diff --git a/client/coral-embed-stream/src/tabs/configure/containers/AssetStatusInfo.js b/client/coral-embed-stream/src/tabs/configure/containers/AssetStatusInfo.js
index 8fb6dd2ef..ed0746d29 100644
--- a/client/coral-embed-stream/src/tabs/configure/containers/AssetStatusInfo.js
+++ b/client/coral-embed-stream/src/tabs/configure/containers/AssetStatusInfo.js
@@ -3,15 +3,15 @@ import { gql, compose } from 'react-apollo';
 import { withFragments } from 'coral-framework/hocs';
 import AssetStatusInfo from '../components/AssetStatusInfo';
 import PropTypes from 'prop-types';
-import { withUpdateAssetStatus } from 'coral-framework/graphql/mutations';
+import {
+  withUpdateAssetStatus,
+  withCloseAsset,
+} from 'coral-framework/graphql/mutations';
 
 class AssetStatusInfoContainer extends React.Component {
   openAsset = () =>
     this.props.updateAssetStatus(this.props.asset.id, { closedAt: null });
-  closeAsset = () =>
-    this.props.updateAssetStatus(this.props.asset.id, {
-      closedAt: new Date().toISOString(),
-    });
+  closeAsset = () => this.props.closeAsset(this.props.asset.id);
 
   render() {
     return (
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ class AssetStatusInfoContainer extends React.Component {
 AssetStatusInfoContainer.propTypes = {
   asset: PropTypes.object.isRequired,
   updateAssetStatus: PropTypes.func.isRequired,
+  closeAsset: PropTypes.func.isRequired,
 };
 
 const withAssetStatusInfoFragments = withFragments({
@@ -41,6 +42,10 @@ const withAssetStatusInfoFragments = withFragments({
   `,
 });
 
-const enhance = compose(withAssetStatusInfoFragments, withUpdateAssetStatus);
+const enhance = compose(
+  withAssetStatusInfoFragments,
+  withUpdateAssetStatus,
+  withCloseAsset
+);
 
 export default enhance(AssetStatusInfoContainer);
diff --git a/client/coral-framework/graphql/fragments.js b/client/coral-framework/graphql/fragments.js
index 2ec92ea6b..a62fd6d92 100644
--- a/client/coral-framework/graphql/fragments.js
+++ b/client/coral-framework/graphql/fragments.js
@@ -3,27 +3,28 @@ import { createDefaultResponseFragments } from '../utils';
 // fragments defined here are automatically registered.
 export default {
   ...createDefaultResponseFragments(
-    'SetUserRoleResponse',
-    'ChangeUsernameResponse',
-    'SetUsernameResponse',
     'BanUsersResponse',
-    'UnbanUserResponse',
-    'SetUserSuspensionStatusResponse',
-    'SetCommentStatusResponse',
-    'SetUsernameStatusResponse',
-    'UnsuspendUserResponse',
-    'SuspendUserResponse',
+    'ChangeUsernameResponse',
+    'CloseAssetResponse',
     'CreateCommentResponse',
-    'CreateFlagResponse',
-    'EditCommentResponse',
-    'PostFlagResponse',
     'CreateDontAgreeResponse',
+    'CreateFlagResponse',
     'DeleteActionResponse',
-    'ModifyTagResponse',
+    'EditCommentResponse',
     'IgnoreUserResponse',
+    'ModifyTagResponse',
+    'PostFlagResponse',
+    'SetCommentStatusResponse',
+    'SetUsernameResponse',
+    'SetUsernameStatusResponse',
+    'SetUserRoleResponse',
+    'SetUserSuspensionStatusResponse',
     'StopIgnoringUserResponse',
-    'UpdateSettingsResponse',
+    'SuspendUserResponse',
+    'UnbanUserResponse',
+    'UnsuspendUserResponse',
     'UpdateAssetSettingsResponse',
-    'UpdateAssetStatusResponse'
+    'UpdateAssetStatusResponse',
+    'UpdateSettingsResponse'
   ),
 };
diff --git a/client/coral-framework/graphql/mutations.js b/client/coral-framework/graphql/mutations.js
index e5f0bb60e..f34a2cc88 100644
--- a/client/coral-framework/graphql/mutations.js
+++ b/client/coral-framework/graphql/mutations.js
@@ -665,3 +665,46 @@ export const withUpdateAssetStatus = withMutation(
     }),
   }
 );
+
+export const withCloseAsset = withMutation(
+  gql`
+    mutation CloseAsset($id: ID!) {
+      closeAsset(id: $id) {
+        ...CloseAssetResponse
+      }
+    }
+  `,
+  {
+    props: ({ mutate }) => ({
+      closeAsset: id => {
+        return mutate({
+          variables: {
+            id,
+          },
+          optimisticResponse: {
+            closeAsset: {
+              __typename: 'CloseAssetResponse',
+              errors: null,
+            },
+          },
+          update: proxy => {
+            const fragment = gql`
+              fragment Talk_CloseAssetResponse on Asset {
+                closedAt
+                isClosed
+              }
+            `;
+
+            const fragmentId = `Asset_${id}`;
+            const data = {
+              __typename: 'Asset',
+              closedAt: new Date(),
+              isClosed: true,
+            };
+            proxy.writeFragment({ fragment, id: fragmentId, data });
+          },
+        });
+      },
+    }),
+  }
+);
diff --git a/graph/mutators/asset.js b/graph/mutators/asset.js
index 171c711f0..6524331e1 100644
--- a/graph/mutators/asset.js
+++ b/graph/mutators/asset.js
@@ -38,11 +38,30 @@ const updateStatus = async (ctx, id, { closedAt, closedMessage }) =>
     }
   );
 
