diff --git a/src/Illuminate/Foundation/Console/DownCommand.php b/src/Illuminate/Foundation/Console/DownCommand.php
index 4382ccc2e1d5..17f576ae9554 100644
--- a/src/Illuminate/Foundation/Console/DownCommand.php
+++ b/src/Illuminate/Foundation/Console/DownCommand.php
@@ -14,9 +14,10 @@ class DownCommand extends Command
      *
      * @var string
      */
-    protected $signature = 'down {--message= : The message for the maintenance mode. }
+    protected $signature = 'down {--message= : The message for the maintenance mode.}
                                  {--retry= : The number of seconds after which the request may be retried.}
-                                 {--allow=* : IP or networks allowed to access the application while in maintenance mode.}';
+                                 {--allow=* : IP or networks allowed to access the application while in maintenance mode.}
+                                 {--except=* : Request URIs that shall be accessible while in maintenance mode.}';
 
     /**
      * The console command description.
@@ -52,6 +53,7 @@ protected function getDownFilePayload()
             'message' => $this->option('message'),
             'retry' => $this->getRetryTime(),
             'allowed' => $this->option('allow'),
+            'except' => $this->option('except'),
         ];
     }
 
diff --git a/src/Illuminate/Foundation/Http/Middleware/CheckForMaintenanceMode.php b/src/Illuminate/Foundation/Http/Middleware/CheckForMaintenanceMode.php
index ca1af7269a82..c57318892970 100644
--- a/src/Illuminate/Foundation/Http/Middleware/CheckForMaintenanceMode.php
+++ b/src/Illuminate/Foundation/Http/Middleware/CheckForMaintenanceMode.php
@@ -45,6 +45,10 @@ public function handle($request, Closure $next)
                 return $next($request);
             }
 
+            if (isset($data['except']) && in_array($request->getRequestUri(), (array) $data['except'])) {
+                return $next($request);
+            }
+
             throw new MaintenanceModeException($data['time'], $data['retry'], $data['message']);
         }