diff --git a/src/face.cpp b/src/face.cpp
index aec1cdf..fa0f24d 100644
--- a/src/face.cpp
+++ b/src/face.cpp
@@ -261,6 +261,12 @@
 void
 Face::shutdown()
 {
+  m_ioService->post(bind(&Face::asyncShutdown, this));
+}
+
+void
+Face::asyncShutdown()
+{
   m_pendingInterestTable.clear();
   m_registeredPrefixTable.clear();
 
diff --git a/src/face.hpp b/src/face.hpp
index 4cb4c67..be1ca06 100644
--- a/src/face.hpp
+++ b/src/face.hpp
@@ -227,6 +227,8 @@
   void 
   onReceiveElement(const Block& wire);
 
+  void
+  asyncShutdown();
   
   static void
   fireProcessEventsTimeout(const boost::system::error_code& error);