diff --git a/lib/appenders/gelf.js b/lib/appenders/gelf.js
index 644cbbc..acffafe 100644
--- a/lib/appenders/gelf.js
+++ b/lib/appenders/gelf.js
@@ -25,6 +25,8 @@ levelMapping[levels.WARN] = LOG_WARNING;
 levelMapping[levels.ERROR] = LOG_ERR;
 levelMapping[levels.FATAL] = LOG_CRIT;
 
+var client;
+
 /**
  * GELF appender that supports sending UDP packets to a GELF compatible server such as Graylog
  *
@@ -56,7 +58,7 @@ function gelfAppender (layout, host, port, hostname, facility) {
     defaultCustomFields['_facility'] = facility;
   }
 
-  var client = dgram.createSocket("udp4");
+  client = dgram.createSocket("udp4");
   
   process.on('exit', function() {
     if (client) client.close();
@@ -140,5 +142,13 @@ function configure(config) {
   return gelfAppender(layout, config);
 }
 
+function shutdown(cb) {
+  if (client) {
+    client.close(cb);
+    client = null;
+  }
+}
+
 exports.appender = gelfAppender;
 exports.configure = configure;
+exports.shutdown = shutdown;