diff --git a/lxc_net/container.py b/lxc_net/container.py
index 12a9aa2..b2f60c0 100644
--- a/lxc_net/container.py
+++ b/lxc_net/container.py
@@ -201,6 +201,17 @@ class Container(util.LibvirtObject):
 
         self.lxc_container = self.conn.createXML(xml)
 
+    def notify_cleanup(self):
+        """ This method can be called before `cleanup` to notify the host that a
+        cleanup will be performed soon, speeding the process up. """
+        if self.lxc_container:
+            try:
+                self.lxc_container.shutdown()
+            except libvirt.libvirtError as exn:
+                if not str(exn).startswith("Domain not found:"):
+                    raise exn
+                # Else, the machine was already stopped: everything is fine
+
     def cleanup(self):
         if self.lxc_container:
             try:
diff --git a/lxc_net/parse_network.py b/lxc_net/parse_network.py
index e4836a6..803f875 100644
--- a/lxc_net/parse_network.py
+++ b/lxc_net/parse_network.py
@@ -52,8 +52,8 @@ class Topology:
         self.conn = conn
         self.parsed = False
 
-        self.domains = None
-        self.links = None
+        self.domains = []
+        self.links = []
 
     @requires_parsed
     @requires_id_in_link_range
@@ -159,6 +159,10 @@ class Topology:
             print("{} domains: ".format("Starting" if state else "Stopping"), end="\t")
             sys.stdout.flush()
 
+        if state is False:
+            for dom in self.domains:
+                dom.notify_cleanup()
+
         for dom_id in range(len(self.domains)):
             self.dom_setstate_single(dom_id, state, verbose, verbose_inline=True)