+/**
+ * closeNow will close an asset for commenting.
+ *
+ * @param {Object} ctx graphql context
+ * @param {String} id the asset's id to close
+ */
+const closeNow = async (ctx, id) =>
+  AssetModel.update(
+    {
+      id,
+    },
+    {
+      $set: {
+        closedAt: new Date(),
+      },
+    }
+  );
+
 module.exports = ctx => {
   let mutators = {
     Asset: {
       updateSettings: () => Promise.reject(errors.ErrNotAuthorized),
       updateStatus: () => Promise.reject(errors.ErrNotAuthorized),
+      closeNow: () => Promise.reject(errors.ErrNotAuthorized),
     },
   };
 
@@ -55,6 +74,7 @@ module.exports = ctx => {
     if (ctx.user.can(UPDATE_ASSET_STATUS)) {
       mutators.Asset.updateStatus = (id, status) =>
         updateStatus(ctx, id, status);
+      mutators.Asset.closeNow = id => closeNow(ctx, id);
     }
   }
 
diff --git a/graph/resolvers/root_mutation.js b/graph/resolvers/root_mutation.js
index e99a8bd4b..3a646b3d8 100644
--- a/graph/resolvers/root_mutation.js
+++ b/graph/resolvers/root_mutation.js
@@ -94,6 +94,9 @@ const RootMutation = {
   ) => {
     await Asset.updateStatus(id, status);
   },
+  closeAsset: async (_, { id }, { mutators: { Asset } }) => {
+    await Asset.closeNow(id);
+  },
   setUserRole: async (_, { id, role }, { mutators: { User } }) => {
     await User.setRole(id, role);
   },
diff --git a/graph/typeDefs.graphql b/graph/typeDefs.graphql
index 002318bc3..cd9eb9325 100644
--- a/graph/typeDefs.graphql
+++ b/graph/typeDefs.graphql
@@ -1111,6 +1111,14 @@ type UpdateAssetStatusResponse implements Response {
   errors: [UserError!]
 }
 
+# CloseAssetResponse is the response returned with possibly some errors
+# relating to the update status attempt.
+type CloseAssetResponse implements Response {
+
+  # An array of errors relating to the mutation that occurred.
+  errors: [UserError!]
+}
+
 # UpdateAssetSettingsResponse is the response returned with possibly some errors
 # relating to the update settings attempt.
 type UpdateAssetSettingsResponse implements Response {
@@ -1446,6 +1454,9 @@ type RootMutation {
   # Mutation is restricted.
   updateAssetStatus(id: ID!, input: UpdateAssetStatusInput!): UpdateAssetStatusResponse
 
+  # closeAsset will close the asset for commenting based on server time.
+  closeAsset(id: ID!): CloseAssetResponse
+
   # updateSettings will update the global settings.
   # Mutation is restricted.
   updateSettings(input: UpdateSettingsInput!): UpdateSettingsResponse