diff --git a/src/Symfony/Bundle/FrameworkBundle/Test/WebTestCase.php b/src/Symfony/Bundle/FrameworkBundle/Test/WebTestCase.php
index 0a05839919..ccfc458299 100644
--- a/src/Symfony/Bundle/FrameworkBundle/Test/WebTestCase.php
+++ b/src/Symfony/Bundle/FrameworkBundle/Test/WebTestCase.php
@@ -150,4 +150,14 @@ abstract class WebTestCase extends BaseWebTestCase
             isset($options['debug']) ? $options['debug'] : true
         );
     }
+    
+    /**
+     * Shuts the kernel down if it was used in the test
+     */
+    protected function tearDown()
+    {
+        if ($this->kernel !== null && $this->kernel->isBooted()) {
+            $this->kernel->shutdown();
+        }
+    }
 }
diff --git a/src/Symfony/Component/HttpKernel/Kernel.php b/src/Symfony/Component/HttpKernel/Kernel.php
index 797a09df05..22dfc1fa8f 100644
--- a/src/Symfony/Component/HttpKernel/Kernel.php
+++ b/src/Symfony/Component/HttpKernel/Kernel.php
@@ -296,6 +296,16 @@ abstract class Kernel implements KernelInterface
     {
         return $this->name;
     }
+    
+    /**
+     * Checks if the Kernel is currently booted.
+     *
+     * @return Boolean true if kernel is booted, false otherwise
+     */
+    public function isBooted()
+    {
+        return $this->booted;
+    }
 
     /**
      * Gets the environment.