diff --git a/src/output/Control.cxx b/src/output/Control.cxx
index e4be4dfa7..fd4a1aa50 100644
--- a/src/output/Control.cxx
+++ b/src/output/Control.cxx
@@ -359,6 +359,9 @@ AudioOutputControl::LockPauseAsync() noexcept
 		   mixer_auto_close()) */
 		mixer_auto_close(output->mixer);
 
+	if (output)
+		output->Interrupt();
+
 	const std::lock_guard<Mutex> protect(mutex);
 
 	assert(allow_play);
@@ -379,6 +382,9 @@ AudioOutputControl::LockDrainAsync() noexcept
 void
 AudioOutputControl::LockCancelAsync() noexcept
 {
+	if (output)
+		output->Interrupt();
+
 	const std::lock_guard<Mutex> protect(mutex);
 
 	if (IsOpen()) {
@@ -403,6 +409,8 @@ AudioOutputControl::LockRelease() noexcept
 	if (!output)
 		return;
 
+	output->Interrupt();
+
 	if (output->mixer != nullptr &&
 	    (!always_on || !output->SupportsPause()))
 		/* the device has no pause mode: close the mixer,
@@ -426,6 +434,9 @@ AudioOutputControl::LockCloseWait() noexcept
 {
 	assert(!open || !fail_timer.IsDefined());
 
+	if (output)
+		output->Interrupt();
+
 	std::unique_lock<Mutex> lock(mutex);
 	CloseWait(lock);
 }
@@ -434,6 +445,9 @@ void
 AudioOutputControl::BeginDestroy() noexcept
 {
 	if (thread.IsDefined()) {
+		if (output)
+			output->Interrupt();
+
 		const std::lock_guard<Mutex> protect(mutex);
 		if (!killed) {
 			killed = true;
diff --git a/src/output/Control.hxx b/src/output/Control.hxx
index c87dc133b..809c65101 100644
--- a/src/output/Control.hxx
+++ b/src/output/Control.hxx
@@ -196,6 +196,15 @@ class AudioOutputControl {
 	 */
 	bool allow_play = true;
 
+	/**
+	 * Was an #AudioOutputInterrupted caught?  In this case,
+	 * playback is suspended, and the output thread waits for a
+	 * command.
+	 *
+	 * This field is only valid while the output is open.
+	 */
+	bool caught_interrupted;
+
 	/**
 	 * True while the OutputThread is inside ao_play().  This
 	 * means the PlayerThread does not need to wake up the
diff --git a/src/output/Error.hxx b/src/output/Error.hxx
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..86fc1c297
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/output/Error.hxx
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2003-2020 The Music Player Daemon Project
+ * http://www.musicpd.org
+ *
+ * This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+ * the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or
+ * (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along
+ * with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc.,
+ * 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301 USA.
+ */
+
+#ifndef MPD_AUDIO_OUTPUT_ERROR_HXX
+#define MPD_AUDIO_OUTPUT_ERROR_HXX
+
+/**
+ * An exception class that will be thrown by various #AudioOutput
+ * methods after AudioOutput::Interrupt() has been called.
+ */
+class AudioOutputInterrupted {};
+
+#endif
diff --git a/src/output/Filtered.cxx b/src/output/Filtered.cxx
index a38add5c4..b3833953e 100644
--- a/src/output/Filtered.cxx
+++ b/src/output/Filtered.cxx
@@ -183,6 +183,12 @@ FilteredAudioOutput::Drain()
 	output->Drain();
 }
 
+void
+FilteredAudioOutput::Interrupt() noexcept
+{
+	output->Interrupt();
+}
+
 void
 FilteredAudioOutput::Cancel() noexcept
 {
diff --git a/src/output/Filtered.hxx b/src/output/Filtered.hxx
index 11a0ac742..7e2413cc9 100644
--- a/src/output/Filtered.hxx
+++ b/src/output/Filtered.hxx
@@ -216,6 +216,8 @@ public:
 	 */
 	void CloseSoftwareMixer() noexcept;
 
