diff --git a/.rubocop.yml b/.rubocop.yml
index 59e8a757a..f1095e022 100644
--- a/.rubocop.yml
+++ b/.rubocop.yml
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ Rails/HttpStatus:
 Rails/Exit:
   Exclude:
     - 'lib/mastodon/*'
-    - 'lib/cli'
+    - 'lib/cli.rb'
 
 Style/ClassAndModuleChildren:
   Enabled: false
diff --git a/lib/cli.rb b/lib/cli.rb
index 65a5ae696..b56c6e76f 100644
--- a/lib/cli.rb
+++ b/lib/cli.rb
@@ -41,6 +41,79 @@ module Mastodon
     desc 'domains SUBCOMMAND ...ARGS', 'Manage account domains'
     subcommand 'domains', Mastodon::DomainsCLI
 
+    option :dry_run, type: :boolean
+    desc 'self-destruct', 'Erase the server from the federation'
+    long_desc <<~LONG_DESC
+      Erase the server from the federation by broadcasting account delete
+      activities to all known other servers. This allows a "clean exit" from
+      running a Mastodon server, as it leaves next to no cache behind on
+      other servers.
+
+      This command is always interactive and requires confirmation twice.
+
+      No local data is actually deleted, because emptying the
+      database or removing files is much faster through other, external
+      means, such as e.g. deleting the entire VPS. However, because other
+      servers will delete data about local users, but no local data will be
+      updated (such as e.g. followers), there will be a state mismatch
+      that will lead to glitches and issues if you then continue to run and use
+      the server.
+
+      So either you know exactly what you are doing, or you are starting
+      from a blank slate afterwards by manually clearing out all the local
+      data!
+    LONG_DESC
+    def self_destruct
+      require 'tty-prompt'
+
+      prompt = TTY::Prompt.new
+
+      exit(1) unless prompt.ask('Type in the domain of the server to confirm:', required: true) == Rails.configuration.x.local_domain
+
+      prompt.warn('This operation WILL NOT be reversible. It can also take a long time.')
+      prompt.warn('While the data won\'t be erased locally, the server will be in a BROKEN STATE afterwards.')
+      prompt.warn('A running Sidekiq process is required. Do not shut it down until queues clear.')
+
+      exit(1) if prompt.no?('Are you sure you want to proceed?')
+
+      inboxes   = Account.inboxes
+      processed = 0
+      dry_run   = options[:dry_run] ? ' (DRY RUN)' : ''
+
+      if inboxes.empty?
+        prompt.ok('It seems like your server has not federated with anything')
+        prompt.ok('You can shut it down and delete it any time')
+        return
+      end
+
+      prompt.warn('Do NOT interrupt this process...')
+
+      Account.local.without_suspended.find_each do |account|
+        payload = ActiveModelSerializers::SerializableResource.new(
+          account,
+          serializer: ActivityPub::DeleteActorSerializer,
+          adapter: ActivityPub::Adapter
+        ).as_json
+
+        json = Oj.dump(ActivityPub::LinkedDataSignature.new(payload).sign!(account))
+
+        unless options[:dry_run]
+          ActivityPub::DeliveryWorker.push_bulk(inboxes) do |inbox_url|
+            [json, account.id, inbox_url]
+          end
+
+          account.update_column(:suspended, true)
+        end
+
+        processed += 1
+      end
+
+      prompt.ok("Queued #{inboxes.size * processed} items into Sidekiq for #{processed} accounts#{dry_run}")
+      prompt.ok('Wait until Sidekiq processes all items, then you can shut everything down and delete the data')
+    rescue TTY::Reader::InputInterrupt
+      exit(1)
+    end
+
     map %w(--version -v) => :version
 
     desc 'version', 'Show version'