diff --git a/contracts/Stoppable.sol b/contracts/Stoppable.sol
index d649ce019..99ad5ad3b 100644
--- a/contracts/Stoppable.sol
+++ b/contracts/Stoppable.sol
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ pragma solidity ^0.4.0;
 /*
  * Stoppable
  * Abstract contract that allows children to implement an
- * emergency stop mechanism. 
+ * emergency stop mechanism.
  */
 contract Stoppable {
   address public curator;
@@ -21,4 +21,9 @@ contract Stoppable {
     stopped = true;
   }
 
+  function release() external onlyInEmergency {
+    if (msg.sender != curator) throw;
+    stopped = false;
+  }
+
 }
diff --git a/contracts/test-helpers/StoppableMock.sol b/contracts/test-helpers/StoppableMock.sol
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..9cbd8a562
--- /dev/null
+++ b/contracts/test-helpers/StoppableMock.sol
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+pragma solidity ^0.4.0;
+import '../Stoppable.sol';
+
+// mock class using Stoppable
+contract StoppableMock is Stoppable {
+  bool public drasticMeasureTaken;
+  uint public count = 0;
+
+  function normalProcess() external stopInEmergency {
+    count++;
+  }
+
+  function drasticMeasure() external onlyInEmergency {
+    drasticMeasureTaken = true;
+  }
+
+}