Index: oak-core/src/main/java/org/apache/jackrabbit/oak/api/jmx/IndexStatsMBean.java
===================================================================
--- oak-core/src/main/java/org/apache/jackrabbit/oak/api/jmx/IndexStatsMBean.java	(revision 1614595)
+++ oak-core/src/main/java/org/apache/jackrabbit/oak/api/jmx/IndexStatsMBean.java	(working copy)
@@ -47,4 +47,25 @@
      */
     String getStatus();
 
+    /**
+     * Pauses the background indexing process. Future changes are not indexed
+     * until the {@link #resume()} method is called.
+     * 
+     * The pause call will take effect on the next run cycle and will affect all
+     * indexes marked as 'async'.
+     */
+    void pause();
+
+    /**
+     * Resumes the indexing process. All changes from the previous indexed state
+     * will be indexed.
+     */
+    void resume();
+
+    /**
+     * 
+     * @return the current status of the pause flag
+     */
+    boolean isPaused();
+
 }
Index: oak-core/src/main/java/org/apache/jackrabbit/oak/plugins/index/AsyncIndexUpdate.java
===================================================================
--- oak-core/src/main/java/org/apache/jackrabbit/oak/plugins/index/AsyncIndexUpdate.java	(revision 1614595)
+++ oak-core/src/main/java/org/apache/jackrabbit/oak/plugins/index/AsyncIndexUpdate.java	(working copy)
@@ -189,6 +189,9 @@
 
     @Override
     public synchronized void run() {
+        if (indexStats.isPaused()) {
+            return;
+        }
         log.debug("Running background index task {}", name);
 
         NodeState root = store.getRoot();
@@ -365,12 +368,14 @@
         return indexStats.getStatus() == STATUS_DONE;
     }
 
-    private static final class AsyncIndexStats implements IndexStatsMBean {
+    public static final class AsyncIndexStats implements IndexStatsMBean {
 
         private String start = "";
         private String done = "";
         private String status = STATUS_INIT;
 
+        private boolean isPaused;
+
         public void start(String now) {
             status = STATUS_RUNNING;
             start = now;
@@ -398,6 +403,22 @@
             return status;
         }
 
+        public void pause() {
+            log.debug("Pausing the async indexer");
+            this.isPaused = true;
+        }
+
+        @Override
+        public void resume() {
+            log.debug("Resuming the async indexer");
+            this.isPaused = false;
+        }
+
+        @Override
+        public boolean isPaused() {
+            return this.isPaused;
+        }
+
         @Override
         public String toString() {
             return "AsyncIndexStats [start=" + start + ", done=" + done
Index: oak-core/src/test/java/org/apache/jackrabbit/oak/plugins/index/AsyncIndexUpdateTest.java
===================================================================
--- oak-core/src/test/java/org/apache/jackrabbit/oak/plugins/index/AsyncIndexUpdateTest.java	(revision 1614595)
+++ oak-core/src/test/java/org/apache/jackrabbit/oak/plugins/index/AsyncIndexUpdateTest.java	(working copy)
@@ -215,6 +215,41 @@
                 find(lookupChild, "foo", "abc"));
     }
 
+    @Test
+    public void testAsyncPause() throws Exception {
+        NodeStore store = new MemoryNodeStore();
+        IndexEditorProvider provider = new PropertyIndexEditorProvider();
+
+        NodeBuilder builder = store.getRoot().builder();
+        createIndexDefinition(builder.child(INDEX_DEFINITIONS_NAME),
+                "rootIndex", true, false, ImmutableSet.of("foo"), null)
+                .setProperty(ASYNC_PROPERTY_NAME, "async");
+        builder.child("testRoot").setProperty("foo", "abc");
+
+        // merge it back in
+        store.merge(builder, EmptyHook.INSTANCE, CommitInfo.EMPTY);
+
+        AsyncIndexUpdate async = new AsyncIndexUpdate("async", store, provider);
+        async.getIndexStats().pause();
+        async.run();
+        assertFalse(store.getRoot().getChildNode(INDEX_DEFINITIONS_NAME)
+                .getChildNode("rootIndex")
+                .hasChildNode(INDEX_CONTENT_NODE_NAME));
+
+        async.getIndexStats().resume();
+        async.run();
+        NodeState root = store.getRoot();
+
+        // first check that the index content nodes exist
+        checkPathExists(root, INDEX_DEFINITIONS_NAME, "rootIndex",
+                INDEX_CONTENT_NODE_NAME);
+        assertFalse(root.getChildNode(INDEX_DEFINITIONS_NAME).hasChildNode(
+                ":conflict"));
+
+        PropertyIndexLookup lookup = new PropertyIndexLookup(root);
+        assertEquals(ImmutableSet.of("testRoot"), find(lookup, "foo", "abc"));
+    }
+
     // OAK-1749
     @Test
     public void branchBaseOnCheckpoint() throws Exception {