diff --git a/cmd/instance_pause.go b/cmd/instance_pause.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..28a9e01
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/instance_pause.go
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+package cmd
+
+import (
+	wisski_distillery "github.com/FAU-CDI/wisski-distillery"
+	"github.com/FAU-CDI/wisski-distillery/internal/cli"
+)
+
+// InstancePause is the 'instance_pause' command
+var InstancePause wisski_distillery.Command = instancepause{}
+
+type instancepause struct {
+	Stop        bool `short:"d" long:"stop" description:"stop instance"`
+	Start       bool `short:"u" long:"start" description:"start (or restart) instance"`
+	Positionals struct {
+		Slug string `positional-arg-name:"slug" required:"1-1" description:"name of instance to purge"`
+	} `positional-args:"true"`
+}
+
+func (instancepause) Description() wisski_distillery.Description {
+	return wisski_distillery.Description{
+		Requirements: cli.Requirements{
+			NeedsDistillery: true,
+		},
+		Command:     "instance_pause",
+		Description: "stops or starts a single instance",
+	}
+}
+
+func (i instancepause) AfterParse() error {
+	if i.Stop == i.Start {
+		return errStopStartExcluded
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (i instancepause) Run(context wisski_distillery.Context) error {
+	instance, err := context.Environment.Instances().WissKI(context.Context, i.Positionals.Slug)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	if i.Stop {
+		return instance.Barrel().Stack().Down(context.Context, context.Stdout)
+	} else {
+		return instance.Barrel().Stack().Up(context.Context, context.Stdout)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/cmd/wdcli/main.go b/cmd/wdcli/main.go
index 0db0d1c..a2b85ad 100644
--- a/cmd/wdcli/main.go
+++ b/cmd/wdcli/main.go
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ func init() {
 	wdcli.Register(cmd.Ls)
 	wdcli.Register(cmd.Info)
 	wdcli.Register(cmd.InstanceLock)
+	wdcli.Register(cmd.InstancePause)
 
 	// instance tasks
 	wdcli.Register(cmd.Shell)
diff --git a/internal/dis/component/control/admin/html/instance.html b/internal/dis/component/control/admin/html/instance.html
index bedca9c..3b21665 100644
--- a/internal/dis/component/control/admin/html/instance.html
+++ b/internal/dis/component/control/admin/html/instance.html
@@ -48,6 +48,15 @@
                         </td>
                         <td>
                             <code>{{ .Info.Running }}</code>
+                            <div class="pure-button-group" role="group">
+                                <button class="remote-action pure-button pure-button-action" data-action="start" data-param="{{ .Instance.Slug }}" data-buffer="1000" data-force-reload="true">
+                                    (Re)Start
+                                </button>
+                                <button class="remote-action pure-button pure-button-danger" data-action="stop" data-param="{{ .Instance.Slug }}" data-buffer="1000" data-force-reload="true">
+                                    Stop
+                                </button>
+                            </div>
+                            
                         </td>
                     </tr>
                     <tr>
diff --git a/internal/dis/component/control/admin/socket.go b/internal/dis/component/control/admin/socket.go
index 1918282..f858f4f 100644
--- a/internal/dis/component/control/admin/socket.go
+++ b/internal/dis/component/control/admin/socket.go
@@ -50,6 +50,16 @@ var socketInstanceActions = map[string]InstanceAction{
 			return instance.Drush().Cron(ctx, str)
 		},
 	},
+	"start": {
+		HandleInteractive: func(ctx context.Context, _ *Admin, instance *wisski.WissKI, out io.Writer, params ...string) error {
+			return instance.Barrel().Stack().Up(ctx, out)
+		},
+	},
+	"stop": {
+		HandleInteractive: func(ctx context.Context, _ *Admin, instance *wisski.WissKI, out io.Writer, params ...string) error {
+			return instance.Barrel().Stack().Down(ctx, out)
+		},
+	},
 }
 
 func (admin *Admin) serveSocket(conn httpx.WebSocketConnection) {