diff --git a/files/usr/bin/blue-merle b/files/usr/bin/blue-merle
index 2563180..2615e6a 100644
--- a/files/usr/bin/blue-merle
+++ b/files/usr/bin/blue-merle
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ case $answer in
 esac
 if [[ "$answer" -eq 1 ]]; then
     echo '{ "msg": "Shutting down..." }' > /dev/ttyS0
-    halt -d 5
+    echo '{ "poweroff": "1" }' > /dev/ttyS0
 else
 	echo "Resetting modem..."
 	until gl_modem AT AT+QPOWD | grep -q OK
diff --git a/files/usr/bin/blue-merle-switch-stage2 b/files/usr/bin/blue-merle-switch-stage2
index 9b6277a..23ab6a4 100644
--- a/files/usr/bin/blue-merle-switch-stage2
+++ b/files/usr/bin/blue-merle-switch-stage2
@@ -61,11 +61,14 @@ sleep 5
 
 
 i=5
-/sbin/poweroff -d $i
 until  [[ $i -eq 0 ]]
 do
         i=$((i-1))
         mcu_send_message "Shutting down... ($i)"
         sleep 1
 done
+
 logger -p notice -t blue-merle-toggle "Finished with Stage 2"
+
+# Note: calling /sbin/poweroff directly results in the device rebooting into a broken state
+echo '{ "poweroff": "1" }' >/dev/ttyS0
diff --git a/files/usr/libexec/blue-merle b/files/usr/libexec/blue-merle
index 6d9ace4..f80ada7 100755
--- a/files/usr/libexec/blue-merle
+++ b/files/usr/libexec/blue-merle
@@ -34,11 +34,10 @@ elif [ "$1" == "shutdown-modem" ]; then
     exec gl_modem AT AT+CFUN=4
 
 elif [ "$1" == "shutdown" ]; then
-    echo '{ "msg": "Shutdowing down..." }' > /dev/ttyS0
-    halt -d 5
+    show_message "Shutting down..."
     echo -n "Shutting down"
-    poweroff -d 5
     logger -p notice -t blue-merle-libexec "Shutting down"
+    echo '{ "poweroff": "1" } > /dev/ttyS0
 
 elif [ "$1" == "write-imei" ]; then
     new_imei=$2