diff --git a/src/proc/control/looper.hpp b/src/proc/control/looper.hpp
index ad6866770..ae80effc5 100644
--- a/src/proc/control/looper.hpp
+++ b/src/proc/control/looper.hpp
@@ -77,7 +77,8 @@ namespace control {
    */
   class Looper
     {
-      
+      bool shutdown = false;
+        
     public:
       Looper()
       { }
@@ -88,7 +89,7 @@ namespace control {
       bool isIdle()     const  { return false; }
       bool needBuild()  const  { return false; }
       bool isDisabled() const  { return false; }
-      bool isDying()    const  { return false; }
+      bool isDying()    const  { return shutdown; }
       
       
       /** state fusion to control (timed) wait */
@@ -115,6 +116,11 @@ namespace control {
         }
       
       
+      void
+      triggerShutdown()
+        {
+          shutdown = true;
+        }
       /* == diagnostics == */
       
 //    size_t size() const ;
diff --git a/tests/core/proc/control/dispatcher-looper-test.cpp b/tests/core/proc/control/dispatcher-looper-test.cpp
index 408fcd600..91c5e2c5d 100644
--- a/tests/core/proc/control/dispatcher-looper-test.cpp
+++ b/tests/core/proc/control/dispatcher-looper-test.cpp
@@ -52,7 +52,6 @@ namespace test    {
      */
     struct Setup
       {
-        bool shutdown = false;
         
         Looper
         install()
@@ -118,7 +117,7 @@ namespace test    {
           CHECK (not looper.isDying());
           CHECK (looper.shallLoop());
           
-          setup.shutdown = true;
+          looper.triggerShutdown();
           CHECK (looper.isDying());
           CHECK (not looper.shallLoop());
         }