The invention provides a method of shutting down a wind turbine, the wind turbine comprising a rotor with a plurality of blades; and a generator system coupled to the rotor. The method comprises: operating the generator system to generate electrical power and apply a load torque to the rotor; controlling the electrical power generated with a power reference signal; determining that a shutdown of the wind turbine is required; in response to the determination that a shutdown of the wind turbine is required, changing the power reference signal so as to increase the electrical power generated thereby slowing the rotor; determining that a speed of the rotor has reduced below a threshold; and in response to the determination that the speed of the rotor has decreased below the threshold, changing a pitch of the blades to further slow the rotor.