diff --git a/public/index.php b/public/index.php
index 233cba74..796d2902 100644
--- a/public/index.php
+++ b/public/index.php
@@ -7,6 +7,21 @@
  */
 define('LARAVEL_START', microtime(true));
 
+/*
+|--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+| Check If Application Is Under Maintenance
+|--------------------------------------------------------------------------
+|
+| If the application is maintenance / demo mode via the "down" command we
+| will require this file so that any pre-rendered template can be shown
+| instead of starting the framework, which could cause an exception.
+|
+*/
+
+if (file_exists(__DIR__ . '/../storage/framework/maintenance.php')) {
+    require __DIR__ . '/../storage/framework/maintenance.php';
+}
+
 /*
 |--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 | Register The Auto Loader