diff --git a/vm-virtio/src/device.rs b/vm-virtio/src/device.rs
index 1a372eea4..41f253972 100644
--- a/vm-virtio/src/device.rs
+++ b/vm-virtio/src/device.rs
@@ -101,6 +101,12 @@ pub trait VirtioDevice: Send {
     fn iommu_translate(&self, addr: u64) -> u64 {
         addr
     }
+
+    /// Some devices may need to do some explicit shutdown work. This method
+    /// may be implemented to do this. The VMM should call shutdown() on
+    /// every device as part of shutting down the VM. Acting on the device
+    /// after a shutdown() can lead to unpredictable results.
+    fn shutdown(&mut self) {}
 }
 
 /// Trait providing address translation the same way a physical DMA remapping