;
-		}
-		list_cat(*themes, dir_themes);
-		list_free(dir_themes);
-	}
-
-	log_loaded_themes(*themes);
-}
-
-void finish_themes(list_t *themes, list_t *basedirs) {
-	for (int i = 0; i < themes->length; ++i) {
-		destroy_theme(themes->items[i]);
-	}
-	list_free(themes);
-	list_free_items_and_destroy(basedirs);
-}
-
-static char *find_icon_in_subdir(char *name, char *basedir, char *theme,
-		char *subdir) {
-	static const char *extensions[] = {
-#if HAVE_GDK_PIXBUF
-		"svg",
-#endif
-		"png",
-#if HAVE_GDK_PIXBUF
-		"xpm" // deprecated
-#endif
-	};
-
-	for (size_t i = 0; i < sizeof(extensions) / sizeof(*extensions); ++i) {
-		char *path = format_str("%s/%s/%s/%s.%s",
-			basedir, theme, subdir, name, extensions[i]);
-		if (access(path, R_OK) == 0) {
-			return path;
-		}
-		free(path);
-	}
-
-	return NULL;
-}
-
-static bool theme_exists_in_basedir(char *theme, char *basedir) {
-	char *path = format_str("%s/%s", basedir, theme);
-	bool ret = dir_exists(path);
-	free(path);
-	return ret;
-}
-
-static char *find_icon_with_theme(list_t *basedirs, list_t *themes, char *name,
-		int size, char *theme_name, int *min_size, int *max_size) {
-	struct icon_theme *theme = NULL;
-	for (int i = 0; i < themes->length; ++i) {
-		theme = themes->items[i];
-		if (strcmp(theme->name, theme_name) == 0) {
-			break;
-		}
-		theme = NULL;
-	}
-	if (!theme) return NULL;
-
-	char *icon = NULL;
-	for (int i = 0; i < basedirs->length; ++i) {
-		if (!theme_exists_in_basedir(theme->dir, basedirs->items[i])) {
-			continue;
-		}
-		// search backwards to hopefully hit scalable/larger icons first
-		for (int j = theme->subdirs->length - 1; j >= 0; --j) {
-			struct icon_theme_subdir *subdir = theme->subdirs->items[j];
-			if (size >= subdir->min_size && size <= subdir->max_size) {
-				if ((icon = find_icon_in_subdir(name, basedirs->items[i],
-								theme->dir, subdir->name))) {
-					*min_size = subdir->min_size;
-					*max_size = subdir->max_size;
-					return icon;
-				}
-			}
-		}
-	}
-
-	// inexact match
-	unsigned smallest_error = -1; // UINT_MAX
-	for (int i = 0; i < basedirs->length; ++i) {
-		if (!theme_exists_in_basedir(theme->dir, basedirs->items[i])) {
-			continue;
-		}
-		for (int j = theme->subdirs->length - 1; j >= 0; --j) {
-			struct icon_theme_subdir *subdir = theme->subdirs->items[j];
-			unsigned error = (size > subdir->max_size ? size - subdir->max_size : 0)
-				+ (size < subdir->min_size ? subdir->min_size - size : 0);
-			if (error < smallest_error) {
-				char *test_icon = find_icon_in_subdir(name, basedirs->items[i],
-						theme->dir, subdir->name);
-				if (test_icon) {
-					icon = test_icon;
-					smallest_error = error;
-					*min_size = subdir->min_size;
-					*max_size = subdir->max_size;
-				}
-			}
-		}
-	}
-
-	if (!icon && theme->inherits) {
-		for (int i = 0; i < theme->inherits->length; ++i) {
-			icon = find_icon_with_theme(basedirs, themes, name, size,
-					theme->inherits->items[i], min_size, max_size);
-			if (icon) {
-				break;
-			}
-		}
-	}
-
-	return icon;
-}
-
-static char *find_fallback_icon(list_t *basedirs, char *name, int *min_size,
-		int *max_size) {
-	for (int i = 0; i < basedirs->length; ++i) {
-		char *icon = find_icon_in_subdir(name, basedirs->items[i], "", "");
-		if (icon) {
-			*min_size = 1;
-			*max_size = 512;
-			return icon;
-		}
-	}
-	return NULL;
-}
-
-char *find_icon(list_t *themes, list_t *basedirs, char *name, int size,
-		char *theme, int *min_size, int *max_size) {
-	// TODO https://specifications.freedesktop.org/icon-theme-spec/icon-theme-spec-latest.html#implementation_notes
-	char *icon = NULL;
-	if (theme) {
-		icon = find_icon_with_theme(basedirs, themes, name, size, theme,
-				min_size, max_size);
-	}
-	if (!icon && !(theme && strcmp(theme, "Hicolor") == 0)) {
-		icon = find_icon_with_theme(basedirs, themes, name, size, "Hicolor",
-				min_size, max_size);
-	}
-	if (!icon) {
-		icon = find_fallback_icon(basedirs, name, min_size, max_size);
-	}
-	return icon;
-}
diff --git a/swaybar/tray/item.c b/swaybar/tray/item.c
index 12929743b..f5369015e 100644
--- a/swaybar/tray/item.c
+++ b/swaybar/tray/item.c
@@ -1,15 +1,17 @@
 #include <arpa/inet.h>
 #include <cairo.h>
 #include <limits.h>
+#include <sfdo-icon.h>
 #include <stdbool.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
 #include <string.h>
+#include <unistd.h>
+#include "config.h"
 #include "swaybar/bar.h"
 #include "swaybar/config.h"
 #include "swaybar/image.h"
 #include "swaybar/input.h"
 #include "swaybar/tray/host.h"
-#include "swaybar/tray/icon.h"
 #include "swaybar/tray/item.h"
 #include "swaybar/tray/tray.h"
 #include "cairo_util.h"
@@ -28,7 +30,7 @@ static bool sni_ready(struct swaybar_sni *sni) {
 
