diff --git a/pallets/xcmp-queue/src/lib.rs b/pallets/xcmp-queue/src/lib.rs
index c7bddaa82dd..39e972d6ebe 100644
--- a/pallets/xcmp-queue/src/lib.rs
+++ b/pallets/xcmp-queue/src/lib.rs
@@ -38,7 +38,10 @@ use cumulus_primitives_core::{
 	relay_chain::BlockNumber as RelayBlockNumber, ChannelStatus, GetChannelInfo, MessageSendError,
 	ParaId, XcmpMessageFormat, XcmpMessageHandler, XcmpMessageSource,
 };
-use frame_support::weights::{constants::WEIGHT_PER_MILLIS, Weight};
+use frame_support::{
+	traits::EnsureOrigin,
+	weights::{constants::WEIGHT_PER_MILLIS, Weight},
+};
 use rand_chacha::{
 	rand_core::{RngCore, SeedableRng},
 	ChaChaRng,
@@ -47,6 +50,7 @@ use scale_info::TypeInfo;
 use sp_runtime::{traits::Hash, RuntimeDebug};
 use sp_std::{convert::TryFrom, prelude::*};
 use xcm::{latest::prelude::*, VersionedXcm, WrapVersion, MAX_XCM_DECODE_DEPTH};
+use xcm_executor::traits::ConvertOrigin;
 
 pub use pallet::*;
 
@@ -82,6 +86,13 @@ pub mod pallet {
 
 		/// The origin that is allowed to execute overweight messages.
 		type ExecuteOverweightOrigin: EnsureOrigin<Self::Origin>;
+
+		/// The origin that is allowed to resume or suspend the XCMP queue.
+		type ControllerOrigin: EnsureOrigin<Self::Origin>;
+
+		/// The conversion function used to attempt to convert an XCM `MultiLocation` origin to a
+		/// superuser origin.
+		type ControllerOriginConverter: ConvertOrigin<Self::Origin>;
 	}
 
 	#[pallet::hooks]
@@ -130,6 +141,32 @@ pub mod pallet {
 			Self::deposit_event(Event::OverweightServiced(index, used));
 			Ok(Some(used.saturating_add(1_000_000)).into())
 		}
+
+		/// Suspends all XCM executions for the XCMP queue, regardless of the sender's origin.
+		///
+		/// - `origin`: Must pass `ControllerOrigin`.
+		#[pallet::weight(T::DbWeight::get().writes(1))]
+		pub fn suspend_xcm_execution(origin: OriginFor<T>) -> DispatchResult {
+			T::ControllerOrigin::ensure_origin(origin)?;
+
+			QueueSuspended::<T>::put(true);
+
+			Ok(())
+		}
+
+		/// Resumes all XCM executions for the XCMP queue.
+		///
+		/// Note that this function doesn't change the status of the in/out bound channels.
+		///
+		/// - `origin`: Must pass `ControllerOrigin`.
+		#[pallet::weight(T::DbWeight::get().writes(1))]
+		pub fn resume_xcm_execution(origin: OriginFor<T>) -> DispatchResult {
+			T::ControllerOrigin::ensure_origin(origin)?;
+
+			QueueSuspended::<T>::put(false);
+
+			Ok(())
+		}
 	}
 
 	#[pallet::event]
@@ -221,6 +258,10 @@ pub mod pallet {
 	/// available free overweight index.
 	#[pallet::storage]
 	pub(super) type OverweightCount<T: Config> = StorageValue<_, OverweightIndex, ValueQuery>;
+
+	/// Whether or not the XCMP queue is suspended from executing incoming XCMs or not.
+	#[pallet::storage]
+	pub(super) type QueueSuspended<T: Config> = StorageValue<_, bool, ValueQuery>;
 }
 
 #[derive(Copy, Clone, Eq, PartialEq, Ord, PartialOrd, Encode, Decode, RuntimeDebug, TypeInfo)]
@@ -618,6 +659,8 @@ impl<T: Config> Pallet<T> {
 	/// for the second &c. though empirical and or practical factors may give rise to adjusting it
 	/// further.
 	fn service_xcmp_queue(max_weight: Weight) -> Weight {
+		let suspended = QueueSuspended::<T>::get();
+
 		let mut status = <InboundXcmpStatus<T>>::get(); // <- sorted.
 		if status.len() == 0 {
 			return 0
@@ -649,6 +692,17 @@ impl<T: Config> Pallet<T> {
 		{
 			let index = shuffled[shuffle_index];
 			let sender = status[index].sender;
+			let sender_origin = T::ControllerOriginConverter::convert_origin(
+				(1, Parachain(sender.into())),
+				OriginKind::Superuser,
+			);
+			let is_controller = sender_origin
+				.map_or(false, |origin| T::ControllerOrigin::try_origin(origin).is_ok());
+
+			if suspended && !is_controller {
+				shuffle_index += 1;
+				continue
+			}
 
