diff --git a/OpenSim/Region/Framework/Scenes/Scene.cs b/OpenSim/Region/Framework/Scenes/Scene.cs
index b45da30d6f..6b81c973e3 100644
--- a/OpenSim/Region/Framework/Scenes/Scene.cs
+++ b/OpenSim/Region/Framework/Scenes/Scene.cs
@@ -1266,6 +1266,14 @@ namespace OpenSim.Region.Framework.Scenes
 
             m_sceneGraph.Close();
 
+            if (!GridService.DeregisterRegion(RegionInfo.RegionID))
+                m_log.WarnFormat("[SCENE]: Deregister from grid failed for region {0}", Name);
+
+            base.Close();
+
+            // XEngine currently listens to the EventManager.OnShutdown event to trigger script stop and persistence.
+            // Therefore. we must dispose of the PhysicsScene after this to prevent a window where script code can
+            // attempt to reference a null or disposed physics scene.
             if (PhysicsScene != null)
             {
                 PhysicsScene phys = PhysicsScene;
@@ -1274,12 +1282,6 @@ namespace OpenSim.Region.Framework.Scenes
                 phys.Dispose();
                 phys = null;
             }
-
-            if (!GridService.DeregisterRegion(RegionInfo.RegionID))
-                m_log.WarnFormat("[SCENE]: Deregister from grid failed for region {0}", Name);
-
-            // call the base class Close method.
-            base.Close();
         }
 
         /// <summary>
diff --git a/OpenSim/Region/Framework/Scenes/Tests/SceneTests.cs b/OpenSim/Region/Framework/Scenes/Tests/SceneTests.cs
index d722a0990a..ac3da1e2cc 100644
--- a/OpenSim/Region/Framework/Scenes/Tests/SceneTests.cs
+++ b/OpenSim/Region/Framework/Scenes/Tests/SceneTests.cs
@@ -65,5 +65,22 @@ namespace OpenSim.Region.Framework.Scenes.Tests
             
             Assert.That(scene.Frame, Is.EqualTo(1));
         }
+
+        [Test]
+        public void TestShutdownScene()
+        {
+            TestHelpers.InMethod();
+
+            Scene scene = new SceneHelpers().SetupScene();
+            scene.Close();
+
+            Assert.That(scene.ShuttingDown, Is.True);
+            Assert.That(scene.Active, Is.False);
+
+            // Trying to update a shutdown scene should result in no update
+            scene.Update(1);
+
+            Assert.That(scene.Frame, Is.EqualTo(0));
+        }
     }
 }
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