 static void set_sni_dirty(struct swaybar_sni *sni) {
 	if (sni_ready(sni)) {
-		sni->target_size = sni->min_size = sni->max_size = 0; // invalidate previous icon
+		sni->target_size = sni->icon_size = 0; // invalidate previous icon
 		set_bar_dirty(sni->tray->bar);
 	}
 }
@@ -161,6 +163,13 @@ static int get_property_callback(sd_bus_message *msg, void *data,
 		}
 	}
 
+	// IconThemePath may change at runtime; the cached override theme is
+	// keyed on the old path, so drop it.
+	if (strcmp(prop, "IconThemePath") == 0) {
+		sfdo_icon_theme_destroy(sni->icon_theme_override);
+		sni->icon_theme_override = NULL;
+	}
+
 	if (strcmp(prop, "Status") == 0 || (sni->status && (sni->status[0] == 'N' ?
 				prop[0] == 'A' : has_prefix(prop, "Icon")))) {
 		set_sni_dirty(sni);
@@ -313,6 +322,7 @@ void destroy_sni(struct swaybar_sni *sni) {
 	}
 
 	cairo_surface_destroy(sni->icon);
+	sfdo_icon_theme_destroy(sni->icon_theme_override);
 	free(sni->watcher_id);
 	free(sni->service);
 	free(sni->path);
@@ -415,25 +425,88 @@ static enum hotspot_event_handling icon_hotspot_callback(
 	return HOTSPOT_PROCESS;
 }
 
