diff --git a/core/pkg/ingress/controller/controller.go b/core/pkg/ingress/controller/controller.go
index 70fb53be1b..be4ff6a325 100644
--- a/core/pkg/ingress/controller/controller.go
+++ b/core/pkg/ingress/controller/controller.go
@@ -138,8 +138,9 @@ type Configuration struct {
 	// (for instance NGINX)
 	Backend ingress.Controller
 
-	UpdateStatus bool
-	ElectionID   string
+	UpdateStatus           bool
+	ElectionID             string
+	UpdateStatusOnShutdown bool
 }
 
 // newIngressController creates an Ingress controller
@@ -307,12 +308,13 @@ func newIngressController(config *Configuration) *GenericController {
 
 	if config.UpdateStatus {
 		ic.syncStatus = status.NewStatusSyncer(status.Config{
-			Client:              config.Client,
-			PublishService:      ic.cfg.PublishService,
-			IngressLister:       ic.ingLister,
-			ElectionID:          config.ElectionID,
-			IngressClass:        config.IngressClass,
-			DefaultIngressClass: config.DefaultIngressClass,
+			Client:                 config.Client,
+			PublishService:         ic.cfg.PublishService,
+			IngressLister:          ic.ingLister,
+			ElectionID:             config.ElectionID,
+			IngressClass:           config.IngressClass,
+			DefaultIngressClass:    config.DefaultIngressClass,
+			UpdateStatusOnShutdown: config.UpdateStatusOnShutdown,
 		})
 	} else {
 		glog.Warning("Update of ingress status is disabled (flag --update-status=false was specified)")
diff --git a/core/pkg/ingress/controller/launch.go b/core/pkg/ingress/controller/launch.go
index 9bb1624880..bb5807fd30 100644
--- a/core/pkg/ingress/controller/launch.go
+++ b/core/pkg/ingress/controller/launch.go
@@ -89,6 +89,10 @@ func NewIngressController(backend ingress.Controller) *GenericController {
 		forceIsolation = flags.Bool("force-namespace-isolation", false,
 			`Force namespace isolation. This flag is required to avoid the reference of secrets or 
 		configmaps located in a different namespace than the specified in the flag --watch-namespace.`)
+
+		UpdateStatusOnShutdown = flags.Bool("update-status-on-shutdown", true, `Indicates if the 
+		ingress controller should update the Ingress status IP/hostname when the controller 
+		is being stopped. Default is true`)
 	)
 
 	flags.AddGoFlagSet(flag.CommandLine)
@@ -164,6 +168,7 @@ func NewIngressController(backend ingress.Controller) *GenericController {
 		PublishService:          *publishSvc,
 		Backend:                 backend,
 		ForceNamespaceIsolation: *forceIsolation,
+		UpdateStatusOnShutdown:  *UpdateStatusOnShutdown,
 	}
 
 	ic := newIngressController(config)
diff --git a/core/pkg/ingress/status/status.go b/core/pkg/ingress/status/status.go
index aa20b47287..dd0742c324 100644
--- a/core/pkg/ingress/status/status.go
+++ b/core/pkg/ingress/status/status.go
@@ -55,7 +55,10 @@ type Config struct {
 	Client         clientset.Interface
 	PublishService string
 	IngressLister  store.IngressLister
-	ElectionID     string
+
+	ElectionID string
+
+	UpdateStatusOnShutdown bool
 
 	DefaultIngressClass string
 	IngressClass        string
@@ -98,6 +101,11 @@ func (s statusSync) Shutdown() {
 		return
 	}
 
+	if !s.UpdateStatusOnShutdown {
+		glog.Warningf("skipping update of status of Ingress rules")
+		return
+	}
+
 	glog.Infof("updating status of Ingress rules (remove)")
 
 	addrs, err := s.runningAddresess()
diff --git a/core/pkg/ingress/status/status_test.go b/core/pkg/ingress/status/status_test.go
index 4b97c46a94..795aca4a24 100644
--- a/core/pkg/ingress/status/status_test.go
+++ b/core/pkg/ingress/status/status_test.go
@@ -260,11 +260,12 @@ func TestStatusActions(t *testing.T) {
 	os.Setenv("POD_NAME", "foo1")
 	os.Setenv("POD_NAMESPACE", api_v1.NamespaceDefault)
 	c := Config{
-		Client:              buildSimpleClientSet(),
-		PublishService:      "",
-		IngressLister:       buildIngressListener(),
-		DefaultIngressClass: "nginx",
-		IngressClass:        "",
+		Client:                 buildSimpleClientSet(),
+		PublishService:         "",
+		IngressLister:          buildIngressListener(),
+		DefaultIngressClass:    "nginx",
+		IngressClass:           "",
+		UpdateStatusOnShutdown: true,
 	}
 	// create object
 	fkSync := NewStatusSyncer(c)