diff --git a/changes/bug2181 b/changes/bug2181
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..0a095488ee
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changes/bug2181
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+  o Minor features
+    - Log a little more clearly about the times at which we're no longer
+      accepting new connections.  Resolves bug 2181.
+
diff --git a/doc/tor.1.txt b/doc/tor.1.txt
index c8608eb845..8fe73b026b 100644
--- a/doc/tor.1.txt
+++ b/doc/tor.1.txt
@@ -900,7 +900,9 @@ is non-zero):
     period, or receive more than that number in the period. For example, with
     AccountingMax set to 1 GB, a server could send 900 MB and receive 800 MB
     and continue running. It will only hibernate once one of the two reaches 1
-    GB. When the number of bytes is exhausted, Tor will hibernate until some
+    GB. When the number of bytes gets low, Tor will stop accepting new
+    connections and circuits.  When the number of bytes
+    is exhausted, Tor will hibernate until some
     time in the next accounting period. To prevent all servers from waking at
     the same time, Tor will also wait until a random point in each period
     before waking up. If you have bandwidth cost issues, enabling hibernation
diff --git a/src/or/hibernate.c b/src/or/hibernate.c
index 48a7ce75ba..1878d5d52d 100644
--- a/src/or/hibernate.c
+++ b/src/or/hibernate.c
@@ -783,7 +783,8 @@ hibernate_begin(hibernate_state_t new_state, time_t now)
   /* XXX upload rendezvous service descriptors with no intro points */
 
   if (new_state == HIBERNATE_STATE_EXITING) {
-    log_notice(LD_GENERAL,"Interrupt: will shut down in %d seconds. Interrupt "
+    log_notice(LD_GENERAL,"Interrupt: we have stopped accepting new "
+               "connections, and will shut down in %d seconds. Interrupt "
                "again to exit now.", options->ShutdownWaitLength);
     shutdown_time = time(NULL) + options->ShutdownWaitLength;
   } else { /* soft limit reached */
@@ -940,7 +941,8 @@ consider_hibernation(time_t now)
   if (hibernate_state == HIBERNATE_STATE_LIVE) {
     if (hibernate_soft_limit_reached()) {
       log_notice(LD_ACCT,
-                 "Bandwidth soft limit reached; commencing hibernation.");
+                 "Bandwidth soft limit reached; commencing hibernation. "
+                 "No new conncetions will be accepted");
       hibernate_begin(HIBERNATE_STATE_LOWBANDWIDTH, now);
     } else if (accounting_enabled && now < interval_wakeup_time) {
       format_local_iso_time(buf,interval_wakeup_time);