diff --git a/src/api.c b/src/api.c
index 66fb9b9f..43d6e014 100644
--- a/src/api.c
+++ b/src/api.c
@@ -45,8 +45,9 @@
 #include "log.h"
 #include "plugin.h"
 #include "private.h"
-#include "sig.h"
+#include "schedule.h"
 #include "service.h"
+#include "sig.h"
 #include "util.h"
 
 extern svc_t *wdog;
@@ -227,10 +228,44 @@ static svc_t *do_find_byc(char *buf, size_t len)
 	return NULL;
 }
 
-static int do_reboot(int cmd, char *buf, size_t len)
+static void bypass_shutdown(void *);
+struct wq emergency = { .cb = bypass_shutdown };
+
+static void bypass_shutdown(void *unused)
+{
+	cprintf("TIMEOUT TIMEOUT SHUTTING DOWN NOW!!\n");
+	do_shutdown(halt);
+}
+
+static int do_reboot(int cmd, int timeout, char *buf, size_t len)
 {
 	int rc = 1;
 
+	switch (cmd) {
+	case INIT_CMD_REBOOT:
+		halt = SHUT_REBOOT;
+		break;
+
+	case INIT_CMD_HALT:
+		halt = SHUT_HALT;
+		break;
+
+	case INIT_CMD_POWEROFF:
+		halt = SHUT_OFF;
+		break;
+
+	case INIT_CMD_SUSPEND:
+		break;
+
+	default:
+		return 255;
+	}
+
+	if (timeout > 0) {
+		emergency.delay = timeout * 1000;
+		schedule_work(&emergency);
+	}
+
 	switch (cmd) {
 	case INIT_CMD_REBOOT:
 		_d("reboot");
@@ -263,7 +298,7 @@ static int do_reboot(int cmd, char *buf, size_t len)
 		break;
 
 	default:
-		rc = 255;
+		/* Handled previously */
 		break;
 	}
 
@@ -404,7 +439,7 @@ static void api_cb(uev_t *w, void *arg, int events)
 		case INIT_CMD_HALT:
 		case INIT_CMD_POWEROFF:
 		case INIT_CMD_SUSPEND:
-			result = do_reboot(rq.cmd, rq.data, sizeof(rq.data));
+			result = do_reboot(rq.cmd, rq.sleeptime, rq.data, sizeof(rq.data));
 			break;
 
 		case INIT_CMD_ACK:
diff --git a/src/initctl.c b/src/initctl.c
index f830278b..890e99b5 100644
--- a/src/initctl.c
+++ b/src/initctl.c
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@ int verbose  = 0;
 int plain    = 0;
 int quiet    = 0;
 int runlevel = 0;
+int timeout  = 0;
 int cgrp     = 0;
 int utmp     = 0;
 
@@ -513,8 +514,9 @@ static int do_cond_show(char *arg)
 static int do_cmd(int cmd)
 {
 	struct init_request rq = {
-		.magic = INIT_MAGIC,
-		.cmd = cmd,
+		.magic     = INIT_MAGIC,
+		.cmd       = cmd,
+		.sleeptime = timeout,
 	};
 
 	if (client_send(&rq, sizeof(rq))) {
diff --git a/src/reboot.c b/src/reboot.c
index 05aeb1c5..7258b79b 100644
--- a/src/reboot.c
+++ b/src/reboot.c
@@ -43,6 +43,8 @@ static cmd_t cmd = CMD_UNKNOWN;
 static char *msg = NULL;
 
 /* initctl API */
+extern int timeout;
+
 extern int do_reboot  (char *arg);
 extern int do_halt    (char *arg);
 extern int do_poweroff(char *arg);
@@ -103,12 +105,13 @@ static int usage(int rc)
 {
 	fprintf(stderr, "Usage: %s [OPTIONS]\n\n"
 		"Options:\n"
-		"  -?, --help      This help text\n"
-		"  -f, --force     Force unsafe %s now, do not contact the init system.\n"
-		"      --halt      Halt system, regardless of how the command is called.\n"
-		"  -h              Halt or power off after shutdown.\n"
-		"  -P, --poweroff  Power-off system, regardless of how the command is called.\n"
-		"  -r, --reboot    Reboot system, regardless of how the command is called.\n"
+		"  -?, --help         This help text\n"
+		"  -f, --force        Force unsafe %s now, do not contact the init system.\n"
+		"      --halt         Halt system, regardless of how the command is called.\n"
+		"  -h                 Halt or power off after shutdown.\n"
+		"  -P, --poweroff     Power-off system, regardless of how the command is called.\n"
+		"  -r, --reboot       Reboot system, regardless of how the command is called.\n"
+		"  -t, --timeout=SEC  Force reboot/shutdown after a given timeout\n"
 		"\n", prognm, msg);
 
 	return rc;
@@ -122,14 +125,16 @@ int reboot_main(int argc, char *argv[])
 		{"halt",     0, NULL, 'H'},
 		{"poweroff", 0, NULL, 'p'},
 		{"reboot",   0, NULL, 'r'},
+		{"timeout",  1, NULL, 't'},
 		{NULL, 0, NULL, 0}
 	};
 	int c, force = 0;
+	int tmp;
 
 	/* Initial command taken from program name */
 	transform(prognm);
 
-	while ((c = getopt_long(argc, argv, "h?fHPpr", long_options, NULL)) != EOF) {
+	while ((c = getopt_long(argc, argv, "h?fHPprt:", long_options, NULL)) != EOF) {
 		switch(c) {
 		case '?':
 			return usage(0);
@@ -152,6 +157,13 @@ int reboot_main(int argc, char *argv[])
 			cmd = CMD_REBOOT;
 			break;
 
+		case 't':
+			tmp = atoi(optarg);
+			if (tmp < 1)
+				errx(1, "Invalid forced timeout value.");
+			timeout = tmp;
+			break;
+
 		default:
 			return usage(1);
 		}