diff --git a/qapi-schema.json b/qapi-schema.json
index 5dc96af469..b0b4bf64cc 100644
--- a/qapi-schema.json
+++ b/qapi-schema.json
@@ -4621,10 +4621,10 @@
 #
 # @pause: system pauses
 #
-# Since: 2.1
+# Since: 2.1 (poweroff since 2.8)
 ##
 { 'enum': 'GuestPanicAction',
-  'data': [ 'pause' ] }
+  'data': [ 'pause', 'poweroff' ] }
 
 ##
 # @rtc-reset-reinjection
diff --git a/vl.c b/vl.c
index 368510fd8c..319f6413f2 100644
--- a/vl.c
+++ b/vl.c
@@ -1792,6 +1792,11 @@ void qemu_system_guest_panicked(void)
     }
     qapi_event_send_guest_panicked(GUEST_PANIC_ACTION_PAUSE, &error_abort);
     vm_stop(RUN_STATE_GUEST_PANICKED);
+    if (!no_shutdown) {
+        qapi_event_send_guest_panicked(GUEST_PANIC_ACTION_POWEROFF,
+                                       &error_abort);
+        qemu_system_shutdown_request();
+    }
 }
 
 void qemu_system_reset_request(void)