--- /sys/man/3/ip
+++ /sys/man/3/ip
@@ -720,6 +720,9 @@ files support the following additional messages:
 .TF "\fLkeepalive\fI n\fR"
 .PD
 .TP
+.B close
+gracefully close down this TCP connection
+.TP
 .B hangup
 close down this TCP connection
 .TP
--- /sys/src/9/ip/tcp.c
+++ /sys/src/9/ip/tcp.c
@@ -1439,6 +1439,16 @@ sndrst(Proto *tcp, uchar *source, uchar *dest, ushort length, Tcp *seg, uchar ve
 	}
 }
 
+/*
+ * close the conversation
+ */
+static char*
+tcpclose2(Conv *s)
+{
+	tcpclose(s);
+	return nil;
+}
+
 /*
  *  send a reset to the remote side and close the conversation
  *  called with s qlocked
@@ -3319,6 +3329,8 @@ tcpporthogdefensectl(char *val)
 static char*
 tcpctl(Conv* c, char** f, int n)
 {
+	if(n == 1 && strcmp(f[0], "close") == 0)
+		return tcpclose2(c);
 	if(n == 1 && strcmp(f[0], "hangup") == 0)
 		return tcphangup(c);
 	if(n == 1 && strcmp(f[0], "hangupxmit") == 0)