diff --git a/include/ipc.h b/include/ipc.h
index 0010718b..ffc57d1b 100644
--- a/include/ipc.h
+++ b/include/ipc.h
@@ -27,8 +27,9 @@ enum ipc_command_type {
 	IPC_EVENT_WINDOW = ((1<<31) | 3),
 	IPC_EVENT_BARCONFIG_UPDATE = ((1<<31) | 4),
 	IPC_EVENT_BINDING = ((1<<31) | 5),
-	IPC_EVENT_MODIFIER = ((1<<31) | 6),
-	IPC_EVENT_INPUT = ((1<<31) | 7),
+	IPC_EVENT_SHUTDOWN = ((1<<31) | 6),
+	IPC_EVENT_MODIFIER = ((1<<31) | 16),
+	IPC_EVENT_INPUT = ((1<<31) | 17),
 };
 
 #endif
diff --git a/include/sway/ipc-server.h b/include/sway/ipc-server.h
index 6469f097..a11735cf 100644
--- a/include/sway/ipc-server.h
+++ b/include/sway/ipc-server.h
@@ -16,5 +16,6 @@ void ipc_event_workspace(struct sway_container *old,
 void ipc_event_window(struct sway_container *window, const char *change);
 void ipc_event_barconfig_update(struct bar_config *bar);
 void ipc_event_mode(const char *mode, bool pango);
+void ipc_event_shutdown(const char *reason);
 
 #endif
diff --git a/sway/ipc-server.c b/sway/ipc-server.c
index be703915..72031e24 100644
--- a/sway/ipc-server.c
+++ b/sway/ipc-server.c
@@ -353,6 +353,20 @@ void ipc_event_mode(const char *mode, bool pango) {
 	json_object_put(obj);
 }
 
+void ipc_event_shutdown(const char *reason) {
+	if (!ipc_has_event_listeners(IPC_EVENT_SHUTDOWN)) {
+		return;
+	}
+	wlr_log(WLR_DEBUG, "Sending shutdown::%s event", reason);
+
+	json_object *json = json_object_new_object();
+	json_object_object_add(json, "change", json_object_new_string(reason));
+
+	const char *json_string = json_object_to_json_string(json);
+	ipc_send_event(json_string, IPC_EVENT_SHUTDOWN);
+	json_object_put(json);
+}
+
 int ipc_client_handle_writable(int client_fd, uint32_t mask, void *data) {
 	struct ipc_client *client = data;
 
@@ -549,6 +563,8 @@ void ipc_client_handle_command(struct ipc_client *client) {
 				client->subscribed_events |= event_mask(IPC_EVENT_BARCONFIG_UPDATE);
 			} else if (strcmp(event_type, "mode") == 0) {
 				client->subscribed_events |= event_mask(IPC_EVENT_MODE);
+			} else if (strcmp(event_type, "shutdown") == 0) {
+				client->subscribed_events |= event_mask(IPC_EVENT_SHUTDOWN);
 			} else if (strcmp(event_type, "window") == 0) {
 				client->subscribed_events |= event_mask(IPC_EVENT_WINDOW);
 			} else if (strcmp(event_type, "modifier") == 0) {
diff --git a/sway/main.c b/sway/main.c
index a20f1dac..477ffa5a 100644
--- a/sway/main.c
+++ b/sway/main.c
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ struct sway_server server;
 void sway_terminate(int exit_code) {
 	terminate_request = true;
 	exit_value = exit_code;
+	ipc_event_shutdown("exit");
 	wl_display_terminate(server.wl_display);
 }