diff --git a/Changes b/Changes
index 0829603..b3c5fe8 100644
--- a/Changes
+++ b/Changes
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
 
+  Temporary deny if clamd is not running
+
   Modify plugins/virus/clamav option for ClamAV 0.95 (no-summary)
 
   Fix spamassassin plugin log noise if spam score is 0.0
diff --git a/plugins/virus/clamav b/plugins/virus/clamav
index 6f80c94..bb595fe 100644
--- a/plugins/virus/clamav
+++ b/plugins/virus/clamav
@@ -139,6 +139,9 @@ sub register {
     elsif (/back_compat/) {
 	$self->{_back_compat} = '-i --max-recursion=50';
     }
+    elsif (/declined_on_fail/) {
+       $self->{_declined_on_fail} = 1;
+    }
     else {
         $self->log(LOGERROR, "Unrecognized argument '$_' to clamav plugin");
         return undef;
@@ -149,6 +152,7 @@ sub register {
   $self->{_spool_dir} ||= $self->spool_dir();
   $self->{_back_compat} ||= ''; # make sure something is set
   $self->{_clamd_conf} ||= '/etc/clamd/conf'; # make sure something is set
+  $self->{_declined_on_fail} ||= 0; # decline the message on clamav failure
 
   unless ($self->{_spool_dir}) {
         $self->log(LOGERROR, "No spool dir configuration found");
@@ -202,6 +206,7 @@ sub hook_data_post {
  
   if ($signal) {
     $self->log(LOGINFO, "clamscan exited with signal: $signal");
+    return (DENYSOFT) if (!$self->{_declined_on_fail});
     return (DECLINED);
   }
   if ($result == 1) {
@@ -215,6 +220,11 @@ sub hook_data_post {
   }
   elsif ($result) {
     $self->log(LOGERROR, "ClamAV error: $cmd: $result\n");
+    return (DENYSOFT) if (!$self->{_declined_on_fail});
+  }
+  else {
+    $transaction->header->add( 'X-Virus-Checked',
+        "Checked by ClamAV on " . $self->qp->config("me") );
   }
   return (DECLINED);
 }