9to5Mac is reporting that Apple will begin to stock third-party iPhone 5 cases later this month. This would be a welcome change from the current lineup, which lacks both third party cases and Apple-manufactured cases.

Their sources claim the lineup would be as soon October 22nd, but the date is open to change depending on supplies from Apple’s case partners.

“Good, now people can stop asking me about iPhone 5 cases,” said one Apple retail store employee who we briefed on the news.

Apple is said to be taking its time to properly test cases of choice before they put them up on the shelf. Many users rely on a case to protect the iPhone 5′s new aluminum, which is known to scratch. It’s still unclear whether the Apple Online Store will stock iPhone 5 cases at the same time as the physical stores.