+	void Interrupt() noexcept;
+
 	gcc_pure
 	std::chrono::steady_clock::duration Delay() noexcept;
 
diff --git a/src/output/Interface.hxx b/src/output/Interface.hxx
index a54e23a0b..e39dac0b0 100644
--- a/src/output/Interface.hxx
+++ b/src/output/Interface.hxx
@@ -126,6 +126,24 @@ public:
 		return false;
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * Interrupt a blocking operation inside the plugin.  This
+	 * method will be called from outside the output thread (and
+	 * therefore the method must be thread-safe), to make the
+	 * output thread ready for receiving a command.  For example,
+	 * it will be called to prepare for an upcoming Close(),
+	 * Cancel() or Pause() call.
+	 *
+	 * This method can be called any time, even if the output is
+	 * not open or disabled.
+	 *
+	 * Implementations usually send some kind of message/signal to
+	 * the output thread to wake it up and return to the output
+	 * thread loop (e.g. by throwing #AudioOutputInterrupted),
+	 * where the incoming command will be handled and dispatched.
+	 */
+	virtual void Interrupt() noexcept {}
+
 	/**
 	 * Returns a positive number if the output thread shall further
 	 * delay the next call to Play() or Pause(), which will happen
@@ -142,6 +160,11 @@ public:
 	/**
 	 * Display metadata for the next chunk.  Optional method,
 	 * because not all devices can display metadata.
+	 *
+	 * Throws on error.
+	 *
+	 * May throw #AudioOutputInterrupted after Interrupt() has
+	 * been called.
 	 */
 	virtual void SendTag(const Tag &) {}
 
@@ -151,6 +174,9 @@ public:
 	 *
 	 * Throws on error.
 	 *
+	 * May throw #AudioOutputInterrupted after Interrupt() has
+	 * been called.
+	 *
 	 * @return the number of bytes played (must be a multiple of
 	 * the frame size)
 	 */
@@ -177,6 +203,9 @@ public:
 	 * disconnected.  Plugins which do not support pausing will
 	 * simply be closed, and have to be reopened when unpaused.
 	 *
+	 * May throw #AudioOutputInterrupted after Interrupt() has
+	 * been called.
+	 *
 	 * @return false on error (output will be closed by caller),
 	 * true for continue to pause
 	 *
diff --git a/src/output/Thread.cxx b/src/output/Thread.cxx
index 23b6acaa0..1427e0d32 100644
--- a/src/output/Thread.cxx
+++ b/src/output/Thread.cxx
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
  */
 
 #include "Control.hxx"
+#include "Error.hxx"
 #include "Filtered.hxx"
 #include "Client.hxx"
 #include "Domain.hxx"
@@ -135,6 +136,7 @@ AudioOutputControl::InternalOpen(const AudioFormat in_audio_format,
 
 	last_error = nullptr;
 	fail_timer.Reset();
+	caught_interrupted = false;
 	skip_delay = true;
 
 	AudioFormat f;
@@ -243,6 +245,9 @@ AudioOutputControl::PlayChunk(std::unique_lock<Mutex> &lock) noexcept
 		const ScopeUnlock unlock(mutex);
 		try {
 			output->SendTag(*tag);
+		} catch (AudioOutputInterrupted) {
+			caught_interrupted = true;
+			return false;
 		} catch (...) {
 			FormatError(std::current_exception(),
 				    "Failed to send tag to %s",
@@ -267,6 +272,9 @@ AudioOutputControl::PlayChunk(std::unique_lock<Mutex> &lock) noexcept
 			nbytes = output->Play(data.data, data.size);
 			assert(nbytes > 0);
 			assert(nbytes <= data.size);
+		} catch (AudioOutputInterrupted) {
+			caught_interrupted = true;
+			return false;
 		} catch (...) {
 			FormatError(std::current_exception(),
 				    "Failed to play on %s", GetLogName());
@@ -342,6 +350,7 @@ AudioOutputControl::InternalPause(std::unique_lock<Mutex> &lock) noexcept
 		try {
 			const ScopeUnlock unlock(mutex);
 			success = output->IteratePause();
+		} catch (AudioOutputInterrupted) {
 		} catch (...) {
 			FormatError(std::current_exception(),
 				    "Failed to pause %s",
@@ -425,7 +434,8 @@ AudioOutputControl::Task() noexcept
 			/* no pending command: play (or wait for a
 			   command) */
 
-			if (open && allow_play && InternalPlay(lock))
+			if (open && allow_play && !caught_interrupted &&
+			    InternalPlay(lock))
 				/* don't wait for an event if there
 				   are more chunks in the pipe */
 				continue;
@@ -463,6 +473,8 @@ AudioOutputControl::Task() noexcept
 				break;
 			}
 
+			caught_interrupted = false;
+
 			InternalPause(lock);
 			break;
 
@@ -475,6 +487,8 @@ AudioOutputControl::Task() noexcept
 				break;
 			}
 
+			caught_interrupted = false;
+
 			if (always_on) {
 				/* in "always_on" mode, the output is
 				   paused instead of being closed;
@@ -499,6 +513,8 @@ AudioOutputControl::Task() noexcept
 			break;
 
 		case Command::CANCEL:
+			caught_interrupted = false;
+
 			source.Cancel();
 
 			if (open) {