diff --git a/x-pack/libbeat/management/config.go b/x-pack/libbeat/management/config.go
index ae19bd08cc48..edcde4f82f9b 100644
--- a/x-pack/libbeat/management/config.go
+++ b/x-pack/libbeat/management/config.go
@@ -11,8 +11,9 @@ import (
 
 // Config for central management
 type Config struct {
-	Enabled   bool                    `config:"enabled" yaml:"enabled"`
-	Blacklist ConfigBlacklistSettings `config:"blacklist" yaml:"blacklist"`
+	Enabled       bool                    `config:"enabled" yaml:"enabled"`
+	Blacklist     ConfigBlacklistSettings `config:"blacklist" yaml:"blacklist"`
+	OutputRestart bool                    `config:"restart_on_output_change" yaml:"restart_on_output_change"`
 }
 
 // ConfigBlock stores a piece of config from central management
@@ -29,6 +30,7 @@ type ConfigBlocksWithType struct {
 // ConfigBlocks holds a list of type + configs objects
 type ConfigBlocks []ConfigBlocksWithType
 
+// DefaultConfig returns the default config for the V2 manager
 func DefaultConfig() *Config {
 	return &Config{
 		Blacklist: ConfigBlacklistSettings{
diff --git a/x-pack/libbeat/management/managerV2.go b/x-pack/libbeat/management/managerV2.go
index 9605bbed4874..660770388b1e 100644
--- a/x-pack/libbeat/management/managerV2.go
+++ b/x-pack/libbeat/management/managerV2.go
@@ -41,15 +41,19 @@ type BeatV2Manager struct {
 	payload map[string]interface{}
 
 	// stop callback must be registered by libbeat, as with the V1 callback
-	stopFunc func()
-	stopMut  sync.Mutex
-	beatStop sync.Once
+	stopFunc           func()
+	stopOnOutputReload bool
+	stopMut            sync.Mutex
+	beatStop           sync.Once
 
 	// sync channel for shutting down the manager after we get a stop from
 	// either the agent or the beat
 	stopChan chan struct{}
 
 	isRunning bool
+	// is set on first instance of a config reload,
+	// allowing us to restart the beat if stopOnOutputReload is set
+	outputIsConfigured bool
 
 	// used for the debug callback to report as-running config
 	lastOutputCfg *reload.ConfigWithMeta
@@ -87,12 +91,16 @@ func NewV2AgentManager(config *conf.C, registry *reload.Registry, _ uuid.UUID) (
 // NewV2AgentManagerWithClient actually creates the manager instance used by the rest of the beats.
 func NewV2AgentManagerWithClient(config *Config, registry *reload.Registry, agentClient client.V2) (lbmanagement.Manager, error) {
 	log := logp.NewLogger(lbmanagement.DebugK)
+	if config.OutputRestart {
+		log.Info("Output reload is enabled, the beat will restart as needed on change of output config")
+	}
 	m := &BeatV2Manager{
-		config:   config,
-		logger:   log.Named("V2-manager"),
-		registry: registry,
-		units:    make(map[string]*client.Unit),
-		stopChan: make(chan struct{}, 1),
+		stopOnOutputReload: config.OutputRestart,
+		config:             config,
+		logger:             log.Named("V2-manager"),
+		registry:           registry,
+		units:              make(map[string]*client.Unit),
+		stopChan:           make(chan struct{}, 1),
 	}
 
 	if config.Enabled {
@@ -338,6 +346,16 @@ func (cm *BeatV2Manager) handleOutputReload(unit *client.Unit) {
 	}
 	cm.logger.Debugf("Got Output unit config '%s'", rawConfig.GetId())
 
+	// if needed, stop the beat, let agent restart
+	if cm.stopOnOutputReload && cm.outputIsConfigured {
+		cm.logger.Info("beat will now stop for output reload")
+		// in the future we'll want some set "reloading" state,
+		// but for now set the state this way.
+		_ = unit.UpdateState(client.UnitStateStopping, "got output unit, beat will restart", nil)
+		cm.Stop()
+		return
+	}
+
 	reloadConfig, err := groupByOutputs(rawConfig)
 	if err != nil {
 		errString := fmt.Errorf("Failed to generate config for output: %w", err)
@@ -359,11 +377,14 @@ func (cm *BeatV2Manager) handleOutputReload(unit *client.Unit) {
 		_ = unit.UpdateState(client.UnitStateFailed, errString.Error(), nil)
 		return
 	}
+	// set to true, we'll reload the output if we need to re-configure
+	cm.outputIsConfigured = true
 	_ = unit.UpdateState(client.UnitStateHealthy, "reloaded output component", nil)
 }
 
 // handle the updated config for an input unit
 func (cm *BeatV2Manager) handleInputReload(unit *client.Unit) {
+	cm.addUnit(unit)
 	_, _, rawConfig := unit.Expected()
 	if rawConfig == nil {
 		cm.logger.Warnf("got input update with no config, ignoring")