diff --git a/src/net.rs b/src/net.rs
index 90a2fdc..160448b 100644
--- a/src/net.rs
+++ b/src/net.rs
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ use std::{
     io::{self, BufRead, BufReader, Write},
     net::{SocketAddr, TcpListener, TcpStream},
     sync::{
-        mpsc::{self, SendError},
+        mpsc::{self},
         Arc, Mutex,
     },
     thread::JoinHandle,
@@ -205,22 +205,34 @@ impl Default for TimeoutParams {
     }
 }
 
+#[derive(Debug)]
+enum WriteRequest {
+    Shutdown,
+    SendMessage(NetworkMessage),
+}
+
 /// Send messages to an open connection.
 #[derive(Debug)]
 pub struct ConnectionWriter {
-    sender: mpsc::Sender<NetworkMessage>,
+    sender: mpsc::Sender<WriteRequest>,
     task_handle: JoinHandle<Result<(), io::Error>>,
 }
 
+#[allow(clippy::result_large_err)]
 impl ConnectionWriter {
     /// Send a network message to this peer. Errors indicate that the connection is terminated and
     /// no further messages will succeed.
-    #[allow(clippy::result_large_err)]
-    pub fn send_message(
-        &self,
-        network_message: NetworkMessage,
-    ) -> Result<(), SendError<NetworkMessage>> {
-        self.sender.send(network_message)
+    pub fn send_message(&self, network_message: NetworkMessage) -> Result<(), Error> {
+        self.sender
+            .send(WriteRequest::SendMessage(network_message))
+            .map_err(|_| Error::ChannelClosed)
+    }
+
+    /// Kill both sides of the connection, erroring if the stream is already closed.
+    pub fn shutdown(&self) -> Result<(), Error> {
+        self.sender
+            .send(WriteRequest::Shutdown)
+            .map_err(|_| Error::ChannelClosed)
     }
 
     /// In the event of a failed message, investigate IO related failures if the connection was not
@@ -234,7 +246,7 @@ impl ConnectionWriter {
 struct OpenWriter {
     tcp_stream: TcpStream,
     transport: WriteTransport,
-    receiver: mpsc::Receiver<NetworkMessage>,
+    receiver: mpsc::Receiver<WriteRequest>,
     outbound_ping_state: Arc<Mutex<OutboundPing>>,
     ping_interval: Duration,
 }
@@ -244,10 +256,14 @@ impl OpenWriter {
         loop {
             let message = self.receiver.recv_timeout(Duration::from_secs(1));
             match message {
-                Ok(network_message) => {
-                    self.transport
-                        .write_message(network_message, &mut self.tcp_stream)?;
-                }
+                Ok(request) => match request {
+                    WriteRequest::SendMessage(message) => self
+                        .transport
+                        .write_message(message, &mut self.tcp_stream)?,
+                    WriteRequest::Shutdown => {
+                        self.tcp_stream.shutdown(std::net::Shutdown::Both)?;
+                    }
+                },
                 Err(e) => match e {
                     mpsc::RecvTimeoutError::Timeout => (),
                     _ => return Ok(()),
@@ -436,6 +452,8 @@ pub enum Error {
     UnexpectedMagic(Magic),
     /// The peer did not send a version message.
     MissingVersion,
+    /// The channel to the message writing thread was closed.
+    ChannelClosed,
 }
 
 impl Display for Error {
@@ -446,6 +464,7 @@ impl Display for Error {
             Error::Handshake(e) => e.fmt(f),
             Error::UnexpectedMagic(magic) => write!(f, "unexpected network magic: {magic}"),
             Error::MissingVersion => write!(f, "missing version message."),
+            Error::ChannelClosed => write!(f, "channel closed"),
         }
     }
 }