 			if weight_available != max_weight {
 				// Get incrementally closer to freeing up max_weight for message execution over the
diff --git a/pallets/xcmp-queue/src/mock.rs b/pallets/xcmp-queue/src/mock.rs
index 5f753fb3470..b783ddf11f4 100644
--- a/pallets/xcmp-queue/src/mock.rs
+++ b/pallets/xcmp-queue/src/mock.rs
@@ -15,16 +15,20 @@
 
 use super::*;
 use crate as xcmp_queue;
-use frame_support::parameter_types;
+use core::marker::PhantomData;
+use cumulus_primitives_core::{IsSystem, ParaId};
+use frame_support::{parameter_types, traits::OriginTrait};
 use frame_system::EnsureRoot;
 use sp_core::H256;
 use sp_runtime::{
 	testing::Header,
 	traits::{BlakeTwo256, IdentityLookup},
 };
+use xcm::prelude::*;
 use xcm_builder::{
 	CurrencyAdapter, FixedWeightBounds, IsConcrete, LocationInverter, NativeAsset, ParentIsPreset,
 };
+use xcm_executor::traits::ConvertOrigin;
 
 type UncheckedExtrinsic = frame_system::mocking::MockUncheckedExtrinsic<Test>;
 type Block = frame_system::mocking::MockBlock<Test>;
@@ -154,12 +158,36 @@ pub type XcmRouter = (
 	XcmpQueue,
 );
 
+pub struct SystemParachainAsSuperuser<Origin>(PhantomData<Origin>);
+impl<Origin: OriginTrait> ConvertOrigin<Origin> for SystemParachainAsSuperuser<Origin> {
+	fn convert_origin(
+		origin: impl Into<MultiLocation>,
+		kind: OriginKind,
+	) -> Result<Origin, MultiLocation> {
+		let origin = origin.into();
+		if kind == OriginKind::Superuser &&
+			matches!(
+				origin,
+				MultiLocation {
+					parents: 1,
+					interior: X1(Parachain(id)),
+				} if ParaId::from(id).is_system(),
+			) {
+			Ok(Origin::root())
+		} else {
+			Err(origin)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 impl Config for Test {
 	type Event = Event;
 	type XcmExecutor = xcm_executor::XcmExecutor<XcmConfig>;
 	type ChannelInfo = ParachainSystem;
 	type VersionWrapper = ();
 	type ExecuteOverweightOrigin = EnsureRoot<AccountId>;
+	type ControllerOrigin = EnsureRoot<AccountId>;
+	type ControllerOriginConverter = SystemParachainAsSuperuser<Origin>;
 }
 
 pub fn new_test_ext() -> sp_io::TestExternalities {
diff --git a/pallets/xcmp-queue/src/tests.rs b/pallets/xcmp-queue/src/tests.rs
index 59726172eb9..1ec894c5676 100644
--- a/pallets/xcmp-queue/src/tests.rs
+++ b/pallets/xcmp-queue/src/tests.rs
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 use super::*;
 use cumulus_primitives_core::XcmpMessageHandler;
 use frame_support::assert_noop;
-use mock::{new_test_ext, Origin, Test, XcmpQueue};
+use mock::{new_test_ext, Call, Origin, Test, XcmpQueue};
 
 #[test]
 fn one_message_does_not_panic() {
@@ -83,3 +83,29 @@ fn service_overweight_bad_xcm_format() {
 		assert_noop!(XcmpQueue::service_overweight(Origin::root(), 0, 1000), Error::<Test>::BadXcm);
 	});
 }
+
+#[test]
+fn suspend_xcm_execution_works() {
+	new_test_ext().execute_with(|| {
+		QueueSuspended::<Test>::put(true);
+
+		let xcm = VersionedXcm::from(Xcm::<Call>(vec![Instruction::<Call>::ClearOrigin])).encode();
+		let mut message_format = XcmpMessageFormat::ConcatenatedVersionedXcm.encode();
+		message_format.extend(xcm.clone());
+		let messages = vec![(ParaId::from(999), 1u32.into(), message_format.as_slice())];
+
+		// This should have executed the incoming XCM, because it came from a system parachain
+		XcmpQueue::handle_xcmp_messages(messages.into_iter(), Weight::max_value());
+
+		let queued_xcm = InboundXcmpMessages::<Test>::get(ParaId::from(999), 1u32);
+		assert!(queued_xcm.is_empty());
+
+		let messages = vec![(ParaId::from(2000), 1u32.into(), message_format.as_slice())];
+
+		// This shouldn't have executed the incoming XCM
+		XcmpQueue::handle_xcmp_messages(messages.into_iter(), Weight::max_value());
+
+		let queued_xcm = InboundXcmpMessages::<Test>::get(ParaId::from(2000), 1u32);
+		assert_eq!(queued_xcm, xcm);
+	});
+}
diff --git a/parachain-template/runtime/src/lib.rs b/parachain-template/runtime/src/lib.rs
index 944933f42cd..e04bbfbc04e 100644
--- a/parachain-template/runtime/src/lib.rs
+++ b/parachain-template/runtime/src/lib.rs
@@ -525,6 +525,8 @@ impl cumulus_pallet_xcmp_queue::Config for Runtime {
 	type ChannelInfo = ParachainSystem;
 	type VersionWrapper = ();
 	type ExecuteOverweightOrigin = EnsureRoot<AccountId>;
+	type ControllerOrigin = EnsureRoot<AccountId>;
+	type ControllerOriginConverter = XcmOriginToTransactDispatchOrigin;
 }
 
