diff --git a/hooks/nova_compute_context.py b/hooks/nova_compute_context.py
index 1ba53427..7e535e35 100644
--- a/hooks/nova_compute_context.py
+++ b/hooks/nova_compute_context.py
@@ -273,6 +273,14 @@ class CloudComputeContext(context.OSContextGenerator):
             self.network_manager)
         return ctxt
 
+    def restart_trigger(self):
+        rt = None
+        for rid in relation_ids('cloud-compute'):
+            for unit in related_units(rid):
+                rt = relation_get('restart_trigger', rid=rid, unit=unit)
+                if rt:
+                    return rt
+
     def __call__(self):
         rids = relation_ids('cloud-compute')
         if not rids:
@@ -289,6 +297,9 @@ class CloudComputeContext(context.OSContextGenerator):
         if vol_service:
             ctxt['volume_service'] = vol_service
 
+        if self.restart_trigger():
+            ctxt['restart_trigger'] = self.restart_trigger()
+
         return ctxt
 
 
diff --git a/revision b/revision
index b0d73241..fd03ab2a 100644
--- a/revision
+++ b/revision
@@ -1 +1 @@
-129
+130
diff --git a/templates/essex/nova.conf b/templates/essex/nova.conf
index 89be9c7e..61fef0c8 100644
--- a/templates/essex/nova.conf
+++ b/templates/essex/nova.conf
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 ###############################################################################
 # [ WARNING ]
 # Configuration file maintained by Juju. Local changes may be overwritten.
+{% if restart_trigger -%}
+# restart trigger: {{ restart_trigger }}
+{% endif -%}
 ###############################################################################
 --dhcpbridge_flagfile=/etc/nova/nova.conf
 --dhcpbridge=/usr/bin/nova-dhcpbridge
diff --git a/templates/folsom/nova.conf b/templates/folsom/nova.conf
index 6bc35db2..466491e9 100644
--- a/templates/folsom/nova.conf
+++ b/templates/folsom/nova.conf
@@ -2,6 +2,9 @@
 ###############################################################################
 # [ WARNING ]
 # Configuration file maintained by Juju. Local changes may be overwritten.
+{% if restart_trigger -%}
+# restart trigger: {{ restart_trigger }}
+{% endif -%}
 ###############################################################################
 [DEFAULT]
 dhcpbridge_flagfile=/etc/nova/nova.conf
diff --git a/templates/grizzly/nova.conf b/templates/grizzly/nova.conf
index bcbe080d..54e0b5a3 100644
--- a/templates/grizzly/nova.conf
+++ b/templates/grizzly/nova.conf
@@ -2,6 +2,9 @@
 ###############################################################################
 # [ WARNING ]
 # Configuration file maintained by Juju. Local changes may be overwritten.
+{% if restart_trigger -%}
+# restart trigger: {{ restart_trigger }}
+{% endif -%}
 ###############################################################################
 [DEFAULT]
 dhcpbridge_flagfile=/etc/nova/nova.conf
diff --git a/templates/havana/nova.conf b/templates/havana/nova.conf
index 371ce745..a92d16ba 100644
--- a/templates/havana/nova.conf
+++ b/templates/havana/nova.conf
@@ -2,6 +2,9 @@
 ###############################################################################
 # [ WARNING ]
 # Configuration file maintained by Juju. Local changes may be overwritten.
+{% if restart_trigger -%}
+# restart trigger: {{ restart_trigger }}
+{% endif -%}
 ###############################################################################
 [DEFAULT]
 dhcpbridge_flagfile=/etc/nova/nova.conf
diff --git a/unit_tests/test_nova_compute_contexts.py b/unit_tests/test_nova_compute_contexts.py
index 37fa3021..8827d011 100644
--- a/unit_tests/test_nova_compute_contexts.py
+++ b/unit_tests/test_nova_compute_contexts.py
@@ -66,6 +66,20 @@ class NovaComputeContextTests(CharmTestCase):
         cloud_compute = context.CloudComputeContext()
         self.assertEquals({}, cloud_compute())
 
+    @patch.object(context, '_network_manager')
+    def test_cloud_compute_context_restart_trigger(self, nm):
+        nm.return_value = None
+        cloud_compute = context.CloudComputeContext()
+        with patch.object(cloud_compute, 'restart_trigger') as rt:
+            rt.return_value = 'footrigger'
+            ctxt = cloud_compute()
+        self.assertEquals(ctxt.get('restart_trigger'), 'footrigger')
+
+        with patch.object(cloud_compute, 'restart_trigger') as rt:
+            rt.return_value = None
+            ctxt = cloud_compute()
+        self.assertEquals(ctxt.get('restart_trigger'), None)
+
     @patch.object(context, '_network_manager')
     def test_cloud_compute_volume_context_cinder(self, netman):
         netman.return_value = None