diff --git a/float8_experimental/config.py b/float8_experimental/config.py
index 0f8b96be..f37b94c4 100644
--- a/float8_experimental/config.py
+++ b/float8_experimental/config.py
@@ -16,3 +16,10 @@
 # according to their microbatching/pipeline parallel setup.
 # Note: this is currently a global flag for simplicity and dynamo performance.
 weight_cache_enabled = False
+
+#
+# Other
+#
+
+# If True, dynamic linear uses hooks for activation casting
+dynamic_use_activation_hooks = True
diff --git a/float8_experimental/dynamic_linear/dynamic_float8_linear.py b/float8_experimental/dynamic_linear/dynamic_float8_linear.py
index f0c6a239..d1548d9a 100644
--- a/float8_experimental/dynamic_linear/dynamic_float8_linear.py
+++ b/float8_experimental/dynamic_linear/dynamic_float8_linear.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 
 from float8_experimental.float8_tensor import Float8Tensor
 from float8_experimental.float8_utils import tensor_to_scale, to_fp8_saturated
+import float8_experimental.config as config
 
 
 class NoopFwToFloat8E5M2Bw(torch.autograd.Function):
@@ -38,6 +39,24 @@ def backward(ctx, gradY):
             None,
         )
 
+def cast_x_to_float8_e4m3fn_pre_hook(module, args):
+    """
+    Hook to cast the incoming activation to `torch.float8_e4m3fn`
+    """
+    return module.cast_to_float8(args[0])
+
+def cast_dldy_to_float8_e5m2_pre_hook(module, grad_output):
+    """
+    Hook to cast the incoming gradient to `torch.float8_e5m2`
+    """
+    gradY = grad_output[0]
+    gradY_scale = tensor_to_scale(gradY, torch.float8_e5m2)
+    gradY_scaled = gradY * gradY_scale
+    bits_fp8 = to_fp8_saturated(gradY_scaled, torch.float8_e5m2)
+    gradY_fp8 = Float8Tensor(bits_fp8, gradY_scale, gradY.dtype, emulate=module.emulate)
+    # TODO fix: the next op in the backward does not see this, it sees grad_output[0]
+    return (gradY_fp8,)
+
 
 class Float8DynamicLinear(torch.nn.Linear):
     """
@@ -48,9 +67,16 @@ class Float8DynamicLinear(torch.nn.Linear):
     def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
         super().__init__(*args, **kwargs)
         self.add_weight_tag()
+        self.use_activation_hooks = config.dynamic_use_activation_hooks
 
     def forward(self, x):
-        x_fp8 = self.cast_to_float8(x)
+        # cast x to float8_e4m3fn
+        if self.use_activation_hooks:
+            x_fp8 = x
+        else:
+            x_fp8 = self.cast_to_float8(x)
+
+        # cast w to float8_e4m3fn
         if getattr(self, "_w_fp8", None) is not None:  # FSDP handled the cast
             w_fp8 = self._w_fp8
         else:
@@ -59,7 +85,10 @@ def forward(self, x):
         y = torch.nn.functional.linear(x_fp8, w_fp8, self.bias)
 
         # Cast gradY to float8_e5m2 during backward
-        y = self.cast_to_float8e5m2_bw(y)
+        if self.use_activation_hooks:
+            pass
+        else:
+            y = self.cast_to_float8e5m2_bw(y)
 
         return y
 
@@ -69,6 +98,7 @@ def add_weight_tag(self):
         self.weight._is_fp8_weight = True
 
     def cast_to_float8(self, inpt_tensor):
+        # TODO rename this function to clarify e4m3
         scale = tensor_to_scale(inpt_tensor, torch.float8_e4m3fn)
         return Float8Tensor.to_float8(
             inpt_tensor, scale, torch.float8_e4m3fn, emulate=self.emulate
@@ -92,4 +122,10 @@ def from_float(cls, mod, emulate: bool = False):
         new_mod.bias = mod.bias
         new_mod.emulate = emulate
         new_mod.add_weight_tag()
+
+        new_mod.use_activation_hooks = config.dynamic_use_activation_hooks
+        if new_mod.use_activation_hooks:
+            # install the hooks
+            new_mod.register_forward_pre_hook(cast_x_to_float8_e4m3fn_pre_hook)
+            new_mod.register_full_backward_pre_hook(cast_dldy_to_float8_e5m2_pre_hook)
         return new_mod
diff --git a/float8_experimental/float8_ops.py b/float8_experimental/float8_ops.py
index 392358f2..51800226 100644
--- a/float8_experimental/float8_ops.py
+++ b/float8_experimental/float8_ops.py
@@ -77,6 +77,7 @@ def preprocess_addmm(a: Float8Tensor, b: Float8Tensor):
 
 @implements([aten.mm.default])
 def float8_mm(aten_op, args, kwargs=None):
+    print('float8_mm', args)
     assert isinstance(args[0], Float8Tensor) and isinstance(args[1], Float8Tensor)
     a = args[0]
     b = args[1]
diff --git a/test/test_bw_hook.py b/test/test_bw_hook.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..40146cc9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/test_bw_hook.py
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+import torch
+import torch.nn as nn
+
+class TestAutogradFunction(torch.autograd.Function):
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def forward(ctx, tensor):
+        tensor = tensor + 1.0
+        return tensor
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def backward(ctx, gradY):
+        # prints a tensor filled with 0.123, as expected
+        print('gradY', gradY)
+        gradY = gradY + 1.0
+        return gradY
+
+class M(nn.Module):
+    def forward(self, x):
+        return TestAutogradFunction.apply(x)
+
+m = M()
+
+def bw_pre_hook(module, go):
+    new_go = torch.empty_like(go[0]).fill_(0.123)
+    return (new_go,)
+
+m.register_full_backward_pre_hook(bw_pre_hook)
+
+x = torch.randn(2, 2).requires_grad_()
+y = m(x)
+y.sum().backward()