diff --git a/source/include/messages.h b/source/include/messages.h
index f5dbb1c4b85..9868b5de099 100644
--- a/source/include/messages.h
+++ b/source/include/messages.h
@@ -41,6 +41,8 @@
  * what has changed since the last MARK */
 #define MSG_REQ_DMALLOC_LOG_CHANGED	12
 
+#define MSG_SHUTDOWN		13
+
 /* nmbd messages */
 #define MSG_FORCE_ELECTION 1001
 #define MSG_WINS_NEW_ENTRY 1002
diff --git a/source/utils/smbcontrol.c b/source/utils/smbcontrol.c
index f492a945428..d680fa4489a 100644
--- a/source/utils/smbcontrol.c
+++ b/source/utils/smbcontrol.c
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ static struct {
 	{"pool-usage", MSG_REQ_POOL_USAGE },
 	{"dmalloc-mark", MSG_REQ_DMALLOC_MARK },
 	{"dmalloc-log-changed", MSG_REQ_DMALLOC_LOG_CHANGED },
+	{"shutdown", MSG_SHUTDOWN },
 	{NULL, -1}
 };
 
@@ -430,6 +431,11 @@ static BOOL do_command(char *dest, char *msg_name, int iparams, char **params)
 		if (!send_message(dest, mtype, NULL, 0, False))
 			return False;
 		break;
+
+	case MSG_SHUTDOWN:
+		if (!send_message(dest, MSG_SHUTDOWN, NULL, 0, False))
+			return False;
+		break;
 	}
 
 	return (True);