-static void reload_sni(struct swaybar_sni *sni, char *icon_theme,
+// Some apps send "foo.png" as an icon name. The icon theme spec doesn't
+// allow extensions in lookups; strip a known one before passing to libsfdo.
+static size_t name_len_without_extension(const char *name) {
+	size_t len = strlen(name);
+	if (len >= 4 && name[len - 4] == '.') {
+		const char *ext = &name[len - 3];
+		if (strcmp(ext, "png") == 0 || strcmp(ext, "svg") == 0 ||
+				strcmp(ext, "xpm") == 0) {
+			return len - 4;
+		}
+	}
+	return len;
+}
+
+static struct sfdo_icon_theme *get_sni_icon_theme(struct swaybar_sni *sni,
+		const char *theme_name) {
+	if (!sni->icon_theme_path) {
+		return sni->tray->icon_theme;
+	}
+	if (sni->icon_theme_override) {
+		return sni->icon_theme_override;
+	}
+	struct sfdo_string basedir = {
+		.data = sni->icon_theme_path,
+		.len = strlen(sni->icon_theme_path),
+	};
+	int options = SFDO_ICON_THEME_LOAD_OPTION_ALLOW_MISSING |
+		SFDO_ICON_THEME_LOAD_OPTION_RELAXED;
+	sni->icon_theme_override = sfdo_icon_theme_load_from(sni->tray->icon_ctx,
+			theme_name, &basedir, 1, options);
+	if (!sni->icon_theme_override) {
+		sway_log(SWAY_DEBUG, "%s: failed to load theme '%s' from '%s', "
+				"falling back to global theme", sni->watcher_id,
+				theme_name ? theme_name : "(default)", sni->icon_theme_path);
+		return sni->tray->icon_theme;
+	}
+	return sni->icon_theme_override;
+}
+
+static char *lookup_icon_path(struct swaybar_sni *sni, const char *icon_name,
+		const char *theme_name, int target_size) {
+	// Absolute paths are outside the XDG icon theme spec; handle directly
+	if (icon_name[0] == '/') {
+		return access(icon_name, R_OK) == 0 ? strdup(icon_name) : NULL;
+	}
+
+	struct sfdo_icon_theme *theme = get_sni_icon_theme(sni, theme_name);
+	if (!theme) {
+		return NULL;
+	}
+
+	int options = SFDO_ICON_THEME_LOOKUP_OPTIONS_DEFAULT;
+#if !HAVE_GDK_PIXBUF
+	options |= SFDO_ICON_THEME_LOOKUP_OPTION_NO_SVG;
+#endif
+	size_t name_len = name_len_without_extension(icon_name);
+	struct sfdo_icon_file *file = sfdo_icon_theme_lookup(theme, icon_name,
+			name_len, target_size, 1, options);
+	if (!file || file == SFDO_ICON_FILE_INVALID) {
+		return NULL;
+	}
+	char *path = strdup(sfdo_icon_file_get_path(file, NULL));
+	sfdo_icon_file_destroy(file);
+	return path;
+}
+
+static void reload_sni(struct swaybar_sni *sni, const char *icon_theme,
 		int target_size) {
 	char *icon_name = sni->status[0] == 'N' ?
 		sni->attention_icon_name : sni->icon_name;
 	if (icon_name) {
-		list_t *icon_search_paths = create_list();
-		list_cat(icon_search_paths, sni->tray->basedirs);
-		if (sni->icon_theme_path) {
-			list_add(icon_search_paths, sni->icon_theme_path);
-		}
-		char *icon_path = find_icon(sni->tray->themes, icon_search_paths,
-				icon_name, target_size, icon_theme,
-				&sni->min_size, &sni->max_size);
-		list_free(icon_search_paths);
+		char *icon_path = lookup_icon_path(sni, icon_name, icon_theme,
+				target_size);
 		if (icon_path) {
 			cairo_surface_destroy(sni->icon);
 			sni->icon = load_image(icon_path);
 			free(icon_path);
-			return;
+			if (sni->icon) {
+				return;
+			}
+			// load_image() failed (unsupported format, file vanished,
+			// etc); fall through to pixmap fallback if available.
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -463,11 +536,10 @@ uint32_t render_sni(cairo_t *cairo, struct swaybar_output *output, double *x,
 	int padding = output->bar->config->tray_padding;
 	int target_size = height - 2*padding;
 	if (target_size != sni->target_size && sni_ready(sni)) {
-		// check if another icon should be loaded
-		if (target_size < sni->min_size || target_size > sni->max_size) {
+		if (target_size != sni->icon_size) {
 			reload_sni(sni, output->bar->config->icon_theme, target_size);
+			sni->icon_size = target_size;
 		}
-
 		sni->target_size = target_size;
 	}
 
diff --git a/swaybar/tray/tray.c b/swaybar/tray/tray.c
index a4f382bfb..318a30cb8 100644
--- a/swaybar/tray/tray.c
+++ b/swaybar/tray/tray.c
@@ -1,11 +1,12 @@
 #include <cairo.h>
 #include <poll.h>
+#include <sfdo-basedir.h>
+#include <sfdo-icon.h>
 #include <stdint.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
 #include <string.h>
 #include "swaybar/config.h"
 #include "swaybar/bar.h"
-#include "swaybar/tray/icon.h"
 #include "swaybar/tray/host.h"
 #include "swaybar/tray/item.h"
 #include "swaybar/tray/tray.h"
@@ -34,6 +35,22 @@ static int handle_lost_watcher(sd_bus_message *msg,
 	return 0;
 }
 
