diff --git a/component-manager/src/main/java/org/sakaiproject/component/impl/SpringCompMgr.java b/component-manager/src/main/java/org/sakaiproject/component/impl/SpringCompMgr.java
index d2d863f..ead054a 100644
--- a/component-manager/src/main/java/org/sakaiproject/component/impl/SpringCompMgr.java
+++ b/component-manager/src/main/java/org/sakaiproject/component/impl/SpringCompMgr.java
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ import org.apache.commons.logging.LogFactory;
 import org.sakaiproject.component.api.ComponentManager;
 import org.sakaiproject.util.ComponentsLoader;
 import org.sakaiproject.util.SakaiApplicationContext;
+import org.sakaiproject.util.SakaiComponentEvent;
 import org.springframework.beans.factory.NoSuchBeanDefinitionException;
 import org.springframework.context.ConfigurableApplicationContext;
 
@@ -144,6 +145,7 @@ public class SpringCompMgr implements ComponentManager {
 			try {
 				// get the singletons loaded
 				m_ac.refresh();
+				m_ac.publishEvent(new SakaiComponentEvent(this, SakaiComponentEvent.Type.STARTED));
 			} catch (Throwable t) {
 				M_log.warn(t.getMessage(), t);
 			}
@@ -242,6 +244,9 @@ public class SpringCompMgr implements ComponentManager {
 	 */
 	public void close() {
 		m_hasBeenClosed = true;
+		if(m_ac.isActive()) {
+			m_ac.publishEvent(new SakaiComponentEvent(this, SakaiComponentEvent.Type.STOPPING));
+		}
 		m_ac.close();
 	}
 
diff --git a/component-manager/src/main/java/org/sakaiproject/util/SakaiComponentEvent.java b/component-manager/src/main/java/org/sakaiproject/util/SakaiComponentEvent.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..05fcf5b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/component-manager/src/main/java/org/sakaiproject/util/SakaiComponentEvent.java
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+package org.sakaiproject.util;
+
+import org.springframework.context.ApplicationEvent;
+
+/**
+ * Sakai specific events. Listening to these events means you have to bind to spring.
+ * @author buckett
+ *
+ */
+public class SakaiComponentEvent extends ApplicationEvent {
+
+	public static enum Type {
+		/**
+		 * Event when the component manager has been started.
+		 */
+		STARTED,
+		/**
+		 * Event for just before the component manager is asked to stop.
+		 */
+		STOPPING
+	};
+
+	private Type type;
+
+	public SakaiComponentEvent(Object source, Type type) {
+		super(source);
+		this.type = type;
+	}
+
+	public Type getType() {
+		return type;
+	}
+
+}