diff --git a/node/consensus/consensus.go b/node/consensus/consensus.go
index 14df3f61..83aa98b8 100644
--- a/node/consensus/consensus.go
+++ b/node/consensus/consensus.go
@@ -106,6 +106,14 @@ func (c *Consensus) Stop() {
 	c.Metrics.Stop()
 }
 
+func (c *Consensus) SoftStop() {
+	c.BFT.Stop()
+	c.Synchronizer.stop()
+	c.Net.Stop()
+	c.Metrics.Stop()
+	c.Logger.Warnf("Soft stop: pending restart")
+}
+
 func (c *Consensus) OnConsensus(channel string, sender uint64, request *orderer.ConsensusRequest) error {
 	msg := &smartbftprotos.Message{}
 	if err := proto.Unmarshal(request.Payload, msg); err != nil {
@@ -575,6 +583,7 @@ func (c *Consensus) Deliver(proposal smartbft_types.Proposal, signatures []smart
 	if hdr.Num == hdr.DecisionNumOfLastConfigBlock {
 		c.lastConfigBlockNum = hdr.AvailableCommonBlocks[len(hdr.AvailableCommonBlocks)-1].Header.Number
 		c.decisionNumOfLastConfigBlock = hdr.Num
+		go c.SoftStop()
 		// TODO apply reconfig after deliver
 	}
 	c.stateLock.Unlock()
diff --git a/node/consensus/consenter_test.go b/node/consensus/consenter_test.go
index a820eb8d..9b81fa99 100644
--- a/node/consensus/consenter_test.go
+++ b/node/consensus/consenter_test.go
@@ -11,11 +11,14 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/hyperledger/fabric-protos-go-apiv2/common"
 	arma_types "github.com/hyperledger/fabric-x-orderer/common/types"
+	"github.com/hyperledger/fabric-x-orderer/common/utils"
+	"github.com/hyperledger/fabric-x-orderer/node/comm/tlsgen"
 	"github.com/hyperledger/fabric-x-orderer/node/consensus"
 	"github.com/hyperledger/fabric-x-orderer/node/consensus/mocks"
 	"github.com/hyperledger/fabric-x-orderer/node/consensus/state"
 	"github.com/hyperledger/fabric-x-orderer/testutil"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 )
 
 func TestConsenter(t *testing.T) {
@@ -108,3 +111,27 @@ func createConsenter(s *state.State, logger arma_types.Logger) *consensus.Consen
 
 	return consenter
 }
+
+func TestConsensusSoftStop(t *testing.T) {
+	ca, err := tlsgen.NewCA()
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	genesis := utils.EmptyGenesisBlock("arma")
+	setup := setupConsensusTest(t, ca, 1, genesis)
+
+	// submit request and verify block is committed
+	err = createAndSubmitRequest(setup.consensusNodes[0], setup.batcherNodes[0].sk, 1, 1, digest123, 1, 1)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	b := <-setup.listeners[0].c
+	require.Equal(t, uint64(1), b.Header.Number)
+
+	// perform soft stop
+	setup.consensusNodes[0].SoftStop()
+
+	// submitting new requests should now fail
+	err = createAndSubmitRequest(setup.consensusNodes[0], setup.batcherNodes[0].sk, 1, 1, digest124, 1, 2)
+	require.Error(t, err)
+
+	setup.consensusNodes[0].Stop()
+}