diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 0175958..e974eb0 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -218,7 +218,7 @@ Shows the current date and/or time.
 
 #### CPU
 
-Shows CPU load averaged across all cores.
+**Requires mpstat from [sysstat](https://github.com/sysstat/sysstat)**. Shows CPU load averaged across all cores.
 
 `cpu = Barr::Blocks::CPU.new`
 
diff --git a/barr.gemspec b/barr.gemspec
index 0956a95..71ad2d8 100644
--- a/barr.gemspec
+++ b/barr.gemspec
@@ -44,4 +44,5 @@ Gem::Specification.new do |spec|
   spec.requirements << '(Optional) RhythmBox & rhythmbox-client'
   spec.requirements << '(Optional) FontAwesome font'
   spec.requirements << '(Optional) playerctl'
+  spec.requirements << '(Optional) mpstat from sysstat'
 end
diff --git a/examples/all_in.rb b/examples/all_in.rb
index 71c1221..bb42bee 100755
--- a/examples/all_in.rb
+++ b/examples/all_in.rb
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@
                                        icon: "\uf0c2 Birmingham: ",
                                        interval: 60)
 
-cpu = Barr::Blocks::CPU.new icon: "\uf1fe", format: '${LOAD}% ${TEMP}'
+cpu = Barr::Blocks::CPU.new icon: "\uf1fe", format: '${LOAD} ${TEMP}'
 
 mem = Barr::Blocks::Mem.new bgcolor: '#333333'
 
diff --git a/lib/barr/blocks/cpu.rb b/lib/barr/blocks/cpu.rb
index 804047e..2769309 100644
--- a/lib/barr/blocks/cpu.rb
+++ b/lib/barr/blocks/cpu.rb
@@ -20,11 +20,12 @@ def update!
       private
 
       def load_sys_cmd
-        `grep 'cpu ' /proc/stat | awk -v RS="" '{print ($13-$2+$15-$4)*100/($13-$2+$15-$4+$16-$5)}'`
+        # courtesy of https://stackoverflow.com/a/9229907
+        `mpstat | awk '$12 ~ /[0-9.]+/ { print 100 - $12"%" }'`
       end
 
       def temp_sys_cmd
-        `cat /sys/class/thermal/thermal_zone0/temp`
+        `cat /sys/class/thermal/thermal_zone0/temp`.chomp
       end
     end