diff --git a/evolver/device.py b/evolver/device.py
index 01f3fad4..e08ce02d 100644
--- a/evolver/device.py
+++ b/evolver/device.py
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ def abort(self):
         self.enable_control = False
         self.enable_commit = False
         for device in self.effectors.values():
-            device.abort()
+            device.off()
 
     def __enter__(self):
         return self
diff --git a/evolver/hardware/demo.py b/evolver/hardware/demo.py
index aefaebeb..aa2d4e45 100644
--- a/evolver/hardware/demo.py
+++ b/evolver/hardware/demo.py
@@ -37,5 +37,5 @@ def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
     def commit(self):
         self.comitted = copy(self.proposal)
 
-    def abort(self):
+    def off(self):
         pass
diff --git a/evolver/hardware/interface.py b/evolver/hardware/interface.py
index 291938ef..9a4470b9 100644
--- a/evolver/hardware/interface.py
+++ b/evolver/hardware/interface.py
@@ -83,5 +83,11 @@ def commit(self):
         pass
 
     @abstractmethod
-    def abort(self):
+    def off(self):
+        """Immediately turn device into off state.
+
+        Used by framework in aborting an experiment. Implementations should
+        define off condition and implement in such a way that a commit call is
+        not necessary (i.e. the device turns off upon calling this method).
+        """
         pass
diff --git a/evolver/hardware/standard/led.py b/evolver/hardware/standard/led.py
index f8e3ca2f..0b762a83 100644
--- a/evolver/hardware/standard/led.py
+++ b/evolver/hardware/standard/led.py
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ def from_brightness(brightness):
             comm.communicate(SerialData(addr=self.addr, data=cmd))
         self.committed = inputs
 
-    def abort(self):
+    def off(self):
         cmd = [b"0"] * self.slots
         with self.serial as comm:
             comm.communicate(SerialData(addr=self.addr, data=cmd))
diff --git a/evolver/hardware/standard/pump.py b/evolver/hardware/standard/pump.py
index 102a97e2..694387b3 100644
--- a/evolver/hardware/standard/pump.py
+++ b/evolver/hardware/standard/pump.py
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ def commit(self):
             comm.communicate(SerialData(addr=self.addr, data=cmd))
         self.committed = inputs
 
-    def abort(self):
+    def off(self):
         cmd = [b"0"] * self.slots
         for pump in self.ipp_pumps:
             for solenoid in range(3):
@@ -164,5 +164,5 @@ def commit(self):
         self._generic_pump.commit()
         self.committed = copy(self.proposal)
 
-    def abort(self):
-        self._generic_pump.abort()
+    def off(self):
+        self._generic_pump.off()
diff --git a/evolver/hardware/standard/stir.py b/evolver/hardware/standard/stir.py
index 732dcf11..ef82d580 100644
--- a/evolver/hardware/standard/stir.py
+++ b/evolver/hardware/standard/stir.py
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ def commit(self):
             comm.communicate(SerialData(addr=self.addr, data=cmd))
         self.committed = inputs
 
-    def abort(self):
+    def off(self):
         cmd = [b"0"] * self.slots
         with self.serial as comm:
             comm.communicate(SerialData(addr=self.addr, data=cmd))
diff --git a/evolver/hardware/standard/temperature.py b/evolver/hardware/standard/temperature.py
index 33173bc4..c8f97325 100644
--- a/evolver/hardware/standard/temperature.py
+++ b/evolver/hardware/standard/temperature.py
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ def read(self):
     def commit(self):
         self._do_serial(from_proposal=True)
 
-    def abort(self):
+    def off(self):
         cmd = [self.HEAT_OFF] * self.slots
         with self.serial as comm:
             comm.communicate(SerialData(addr=self.addr, data=cmd))
diff --git a/evolver/hardware/test_utils.py b/evolver/hardware/test_utils.py
index de5c8e05..a07b9f47 100644
--- a/evolver/hardware/test_utils.py
+++ b/evolver/hardware/test_utils.py
@@ -125,5 +125,5 @@ def test_abort(self, config_params, values, serial_out):
             return
         config, command = self.abort_command
         hw = _from_config_desc(self.driver, config, {})
-        hw.abort()
+        hw.off()
         assert hw.evolver.serial.backend.hits_map[command] == 1
diff --git a/evolver/tests/test_device.py b/evolver/tests/test_device.py
index 71198a14..1dc6a7de 100644
--- a/evolver/tests/test_device.py
+++ b/evolver/tests/test_device.py
@@ -151,8 +151,8 @@ def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
                 super().__init__(*args, **kwargs)
                 self.aborted = False
 
-            def abort(self):
-                super().abort()
+            def off(self):
+                super().off()
                 self.aborted = True
 
         demo_evolver.hardware["testeffector"] = AbortEffector()