diff --git a/qga_comms.sh b/qga_comms.sh
index d502d6daf39d3880db9c5af07b0bca1f969144e8..55731694a581bb1686b50890cf94713b96d6cabd 100755
--- a/qga_comms.sh
+++ b/qga_comms.sh
@@ -38,3 +38,6 @@ close_file_cmd=$(jq -n --argjson int_handle "$int_handle" \
 echo "Closing $file_path ($file_handle)..."
 
 { echo $close_file_cmd; sleep 1; } | socat unix-connect:/tmp/qga.sock - > /dev/null
+
+echo "Shutting down VM..."
+{ echo '{"execute":"guest-shutdown"}'; sleep 1; } | socat unix-connect:/tmp/qga.sock -