diff --git a/controller/lockdown.py b/controller/lockdown.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f62038e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/controller/lockdown.py
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+import state
+
+state.safely_panic()
diff --git a/controller/state/__init__.py b/controller/state/__init__.py
index ec5bca0..0680035 100644
--- a/controller/state/__init__.py
+++ b/controller/state/__init__.py
@@ -3,25 +3,31 @@ from state.server import Server
 from state.changer import Changer
 from state.file import File
 
+def safely_panic():
+    safe_state = {}
+    changer = Changer(safe_state,safe_state)
+    changer.stop_everything
+
+
 def sync():
-    server = Server(config.API_BASE_URL, config.CONTROLLER_ID)
-    local = File(config.STATE_FILE)
-    server_state = server.get_state()
+    try:
+        server = Server(config.API_BASE_URL, config.CONTROLLER_ID)
+        local = File(config.STATE_FILE)
+        server_state = server.get_state()
 
+        if local.present():
+            local.load()
+            print "local present: " + repr(local.data)
+        else:
+            local.data = server_state
+            print "local not present, server: " + repr(local.data)
+            local.save()
 
+        local_state = local.data
 
-    if local.present():
-        local.load()
-        print "local present: " + repr(local.data)
-    else:
-        local.data = server_state
-        print "local not present, server: " + repr(local.data)
-        local.save()
+        changer = Changer(local_state, server_state)
+        current_state = changer.process_change()
 
-
-    local_state = local.data
-
-    changer = Changer(local_state, server_state)
-    current_state = changer.process_change()
-
-    server.post_state(current_state)
+        server.post_state(current_state)
+    except:
+        safely_panic();
diff --git a/controller/state/changer.py b/controller/state/changer.py
index 2e2c1c8..b23ddf7 100644
--- a/controller/state/changer.py
+++ b/controller/state/changer.py
@@ -24,6 +24,10 @@ class Changer(object):
             'closed': self.close_in_valve
         }
 
+    def stop_everything:
+        self.close_in_valve
+        self.close_out_valve
+
     def safe_remote_state(self, key):
         if key in ['out_valve', 'in_valve']:
             return self.remote_state.get(key, 'closed')