When mitochondria become damaged, they avoid causing further problems by signaling cellular proteins to degrade them. In a new study, scientists report that they have discovered how the cells trigger this process, which is called mitophagy. In cells with broken mitochondria, two proteins — NIPSNAP 1 and NIPSNAP 2 — accumulate on the mitochondrial surface, functioning as ‘eat me’ signals, recruiting the cellular machinery that will destroy them.