diff --git a/bup-sync-trigger.sh b/bup-sync-trigger.sh
index f1e429b..cb35d38 100755
--- a/bup-sync-trigger.sh
+++ b/bup-sync-trigger.sh
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 repoFile="$(dirname "$0")/repos"
 dryRun=''
 preventSleep=''
+suspend=''
 
 varDir=/var/lib/bup-backup-trigger
 triggerFile="$varDir/trigger"
@@ -33,6 +34,9 @@ do
         --no-sleep)
             preventSleep=y
             ;;
+        --suspend)
+            suspend=y
+            ;;
         --log)
             log="$2"
             shift
@@ -105,12 +109,30 @@ getNextStart() {
     date -d "@$(cat "$triggerFile")" "+%Y-%m-%d %H:%M"
 }
 
+goToSleep() {
+    nextStart=$(getNextStart)
+    echo "Going to sleep until $nextStart"
+    rtcwake --mode disk --date "$nextStart"
+}
+
 if ! triggerLiesInPast
 then
     echo "The timestamp in the trigger event lies in the future. Waiting further."
     exit 0
 fi
 
+if [ -n "$suspend"]
+then
+    if [ -f "$lockFile" -o -n "$preventSleep" ]
+    then
+        echo "Failed to go to sleep while lock file is present or sleep prevention given."
+        exit 1
+    else
+        goToSleep
+        exit 0
+    fi
+fi
+
 echo "The backup script is triggered."
 
 while read line
@@ -139,9 +161,7 @@ else
         then
             echo "Skipping sleeping due to lock file existence."
         else
-            nextStart=$(getNextStart)
-            echo "Going to sleep until $nextStart"
-            rtcwake --mode disk --date "$nextStart"
+            goToSleep
         fi
     fi
 fi