diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 7b7ce4a..aab141a 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -97,10 +97,15 @@ make assumptions about how you work.
       desc = "Bring up the DevContainer",
     },
     {
-      "<leader>Dc",
+      "<leader>Dd",
       ":DevcontainerConnect<CR>",
       desc = "Connect to DevContainer",
     },
+    {
+      "<leader>Dc",
+      ":DevcontainerDown<CR>",
+      desc = "Kill the current DevContainer",
+    },
     {
       "<leader>De",
       ":DevcontainerExec direction='vertical' size='40'<CR>",
diff --git a/lua/devcontainer-cli/devcontainer_cli.lua b/lua/devcontainer-cli/devcontainer_cli.lua
index e45955b..c93c130 100644
--- a/lua/devcontainer-cli/devcontainer_cli.lua
+++ b/lua/devcontainer-cli/devcontainer_cli.lua
@@ -72,4 +72,9 @@ function M.connect()
   vim.cmd("wqa")
 end
 
+-- kill the current running docker container associated with the current project
+function M.down()
+  utils.down()
+end
+
 return M
diff --git a/lua/devcontainer-cli/devcontainer_utils.lua b/lua/devcontainer-cli/devcontainer_utils.lua
index 916f9c1..8231a40 100644
--- a/lua/devcontainer-cli/devcontainer_utils.lua
+++ b/lua/devcontainer-cli/devcontainer_utils.lua
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 local config       = require("devcontainer-cli.config")
 local folder_utils = require("devcontainer-cli.folder_utils")
 local terminal     = require("devcontainer-cli.terminal")
+local log          = require("devcontainer-cli.log")
 
 local M            = {}
 
@@ -96,7 +97,7 @@ end
 local function _devcontainer_command(action)
   local devcontainer_root = folder_utils.get_root(config.toplevel)
   if devcontainer_root == nil then
-    vim.notify("Unable to find devcontainer directory...", vim.log.levels.ERROR)
+    log.error("unable to find devcontainer directory...")
     return nil
   end
 
@@ -159,9 +160,7 @@ function M.bringup()
       },
       function(input)
         if (input == "q" or input == "Q") then
-          vim.notify(
-            "\nUser cancelled bringing up devcontainer"
-          )
+          log.info("\nUser cancelled bringing up devcontainer")
         else
           terminal.spawn(command)
         end
@@ -184,7 +183,7 @@ function M._exec_cmd(cmd, direction, size)
   end
 
   command = command .. " " .. config.shell .. " -c '" .. cmd .. "'"
-  vim.notify(command)
+  log.info(command)
   terminal.spawn(command, direction, size)
 end
 
@@ -195,7 +194,7 @@ end
 ---@param size (number|nil) size of the window to create
 function M.exec(cmd, direction, size)
   if terminal.is_open() then
-    vim.notify("There is already a devcontainer process running.", vim.log.levels.WARN)
+    log.warn("there is already a devcontainer process running.")
     return
   end
 
@@ -206,7 +205,7 @@ function M.exec(cmd, direction, size)
         if input ~= nil then
           M._exec_cmd(input, direction, size)
         else
-          vim.notify("No command received, ignoring.", vim.log.levels.WARN)
+          log.warn("no command received, ignoring.")
         end
       end
     )
@@ -242,7 +241,7 @@ function M.create_connect_cmd()
             elseif vim.fn.executable("Terminal.app") == 1 then
               connect_command = { "Terminal.app" }
             else
-              vim.notify("No supported terminal emulator found.", vim.log.levels.ERROR)
+              log.error("no supported terminal emulator found.")
             end
 
             table.insert(connect_command, dev_command)
@@ -259,4 +258,27 @@ function M.create_connect_cmd()
   return true
 end
 
+-- issues command to down devcontainer
+function M.down()
+  local workspace = folder_utils.get_root(config.toplevel)
+  if workspace == nil then
+    log.error("Couldn't determine project root")
+    return
+  end
+
+  local command = "docker ps -q -a --filter label=devcontainer.config_file=" .. workspace
+  log.debug("Attempting to get pid of devcontainer using command: " .. command)
+  local result = vim.fn.systemlist(command)
+
+  if #result == 0 then
+    log.warn("Couldn't find devcontainer to kill")
+    return
+  end
+
+  local pid = result[1]
+  command = "docker kill " .. pid
+  log.info("Killing docker container with pid: " .. pid)
+  terminal.spawn(command)
+end
+
 return M
diff --git a/lua/devcontainer-cli/init.lua b/lua/devcontainer-cli/init.lua
index 3b52289..2ae207a 100644
--- a/lua/devcontainer-cli/init.lua
+++ b/lua/devcontainer-cli/init.lua
@@ -69,6 +69,15 @@ function M.setup(opts)
     }
   )
 
+  vim.api.nvim_create_user_command(
+    "DevcontainerDown",
+    devcontainer_cli.down,
+    {
+      nargs = 0,
+      desc = "Kill the current devcontainer.",
+    }
+  )
+
   log.debug("Finished setting up devcontainer-cli")
 end