diff --git a/src/routing/command.rs b/src/routing/command.rs
index 57fd1a08f4..15328adaee 100644
--- a/src/routing/command.rs
+++ b/src/routing/command.rs
@@ -94,6 +94,8 @@ pub(crate) enum Command {
         // The key of the destination section that the joining node knows, if any.
         their_knowledge: Option<bls::PublicKey>,
     },
+    /// Proposes a peer as offline
+    ProposeOffline(XorName),
 }
 
 impl Command {
@@ -198,6 +200,7 @@ impl Debug for Command {
                 .field("peer", peer)
                 .field("previous_name", previous_name)
                 .finish(),
+            Self::ProposeOffline(name) => f.debug_tuple("ProposeOffline").field(name).finish(),
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/routing/core.rs b/src/routing/core.rs
index a3bf7c2520..069320a2a9 100644
--- a/src/routing/core.rs
+++ b/src/routing/core.rs
@@ -491,7 +491,7 @@ impl Core {
         self.propose_offline(name)
     }
 
-    fn propose_offline(&self, name: XorName) -> Result<Vec<Command>> {
+    pub fn propose_offline(&self, name: XorName) -> Result<Vec<Command>> {
         if let Some(info) = self.section.members().get(&name) {
             let info = info.clone().leave()?;
 
diff --git a/src/routing/dispatcher.rs b/src/routing/dispatcher.rs
index 1e907b2161..05b204d1d2 100644
--- a/src/routing/dispatcher.rs
+++ b/src/routing/dispatcher.rs
@@ -172,6 +172,7 @@ impl Dispatcher {
                     .make_online_proposal(peer, previous_name, their_knowledge)
                     .await
             }
+            Command::ProposeOffline(name) => self.core.lock().await.propose_offline(name),
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/src/routing/mod.rs b/src/routing/mod.rs
index 6ee867bfc5..9a1acabdcf 100644
--- a/src/routing/mod.rs
+++ b/src/routing/mod.rs
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ use crate::{
     node::Node,
     peer::Peer,
     section::{EldersInfo, SectionChain},
-    TransportConfig, MIN_ADULT_AGE,
+    Error, TransportConfig, MIN_ADULT_AGE,
 };
 use bytes::Bytes;
 use ed25519_dalek::{Keypair, PublicKey, Signature, Signer, KEYPAIR_LENGTH};
@@ -166,6 +166,16 @@ impl Routing {
         self.dispatcher.clone().handle_commands(command).await
     }
 
+    /// Starts a proposal that a node has gone offline.
+    /// This can be done only by an Elder.
+    pub async fn propose_offline(&self, name: XorName) -> Result<()> {
+        if !self.is_elder().await {
+            return Err(Error::InvalidState);
+        }
+        let command = Command::ProposeOffline(name);
+        self.dispatcher.clone().handle_commands(command).await
+    }
+
     /// Returns the current age of this node.
     pub async fn age(&self) -> u8 {
         self.dispatcher.core.lock().await.node().age()