diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index d42be96a..03ab1066 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -85,6 +85,8 @@ push_test:
 		./manage.py migrate --noinput && \
 		(chown -Rf :mam . || true ) && \
 		(chmod -Rf g+w . || true ) && \
+	    	echo "Reloading apache ... (You may have to start it manually on error!)" && \
+		~/etc/apache2/apache2ctl -k reload && \
 		echo Done."
 	@echo "Test pushed to ${TEST_SERVER}:${TEST_DIR} successfully."
 	
@@ -93,6 +95,8 @@ push_prod:
 	git tag deploy-prod-`date +%Y-%m-%d-%H-%M`-${USER}
 	git push --all
 	ssh ${PROD_USER}@${PROD_SERVER} -n -x "\
+	    	echo "Stopping apache ... (You may have to start it manually on error!)" && \
+		~/etc/apache2/apache2ctl -k stop && \
 		cd ${PROD_DIR} && \
 		./backup_prod_db.sh && \
 		git fetch --all && \
@@ -104,6 +108,8 @@ push_prod:
 		./manage.py migrate --noinput && \
 		(chown -Rf :mam . || true ) && \
 		(chmod -Rf g+w . || true ) && \
+	    	echo "Starting apache ..." && \
+		~/etc/apache2/apache2ctl -k start && \
 		echo Done."
 	@echo "Deployed to ${PROD_SERVER}:${PROD_DIR} successfully."