+static struct sfdo_icon_theme *load_icon_theme(struct sfdo_icon_ctx *ctx,
+		const char *name) {
+	int options = SFDO_ICON_THEME_LOAD_OPTION_ALLOW_MISSING |
+		SFDO_ICON_THEME_LOAD_OPTION_RELAXED;
+	struct sfdo_icon_theme *theme = sfdo_icon_theme_load(ctx, name, options);
+	if (!theme) {
+		// _ALLOW_MISSING falls back to hicolor when the named theme is
+		// missing, but returns NULL when the theme is found but invalid.
+		// Manually retry with hicolor in that case.
+		sway_log(SWAY_DEBUG, "Failed to load icon theme '%s', "
+				"falling back to hicolor", name ? name : "(default)");
+		theme = sfdo_icon_theme_load(ctx, "hicolor", options);
+	}
+	return theme;
+}
+
 struct swaybar_tray *create_tray(struct swaybar *bar) {
 	sway_log(SWAY_DEBUG, "Initializing tray");
 
@@ -46,12 +63,29 @@ struct swaybar_tray *create_tray(struct swaybar *bar) {
 
 	struct swaybar_tray *tray = calloc(1, sizeof(struct swaybar_tray));
 	if (!tray) {
+		sd_bus_flush_close_unref(bus);
 		return NULL;
 	}
 	tray->bar = bar;
 	tray->bus = bus;
 	tray->fd = sd_bus_get_fd(tray->bus);
 
+	struct sfdo_basedir_ctx *basedir_ctx = sfdo_basedir_ctx_create();
+	if (!basedir_ctx) {
+		sway_log(SWAY_ERROR, "Failed to create sfdo basedir context");
+		goto error;
+	}
+	tray->icon_ctx = sfdo_icon_ctx_create(basedir_ctx);
+	sfdo_basedir_ctx_destroy(basedir_ctx);
+	if (!tray->icon_ctx) {
+		sway_log(SWAY_ERROR, "Failed to create sfdo icon context");
+		goto error;
+	}
+
+	const char *theme_name = bar->config->icon_theme;
+	tray->icon_theme = load_icon_theme(tray->icon_ctx, theme_name);
+	tray->icon_theme_name = theme_name ? strdup(theme_name) : NULL;
+
 	tray->watcher_xdg = create_watcher("freedesktop", tray->bus);
 	tray->watcher_kde = create_watcher("kde", tray->bus);
 
@@ -68,9 +102,13 @@ struct swaybar_tray *create_tray(struct swaybar *bar) {
 	init_host(&tray->host_xdg, "freedesktop", tray);
 	init_host(&tray->host_kde, "kde", tray);
 
-	init_themes(&tray->themes, &tray->basedirs);
-
 	return tray;
+
+error:
+	sfdo_icon_ctx_destroy(tray->icon_ctx);
+	sd_bus_flush_close_unref(tray->bus);
+	free(tray);
+	return NULL;
 }
 
 void destroy_tray(struct swaybar_tray *tray) {
@@ -86,10 +124,37 @@ void destroy_tray(struct swaybar_tray *tray) {
 	destroy_watcher(tray->watcher_xdg);
 	destroy_watcher(tray->watcher_kde);
 	sd_bus_flush_close_unref(tray->bus);
-	finish_themes(tray->themes, tray->basedirs);
+	sfdo_icon_theme_destroy(tray->icon_theme);
+	sfdo_icon_ctx_destroy(tray->icon_ctx);
+	free(tray->icon_theme_name);
 	free(tray);
 }
 
+void tray_reload_icon_theme(struct swaybar_tray *tray, const char *name) {
+	if ((!tray->icon_theme_name && !name) ||
+			(tray->icon_theme_name && name &&
+				strcmp(tray->icon_theme_name, name) == 0)) {
+		return;
+	}
+	sway_log(SWAY_DEBUG, "Reloading tray icon theme: '%s' -> '%s'",
+			tray->icon_theme_name ? tray->icon_theme_name : "(default)",
+			name ? name : "(default)");
+	sfdo_icon_theme_destroy(tray->icon_theme);
+	tray->icon_theme = load_icon_theme(tray->icon_ctx, name);
+	free(tray->icon_theme_name);
+	tray->icon_theme_name = name ? strdup(name) : NULL;
+
+	// invalidate per-SNI cached state so icons reload on next render
+	for (int i = 0; i < tray->items->length; ++i) {
+		struct swaybar_sni *sni = tray->items->items[i];
+		sfdo_icon_theme_destroy(sni->icon_theme_override);
+		sni->icon_theme_override = NULL;
+		sni->icon_size = 0;
+		sni->target_size = 0;
+	}
+	set_bar_dirty(tray->bar);
+}
+
 void tray_in(int fd, short mask, void *data) {
 	struct swaybar *bar = data;
 	int ret;