diff --git a/nucypher/blockchain/eth/sol/source/contracts/staking_contracts/PoolingStakingContract.sol b/nucypher/blockchain/eth/sol/source/contracts/staking_contracts/PoolingStakingContract.sol
index 8a735fd96..ecfb435aa 100644
--- a/nucypher/blockchain/eth/sol/source/contracts/staking_contracts/PoolingStakingContract.sol
+++ b/nucypher/blockchain/eth/sol/source/contracts/staking_contracts/PoolingStakingContract.sol
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ contract PoolingStakingContract is AbstractStakingContract, Ownable {
     event TokensDeposited(address indexed sender, uint256 value, uint256 depositedTokens);
     event TokensWithdrawn(address indexed sender, uint256 value, uint256 depositedTokens);
     event ETHWithdrawn(address indexed sender, uint256 value);
+    event DepositSet(address indexed sender, bool value);
 
     struct Delegator {
         uint256 depositedTokens;
@@ -22,7 +23,8 @@ contract PoolingStakingContract is AbstractStakingContract, Ownable {
         uint256 withdrawnETH;
     }
 
-    StakingEscrow public escrow;
+    StakingEscrow public immutable escrow;
+
     uint256 public totalDepositedTokens;
     uint256 public totalWithdrawnReward;
     uint256 public totalWithdrawnETH;
@@ -32,6 +34,7 @@ contract PoolingStakingContract is AbstractStakingContract, Ownable {
     uint256 public ownerWithdrawnETH;
 
     mapping (address => Delegator) public delegators;
+    bool depositIsEnabled = true;
 
     /**
     * @param _router Address of the StakingInterfaceRouter contract
@@ -47,11 +50,28 @@ contract PoolingStakingContract is AbstractStakingContract, Ownable {
         ownerFraction = _ownerFraction;
     }
 
+    /**
+    * @notice Enabled deposit
+    */
+    function enableDeposit() external onlyOwner {
+        depositIsEnabled = true;
+        emit DepositSet(msg.sender, depositIsEnabled);
+    }
+
+    /**
+    * @notice Disable deposit
+    */
+    function disableDeposit() external onlyOwner {
+        depositIsEnabled = false;
+        emit DepositSet(msg.sender, depositIsEnabled);
+    }
+
     /**
     * @notice Transfer tokens as delegator
     * @param _value Amount of tokens to transfer
     */
     function depositTokens(uint256 _value) external {
+        require(depositIsEnabled, "Deposit must be enabled");
         require(_value > 0, "Value must be not empty");
         totalDepositedTokens = totalDepositedTokens.add(_value);
         Delegator storage delegator = delegators[msg.sender];
diff --git a/tests/contracts/main/staking_contracts/test_pooling_contract.py b/tests/contracts/main/staking_contracts/test_pooling_contract.py
index f408442db..2c0352c9c 100644
--- a/tests/contracts/main/staking_contracts/test_pooling_contract.py
+++ b/tests/contracts/main/staking_contracts/test_pooling_contract.py
@@ -102,6 +102,41 @@ def test_staking(testerchain, token_economics, token, escrow, pooling_contract,
     assert pooling_contract.functions.getAvailableOwnerReward().call() == 0
     assert pooling_contract.functions.getAvailableReward().call() == 0
 
+    # Disable deposit
+    log = pooling_contract.events.DepositSet.createFilter(fromBlock='latest')
+    with pytest.raises((TransactionFailed, ValueError)):
+        tx = pooling_contract.functions.disableDeposit().transact({'from': delegators[0]})
+        testerchain.wait_for_receipt(tx)
+    tx = pooling_contract.functions.disableDeposit().transact({'from': owner})
+    testerchain.wait_for_receipt(tx)
+    events = log.get_all_entries()
+    assert len(events) == 1
+    event_args = events[-1]['args']
+    assert event_args['sender'] == owner
+    assert not event_args['value']
+
+    delegator = delegators[0]
+    tokens = token.functions.balanceOf(delegator).call()
+    tx = token.functions.approve(pooling_contract.address, tokens).transact({'from': delegator})
+    testerchain.wait_for_receipt(tx)
+    with pytest.raises((TransactionFailed, ValueError)):
+        tx = pooling_contract.functions.depositTokens(tokens).transact({'from': delegator})
+        testerchain.wait_for_receipt(tx)
+    tx = token.functions.approve(pooling_contract.address, 0).transact({'from': delegator})
+    testerchain.wait_for_receipt(tx)
+
+    # Enable deposit
+    with pytest.raises((TransactionFailed, ValueError)):
+        tx = pooling_contract.functions.enableDeposit().transact({'from': delegators[0]})
+        testerchain.wait_for_receipt(tx)
+    tx = pooling_contract.functions.enableDeposit().transact({'from': owner})
+    testerchain.wait_for_receipt(tx)
+    events = log.get_all_entries()
+    assert len(events) == 2
+    event_args = events[-1]['args']
+    assert event_args['sender'] == owner
+    assert event_args['value']
+
     # Delegators deposit tokens to the pooling contract again
     for index, delegator in enumerate(delegators):
         tokens = token.functions.balanceOf(delegator).call()
@@ -409,3 +444,5 @@ def test_reentrancy(testerchain, pooling_contract, token, deploy_contract):
         tx = testerchain.client.send_transaction({'to': contract_address})
         testerchain.wait_for_receipt(tx)
     assert testerchain.w3.eth.getBalance(contract_address) == balance
+
+    # TODO reentrancy test for owner