diff --git a/hardware_interface/include/hardware_interface/types/hardware_interface_return_values.hpp b/hardware_interface/include/hardware_interface/types/hardware_interface_return_values.hpp
index 5c3ea22ca05..dad907f6837 100644
--- a/hardware_interface/include/hardware_interface/types/hardware_interface_return_values.hpp
+++ b/hardware_interface/include/hardware_interface/types/hardware_interface_return_values.hpp
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ enum class return_type : std::uint8_t
 {
   OK = 0,
   ERROR = 1,
+  INACTIVE = 2,
 };
 
 }  // namespace hardware_interface
diff --git a/hardware_interface/src/resource_manager.cpp b/hardware_interface/src/resource_manager.cpp
index 33236afd1c5..e1f12106408 100644
--- a/hardware_interface/src/resource_manager.cpp
+++ b/hardware_interface/src/resource_manager.cpp
@@ -1072,12 +1072,26 @@ HardwareReadWriteStatus ResourceManager::read(
   {
     for (auto & component : components)
     {
-      if (component.read(time, period) != return_type::OK)
+      auto ret_val = component.read(time, period);
+      if (ret_val == return_type::ERROR)
       {
         read_write_status.ok = false;
         read_write_status.failed_hardware_names.push_back(component.get_name());
         resource_storage_->remove_all_hardware_interfaces_from_available_list(component.get_name());
       }
+      else if (ret_val == return_type::INACTIVE)
+      {
+        using lifecycle_msgs::msg::State;
+        rclcpp_lifecycle::State state(State::PRIMARY_STATE_INACTIVE, lifecycle_state_names::INACTIVE);
+        set_component_state(component.get_name(), state);
+      }
+      // If desired: automatic re-activation. We could add a flag for this...
+      //else
+      //{
+        //using lifecycle_msgs::msg::State;
+        //rclcpp_lifecycle::State state(State::PRIMARY_STATE_ACTIVE, lifecycle_state_names::ACTIVE);
+        //set_component_state(component.get_name(), state);
+      //}
     }
   };
 
@@ -1100,12 +1114,19 @@ HardwareReadWriteStatus ResourceManager::write(
   {
     for (auto & component : components)
     {
-      if (component.write(time, period) != return_type::OK)
+      auto ret_val = component.write(time, period);
+      if (ret_val == return_type::ERROR)
       {
         read_write_status.ok = false;
         read_write_status.failed_hardware_names.push_back(component.get_name());
         resource_storage_->remove_all_hardware_interfaces_from_available_list(component.get_name());
       }
+      else if (ret_val == return_type::INACTIVE)
+      {
+        using lifecycle_msgs::msg::State;
+        rclcpp_lifecycle::State state(State::PRIMARY_STATE_INACTIVE, lifecycle_state_names::INACTIVE);
+        set_component_state(component.get_name(), state);
+      }
     }
   };