diff --git a/src/as/com/threerings/bureau/client/BureauDirector.as b/src/as/com/threerings/bureau/client/BureauDirector.as
index 4652942a5..8649c8d2c 100644
--- a/src/as/com/threerings/bureau/client/BureauDirector.as
+++ b/src/as/com/threerings/bureau/client/BureauDirector.as
@@ -38,6 +38,14 @@ public class BureauDirector extends BasicDirector
         _bureauService.bureauInitialized(_ctx.getClient(), id);
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Lets the server know that a fatal error has occurred and the bureau needs to be terminated.
+     */
+    public function fatalError (message :String) :void
+    {
+        _bureauService.bureauError(_ctx.getClient(), message);
+    }
+
     /**
      * Creates a new agent when the server requests it.
      */
diff --git a/src/as/com/threerings/bureau/client/BureauService.as b/src/as/com/threerings/bureau/client/BureauService.as
index 33160df6c..858fa7ae6 100644
--- a/src/as/com/threerings/bureau/client/BureauService.as
+++ b/src/as/com/threerings/bureau/client/BureauService.as
@@ -38,6 +38,9 @@ public interface BureauService extends InvocationService
     // from Java interface BureauService
     function agentDestroyed (arg1 :Client, arg2 :int) :void;
 
+    // from Java interface BureauService
+    function bureauError (arg1 :Client, arg2 :String) :void;
+
     // from Java interface BureauService
     function bureauInitialized (arg1 :Client, arg2 :String) :void;
 }
diff --git a/src/as/com/threerings/bureau/data/BureauMarshaller.as b/src/as/com/threerings/bureau/data/BureauMarshaller.as
index 0077a191b..2e9bb990c 100644
--- a/src/as/com/threerings/bureau/data/BureauMarshaller.as
+++ b/src/as/com/threerings/bureau/data/BureauMarshaller.as
@@ -69,8 +69,19 @@ public class BureauMarshaller extends InvocationMarshaller
         ]);
     }
 
+    /** The method id used to dispatch <code>bureauError</code> requests. */
+    public static const BUREAU_ERROR :int = 4;
+
+    // from interface BureauService
+    public function bureauError (arg1 :Client, arg2 :String) :void
+    {
+        sendRequest(arg1, BUREAU_ERROR, [
+            arg2
+        ]);
+    }
+
     /** The method id used to dispatch <code>bureauInitialized</code> requests. */
-    public static const BUREAU_INITIALIZED :int = 4;
+    public static const BUREAU_INITIALIZED :int = 5;
 
     // from interface BureauService
     public function bureauInitialized (arg1 :Client, arg2 :String) :void
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/bureau/client/BureauService.java b/src/java/com/threerings/bureau/client/BureauService.java
index c9363cb0b..57adfbb2b 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/bureau/client/BureauService.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/bureau/client/BureauService.java
@@ -35,6 +35,12 @@ public interface BureauService extends InvocationService
      * @see BureauReceiver
      */
     void bureauInitialized (Client client, String bureauId);
+    
+    /**
+     * Notifies the server that this bureau has encountered a critical error and needs to be shut
+     * down.
+     */
+    void bureauError (Client client, String message);
 
     /**
      * Notify the server that a previosuly requested agent is now created and ready to use.
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/bureau/data/BureauMarshaller.java b/src/java/com/threerings/bureau/data/BureauMarshaller.java
index 1b8c4e8a8..faa102b87 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/bureau/data/BureauMarshaller.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/bureau/data/BureauMarshaller.java
@@ -68,8 +68,19 @@ public class BureauMarshaller extends InvocationMarshaller
         });
     }
 
+    /** The method id used to dispatch {@link #bureauError} requests. */
+    public static final int BUREAU_ERROR = 4;
+
+    // from interface BureauService
+    public void bureauError (Client arg1, String arg2)
+    {
+        sendRequest(arg1, BUREAU_ERROR, new Object[] {
+            arg2
+        });
+    }
+
     /** The method id used to dispatch {@link #bureauInitialized} requests. */
-    public static final int BUREAU_INITIALIZED = 4;
+    public static final int BUREAU_INITIALIZED = 5;
 
     // from interface BureauService
     public void bureauInitialized (Client arg1, String arg2)
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/bureau/server/BureauDispatcher.java b/src/java/com/threerings/bureau/server/BureauDispatcher.java
index 2157b592d..2f66763ed 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/bureau/server/BureauDispatcher.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/bureau/server/BureauDispatcher.java
@@ -70,6 +70,12 @@ public class BureauDispatcher extends InvocationDispatcher<BureauMarshaller>
             );
             return;
 
+        case BureauMarshaller.BUREAU_ERROR:
+            ((BureauProvider)provider).bureauError(
+                source, (String)args[0]
+            );
+            return;
+
         case BureauMarshaller.BUREAU_INITIALIZED:
             ((BureauProvider)provider).bureauInitialized(
                 source, (String)args[0]
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/bureau/server/BureauProvider.java b/src/java/com/threerings/bureau/server/BureauProvider.java
index 7c82c3853..0cc5a5199 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/bureau/server/BureauProvider.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/bureau/server/BureauProvider.java
@@ -45,6 +45,11 @@ public interface BureauProvider extends InvocationProvider
      */
     void agentDestroyed (ClientObject caller, int arg1);
 
+    /**
+     * Handles a {@link BureauService#bureauError} request.
+     */
+    void bureauError (ClientObject caller, String arg1);
+
     /**
      * Handles a {@link BureauService#bureauInitialized} request.
      */
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/bureau/server/BureauRegistry.java b/src/java/com/threerings/bureau/server/BureauRegistry.java
index 8d26fd4ff..47df599ba 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/bureau/server/BureauRegistry.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/bureau/server/BureauRegistry.java
@@ -101,6 +101,9 @@ public class BureauRegistry
             public void bureauInitialized (ClientObject client, String bureauId) {
                 BureauRegistry.this.bureauInitialized(client, bureauId);
             }
+            public void bureauError (ClientObject caller, String message) {
+                BureauRegistry.this.bureauError(caller, message);
+            }
             public void agentCreated (ClientObject client, int agentId) {
                 BureauRegistry.this.agentCreated(client, agentId);
             }
@@ -396,6 +399,22 @@ public class BureauRegistry
         bureau.summarize();
     }
 
+    protected void bureauError (ClientObject caller, String message)
+    {
+        for (Bureau bureau : _bureaus.values()) {
+            if (bureau.clientObj == caller) {
+                log.info(
+                    "Bureau error occurred", "caller", caller.who(), "message", message,
+                    "bureau", bureau.bureauId);
+                bureau.client.endSession();
+                return;
+            }
+        }
+        log.warning(
+            "Bureau error occurred in unregistered bureau", "caller", caller.who(),
+            "message", message);
+    }
+    
     /**
      * Callback for when the bureau client acknowledges the creation of an agent.
      */