diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index a76307985..40b5491c4 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -106,6 +106,7 @@ extern crate openssl;
 
 use std::error::Error;
 use std::io::Error as IoError;
+use std::io::ErrorKind as IoErrorKind;
 use std::io::Result as IoResult;
 use std::net;
 use std::net::{Shutdown, TcpStream, ToSocketAddrs};
@@ -383,8 +384,9 @@ impl Server {
     /// Blocks until an HTTP request has been submitted and returns it.
     pub fn recv(&self) -> IoResult<Request> {
         match self.messages.pop() {
-            Message::Error(err) => Err(err),
-            Message::NewRequest(rq) => Ok(rq),
+            Some(Message::Error(err)) => return Err(err),
+            Some(Message::NewRequest(rq)) => return Ok(rq),
+            None => return Err(IoError::new(IoErrorKind::Other, "thread unblocked")),
         }
     }
 
@@ -405,6 +407,13 @@ impl Server {
             None => Ok(None),
         }
     }
+
+    /// Unblock thread stuck in recv() or incoming_requests().
+    /// If there are several such threads, only one is unblocked.
+    /// This method allows graceful shutdown of server.
+    pub fn unblock(&self) {
+        self.messages.unblock();
+    }
 }
 
 impl<'a> Iterator for IncomingRequests<'a> {
diff --git a/src/util/messages_queue.rs b/src/util/messages_queue.rs
index dda91c212..9b95b174c 100644
--- a/src/util/messages_queue.rs
+++ b/src/util/messages_queue.rs
@@ -2,11 +2,16 @@ use std::collections::VecDeque;
 use std::sync::{Arc, Condvar, Mutex};
 use std::time::{Duration, Instant};
 
+enum Control<T> {
+    Elem(T),
+    Unblock,
+}
+
 pub struct MessagesQueue<T>
 where
     T: Send,
 {
-    queue: Mutex<VecDeque<T>>,
+    queue: Mutex<VecDeque<Control<T>>>,
     condvar: Condvar,
 }
 
@@ -24,17 +29,27 @@ where
     /// Pushes an element to the queue.
     pub fn push(&self, value: T) {
         let mut queue = self.queue.lock().unwrap();
-        queue.push_back(value);
+        queue.push_back(Control::Elem(value));
+        self.condvar.notify_one();
+    }
+
+    /// Unblock one thread stuck in pop loop.
+    pub fn unblock(&self) {
+        let mut queue = self.queue.lock().unwrap();
+        queue.push_back(Control::Unblock);
         self.condvar.notify_one();
     }
 
     /// Pops an element. Blocks until one is available.
-    pub fn pop(&self) -> T {
+    /// Returns None in case unblock() was issued.
+    pub fn pop(&self) -> Option<T> {
         let mut queue = self.queue.lock().unwrap();
 
         loop {
-            if let Some(elem) = queue.pop_front() {
-                return elem;
+            match queue.pop_front() {
+                Some(Control::Elem(value)) => return Some(value),
+                Some(Control::Unblock) => return None,
+                None => (),
             }
 
             queue = self.condvar.wait(queue).unwrap();
@@ -44,17 +59,23 @@ where
     /// Tries to pop an element without blocking.
     pub fn try_pop(&self) -> Option<T> {
         let mut queue = self.queue.lock().unwrap();
-        queue.pop_front()
+        match queue.pop_front() {
+            Some(Control::Elem(value)) => Some(value),
+            Some(Control::Unblock) | None => None,
+        }
     }
 
     /// Tries to pop an element without blocking
     /// more than the specified timeout duration
+    /// or unblock() was issued
     pub fn pop_timeout(&self, timeout: Duration) -> Option<T> {
         let mut queue = self.queue.lock().unwrap();
         let mut duration = timeout;
         loop {
-            if let Some(elem) = queue.pop_front() {
-                return Some(elem);
+            match queue.pop_front() {
+                Some(Control::Elem(value)) => return Some(value),
+                Some(Control::Unblock) => return None,
+                None => (),
             }
             let now = Instant::now();
             let (_queue, result) = self.condvar.wait_timeout(queue, timeout).unwrap();
diff --git a/tests/unblock-test.rs b/tests/unblock-test.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..001568a48
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unblock-test.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+extern crate tiny_http;
+
+use std::sync::Arc;
+use std::thread;
+
+#[test]
+fn unblock_server() {
+    let server = tiny_http::Server::http("0.0.0.0:0").unwrap();
+    let s = Arc::new(server);
+
+    let s1 = s.clone();
+    thread::spawn(move || s1.unblock());
+
+    // Without unblock this would hang forever
+    for _rq in s.incoming_requests() {}
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn unblock_threads() {
+    let server = tiny_http::Server::http("0.0.0.0:0").unwrap();
+    let s = Arc::new(server);
+
+    let s1 = s.clone();
+    let s2 = s.clone();
+    let h1 = thread::spawn(move || for _rq in s1.incoming_requests() {});
+    let h2 = thread::spawn(move || for _rq in s2.incoming_requests() {});
+
+    // Graceful shutdown; removing even one of the
+    // unblock calls prevents termination
+    s.unblock();
+    s.unblock();
+    h1.join().unwrap();
+    h2.join().unwrap();
+}