diff --git a/apis/workflows/v1/task.proto b/apis/workflows/v1/task.proto
index b3a54fb..a8be6b6 100644
--- a/apis/workflows/v1/task.proto
+++ b/apis/workflows/v1/task.proto
@@ -39,10 +39,27 @@ message ComputedTask {
   repeated TaskSubmission sub_tasks = 3 [(buf.validate.field).repeated.max_items = 64];
 }
 
+// IdlingResponse is set in the response of a NextTaskRequest if no task was returned, indicating that the requesting
+// task runner should idle.
+message IdlingResponse {
+  // The suggested duration the task runner should idle for before sending another request for a task.
+  google.protobuf.Duration suggested_idling_duration = 1;
+}
+
 // NextTaskResponse is the response to the NextTask request.
-// Right now it only contains the next task to run. Wrapped in a message to allow adding more fields later if needed.
+// If the NextTask request contained a request for a task, the response will either contain a next_task, or an idling
+// response, but not both.
+// If the NextTask request did not contain a request for a next task (indicating the the runner is about to shut down),
+// the response will be empty.
 message NextTaskResponse {
+  option (buf.validate.message).oneof = {
+    fields: [
+      "next_task",
+      "idling"
+    ]
+  };
   Task next_task = 1;
+  IdlingResponse idling = 2;
 }
 
 // TaskFailedRequest is the request for marking a task as failed.