diff --git a/domain/src/main/java/ch/dissem/bitmessage/BitmessageContext.java b/domain/src/main/java/ch/dissem/bitmessage/BitmessageContext.java
index 1e4e905..d3a1329 100644
--- a/domain/src/main/java/ch/dissem/bitmessage/BitmessageContext.java
+++ b/domain/src/main/java/ch/dissem/bitmessage/BitmessageContext.java
@@ -206,7 +206,8 @@ public class BitmessageContext {
             try {
                 t.join();
             } catch (InterruptedException e) {
-                throw new RuntimeException(e.getMessage(), e);
+                LOG.info("Thread was interrupted. Trying to shut down synchronization and returning.");
+                t.interrupt();
             }
         }
     }
diff --git a/domain/src/main/java/ch/dissem/bitmessage/ports/NetworkHandler.java b/domain/src/main/java/ch/dissem/bitmessage/ports/NetworkHandler.java
index fd44358..2c79b1f 100644
--- a/domain/src/main/java/ch/dissem/bitmessage/ports/NetworkHandler.java
+++ b/domain/src/main/java/ch/dissem/bitmessage/ports/NetworkHandler.java
@@ -29,6 +29,9 @@ import java.net.InetAddress;
 public interface NetworkHandler {
     /**
      * Connects to the trusted host, fetches and offers new messages and disconnects afterwards.
+     * <p>
+     * An implementation should disconnect if either the timeout is reached or the returned thread is interrupted.
+     * </p>
      */
     Thread synchronize(InetAddress trustedHost, int port, MessageListener listener, long timeoutInSeconds);
 
diff --git a/networking/src/main/java/ch/dissem/bitmessage/networking/Connection.java b/networking/src/main/java/ch/dissem/bitmessage/networking/Connection.java
index f0ff5ed..b2c2e40 100644
--- a/networking/src/main/java/ch/dissem/bitmessage/networking/Connection.java
+++ b/networking/src/main/java/ch/dissem/bitmessage/networking/Connection.java
@@ -130,6 +130,9 @@ public class Connection {
 
     @SuppressWarnings("RedundantIfStatement")
     private boolean syncFinished(NetworkMessage msg) {
+        if (Thread.interrupted()) {
+            return true;
+        }
         if (syncTimeout == 0 || state != ACTIVE) {
             return false;
         }