diff --git a/conversation.rkt b/conversation.rkt
index ea7e099..51beff6 100644
--- a/conversation.rkt
+++ b/conversation.rkt
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
 
 (struct room-state (name ch members) #:transparent)
 (struct binding (name ;; any
+		 break-on-departure? ;; boolean
 		 in-ch ;; sync channel
 		 out-ch ;; sync channel
 		 disconnect-box ;; blocking-box
@@ -43,13 +44,14 @@
   (thread (lambda () (room-main (room-state name ch '()))))
   (room ch))
 
-(define (join-room room [name (gensym 'peer)])
-  (make-object membership% (room-ch room) name))
+(define (join-room room [name (gensym 'peer)] #:break-on-departure? [break-on-departure? #f])
+  (make-object membership% (room-ch room) name break-on-departure?))
 
 (define membership%
   (class* object% ()
     (init room-init)
     (init name-init)
+    (init break-on-departure?-init)
 
     (super-new)
 
@@ -66,7 +68,8 @@
 					     (set! connected #f)
 					     (set! reason v)
 					     v)))
-    (channel-put room `(join ,name ,out-ch ,in-ch ,disconnect-box
+    (channel-put room `(join ,name ,break-on-departure?-init
+			     ,out-ch ,in-ch ,disconnect-box
 			     ,(current-thread) ,(current-thread-exit-status)))
 
     (define/public (connected?)
@@ -127,9 +130,11 @@
 					   (room-main (part state b (binding-death-reason b)))))))
 	       (handle-evt (room-state-ch state)
 			   (match-lambda
-			    (`(join ,name ,in-ch ,out-ch ,disconnect-box
+			    (`(join ,name ,break-on-departure?
+				    ,in-ch ,out-ch ,disconnect-box
 				    ,thread ,exit-status)
-			     (room-main (join state name in-ch out-ch disconnect-box
+			     (room-main (join state name break-on-departure?
+					      in-ch out-ch disconnect-box
 					      thread exit-status)))
 			    (unexpected (log-warning (format "room-main: unexpected message ~v"
 							     unexpected))
@@ -149,8 +154,11 @@
 			       message))
 	  state)))
 
-(define (join state name in-ch out-ch disconnect-box thread exit-status)
-  (define b (binding name in-ch out-ch disconnect-box
+(define (join state name break-on-departure?
+	      in-ch out-ch disconnect-box
+	      thread exit-status)
+  (define b (binding name break-on-departure?
+		     in-ch out-ch disconnect-box
 		     (box (list->queue (membership-summary state)))
 		     thread exit-status))
   (broadcast (add-binding state b) b (arrived name)))
@@ -180,4 +188,7 @@
 
 (define (enqueue-message! b message)
   (define qb (binding-queue-box b))
-  (set-box! qb (enqueue (unbox qb) message)))
+  (if (and (departed? message)
+	   (binding-break-on-departure? b))
+      (break-thread (binding-thread b))
+      (set-box! qb (enqueue (unbox qb) message))))
diff --git a/test-conversation.rkt b/test-conversation.rkt
index 7860eeb..cbf14a5 100644
--- a/test-conversation.rkt
+++ b/test-conversation.rkt
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 (require racket/match)
 
 (require "conversation.rkt")
+(require "standard-thread.rkt")
 
 (define r (make-room))
 
@@ -20,6 +21,11 @@
 	      (else (void)))
 	    (loop))))
 
+(standard-thread (lambda ()
+		   (define handle (join-room r 'cascade #:break-on-departure? #t))
+		   (define-values (i o) (make-pipe))
+		   (sync (read-bytes-evt 128 i))))
+
 (define (interaction i o)
   (display "What is your name? > " o)
   (flush-output o)