diff --git a/api/sample.yaml b/api/sample.yaml
index 9f52f77..67f25ac 100644
--- a/api/sample.yaml
+++ b/api/sample.yaml
@@ -119,6 +119,29 @@
       500:
         $ref: 'api.yaml#/components/responses/500'
 
+/sample/restore/{id}:
+  parameters:
+    - $ref: 'api.yaml#/components/parameters/Id'
+  put:
+    summary: restore sample
+    description: 'Auth: basic, levels: maintain, admin'
+    x-doc: status is set to 0
+    tags:
+      - /sample
+    security:
+      - BasicAuth: []
+    responses:
+      200:
+        $ref: 'api.yaml#/components/responses/Ok'
+      401:
+        $ref: 'api.yaml#/components/responses/401'
+      403:
+        $ref: 'api.yaml#/components/responses/403'
+      404:
+        $ref: 'api.yaml#/components/responses/404'
+      500:
+        $ref: 'api.yaml#/components/responses/500'
+
 /sample/new:
   post:
     summary: add sample
diff --git a/src/routes/sample.spec.ts b/src/routes/sample.spec.ts
index 1bbfd5d..b90a722 100644
--- a/src/routes/sample.spec.ts
+++ b/src/routes/sample.spec.ts
@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@ import mongoose from 'mongoose';
 // TODO: allow adding sample numbers for existing samples
 // TODO: Do not allow validation or measurement entry without condition
 
-// TODO: restore sample
 
 describe('/sample', () => {
   let server;
@@ -821,6 +820,61 @@ describe('/sample', () => {
     });
   });
 
+  describe('PUT /sample/restore/{id}', () => {
+    it('sets the status', done => {
+      TestHelper.request(server, done, {
+        method: 'put',
+        url: '/sample/restore/400000000000000000000005',
+        auth: {basic: 'admin'},
+        httpStatus: 200,
+        req: {}
+      }).end((err, res) => {
+        if (err) return done (err);
+        should(res.body).be.eql({status: 'OK'});
+        SampleModel.findById('400000000000000000000005').lean().exec((err, data: any) => {
+          if (err) return done(err);
+          should(data).have.property('status',globals.status.new);
+          done();
+        });
+      });
+    });
+    it('rejects an API key', done => {
+      TestHelper.request(server, done, {
+        method: 'put',
+        url: '/sample/restore/400000000000000000000005',
+        auth: {key: 'admin'},
+        httpStatus: 401,
+        req: {}
+      });
+    });
+    it('rejects a write user', done => {
+      TestHelper.request(server, done, {
+        method: 'put',
+        url: '/sample/restore/400000000000000000000005',
+        auth: {basic: 'janedoe'},
+        httpStatus: 403,
+        req: {}
+      });
+    });
+    it('returns 404 for an unknown sample', done => {
+      TestHelper.request(server, done, {
+        method: 'put',
+        url: '/sample/restore/000000000000000000000005',
+        auth: {basic: 'admin'},
+        httpStatus: 404,
+        req: {}
+      });
+    });
+    it('rejects unauthorized requests', done => {
+      TestHelper.request(server, done, {
+        method: 'put',
+        url: '/sample/restore/400000000000000000000005',
+        httpStatus: 401,
+        req: {}
+      });
+    });
+  });
+
   describe('POST /sample/new', () => {
     it('returns the right sample', done => {
       TestHelper.request(server, done, {
diff --git a/src/routes/sample.ts b/src/routes/sample.ts
index 23e786a..e8ed1f7 100644
--- a/src/routes/sample.ts
+++ b/src/routes/sample.ts
@@ -163,6 +163,19 @@ router.delete('/sample/' + IdValidate.parameter(), (req, res, next) => {
   });
 });
 
+router.put('/sample/restore/' + IdValidate.parameter(), (req, res, next) => {
+  if (!req.auth(res, ['maintain', 'admin'], 'basic')) return;
+
+  SampleModel.findByIdAndUpdate(req.params.id, {status: globals.status.new}).lean().exec((err, data) => {
+    if (err) return next(err);
+
+    if (!data) {
+      return res.status(404).json({status: 'Not found'});
+    }
+    res.json({status: 'OK'});
+  });
+});
+
 router.post('/sample/new', async (req, res, next) => {
   if (!req.auth(res, ['write', 'maintain', 'dev', 'admin'], 'basic')) return;