 impl cumulus_pallet_dmp_queue::Config for Runtime {
diff --git a/polkadot-parachains/rococo-parachain/src/lib.rs b/polkadot-parachains/rococo-parachain/src/lib.rs
index 218d5ff5d6a..fdef68a3da3 100644
--- a/polkadot-parachains/rococo-parachain/src/lib.rs
+++ b/polkadot-parachains/rococo-parachain/src/lib.rs
@@ -454,6 +454,8 @@ impl cumulus_pallet_xcmp_queue::Config for Runtime {
 	type ChannelInfo = ParachainSystem;
 	type VersionWrapper = ();
 	type ExecuteOverweightOrigin = EnsureRoot<AccountId>;
+	type ControllerOrigin = EnsureRoot<AccountId>;
+	type ControllerOriginConverter = XcmOriginToTransactDispatchOrigin;
 }
 
 impl cumulus_pallet_dmp_queue::Config for Runtime {
diff --git a/polkadot-parachains/statemine/src/lib.rs b/polkadot-parachains/statemine/src/lib.rs
index 21d509441cd..de27fa64745 100644
--- a/polkadot-parachains/statemine/src/lib.rs
+++ b/polkadot-parachains/statemine/src/lib.rs
@@ -609,6 +609,9 @@ impl cumulus_pallet_xcmp_queue::Config for Runtime {
 	type ChannelInfo = ParachainSystem;
 	type VersionWrapper = PolkadotXcm;
 	type ExecuteOverweightOrigin = EnsureRoot<AccountId>;
+	type ControllerOrigin =
+		EnsureOneOf<EnsureRoot<AccountId>, EnsureXcm<IsMajorityOfBody<KsmLocation, ExecutiveBody>>>;
+	type ControllerOriginConverter = XcmOriginToTransactDispatchOrigin;
 }
 
 impl cumulus_pallet_dmp_queue::Config for Runtime {
diff --git a/polkadot-parachains/statemint/src/lib.rs b/polkadot-parachains/statemint/src/lib.rs
index a7a2305088b..22d5ac64022 100644
--- a/polkadot-parachains/statemint/src/lib.rs
+++ b/polkadot-parachains/statemint/src/lib.rs
@@ -622,6 +622,9 @@ impl cumulus_pallet_xcmp_queue::Config for Runtime {
 	type ChannelInfo = ParachainSystem;
 	type VersionWrapper = PolkadotXcm;
 	type ExecuteOverweightOrigin = EnsureRoot<AccountId>;
+	type ControllerOrigin =
+		EnsureOneOf<EnsureRoot<AccountId>, EnsureXcm<IsMajorityOfBody<DotLocation, ExecutiveBody>>>;
+	type ControllerOriginConverter = XcmOriginToTransactDispatchOrigin;
 }
 
 impl cumulus_pallet_dmp_queue::Config for Runtime {
diff --git a/polkadot-parachains/westmint/src/lib.rs b/polkadot-parachains/westmint/src/lib.rs
index c7145497bba..04046e63a60 100644
--- a/polkadot-parachains/westmint/src/lib.rs
+++ b/polkadot-parachains/westmint/src/lib.rs
@@ -596,6 +596,8 @@ impl cumulus_pallet_xcmp_queue::Config for Runtime {
 	type ChannelInfo = ParachainSystem;
 	type VersionWrapper = PolkadotXcm;
 	type ExecuteOverweightOrigin = EnsureRoot<AccountId>;
+	type ControllerOrigin = EnsureRoot<AccountId>;
+	type ControllerOriginConverter = XcmOriginToTransactDispatchOrigin;
 }
 
 impl cumulus_pallet_dmp_queue::Config for Runtime {
diff --git a/primitives/core/src/lib.rs b/primitives/core/src/lib.rs
index 93019c47b75..e2519e67879 100644
--- a/primitives/core/src/lib.rs
+++ b/primitives/core/src/lib.rs
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ use sp_std::prelude::*;
 
 pub use polkadot_core_primitives::InboundDownwardMessage;
 pub use polkadot_parachain::primitives::{
-	DmpMessageHandler, Id as ParaId, UpwardMessage, ValidationParams, XcmpMessageFormat,
+	DmpMessageHandler, Id as ParaId, IsSystem, UpwardMessage, ValidationParams, XcmpMessageFormat,
 	XcmpMessageHandler,
 };
 pub use polkadot_primitives::v1::{