diff --git a/doc/release-notes.md b/doc/release-notes.md
--- a/doc/release-notes.md
+++ b/doc/release-notes.md
@@ -3,4 +3,5 @@
   <https://download.bitcoinabc.org/0.18.2/>
 
 This release includes the following features and fixes:
+ - Backport abortrescan RPC call from bitcoin core.
 
diff --git a/src/wallet/rpcdump.cpp b/src/wallet/rpcdump.cpp
--- a/src/wallet/rpcdump.cpp
+++ b/src/wallet/rpcdump.cpp
@@ -168,6 +168,33 @@
     return NullUniValue;
 }
 
+UniValue abortrescan(const Config &config, const JSONRPCRequest &request) {
+    CWallet *const pwallet = GetWalletForJSONRPCRequest(request);
+    if (!EnsureWalletIsAvailable(pwallet, request.fHelp)) {
+        return NullUniValue;
+    }
+
+    if (request.fHelp || request.params.size() > 0) {
+        throw std::runtime_error("abortrescan\n"
+                                 "\nStops current wallet rescan triggered e.g. "
+                                 "by an importprivkey call.\n"
+                                 "\nExamples:\n"
+                                 "\nImport a private key\n" +
+                                 HelpExampleCli("importprivkey", "\"mykey\"") +
+                                 "\nAbort the running wallet rescan\n" +
+                                 HelpExampleCli("abortrescan", "") +
+                                 "\nAs a JSON-RPC call\n" +
+                                 HelpExampleRpc("abortrescan", ""));
+    }
+
+    if (!pwallet->IsScanning() || pwallet->IsAbortingRescan()) {
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    pwallet->AbortRescan();
+    return true;
+}
+
 void ImportAddress(CWallet *, const CTxDestination &dest,
                    const std::string &strLabel);
 void ImportScript(CWallet *const pwallet, const CScript &script,
@@ -1351,6 +1378,7 @@
 static const ContextFreeRPCCommand commands[] = {
     //  category            name                        actor (function)          okSafeMode
     //  ------------------- ------------------------    ----------------------    ----------
+    { "wallet",             "abortrescan",              abortrescan,              false,  {} },
     { "wallet",             "dumpprivkey",              dumpprivkey,              true,   {"address"}  },
     { "wallet",             "dumpwallet",               dumpwallet,               true,   {"filename"} },
     { "wallet",             "importmulti",              importmulti,              true,   {"requests","options"} },
diff --git a/src/wallet/wallet.h b/src/wallet/wallet.h
--- a/src/wallet/wallet.h
+++ b/src/wallet/wallet.h
@@ -594,6 +594,8 @@
 class CWallet final : public CCryptoKeyStore, public CValidationInterface {
 private:
     static std::atomic<bool> fFlushScheduled;
+    std::atomic<bool> fAbortRescan;
+    std::atomic<bool> fScanningWallet;
 
     /**
      * Select a set of coins such that nValueRet >= nTargetValue and at least
@@ -737,6 +739,8 @@
         m_max_keypool_index = 0;
         nTimeFirstKey = 0;
         fBroadcastTransactions = false;
+        fAbortRescan = false;
+        fScanningWallet = false;
     }
 
     std::map<TxId, CWalletTx> mapWallet;
@@ -790,6 +794,13 @@
     void UnlockAllCoins();
     void ListLockedCoins(std::vector<COutPoint> &vOutpts);
 
+    /*
+     * Rescan abort properties
+     */
+    void AbortRescan() { fAbortRescan = true; }
+    bool IsAbortingRescan() { return fAbortRescan; }
+    bool IsScanning() { return fScanningWallet; }
+
     /**
      * keystore implementation
      * Generate a new key
diff --git a/src/wallet/wallet.cpp b/src/wallet/wallet.cpp
--- a/src/wallet/wallet.cpp
+++ b/src/wallet/wallet.cpp
@@ -1712,6 +1712,8 @@
     CBlockIndex *ret = nullptr;
 
     LOCK2(cs_main, cs_wallet);
+    fAbortRescan = false;
+    fScanningWallet = true;
 
     // No need to read and scan block, if block was created before our wallet
     // birthday (as adjusted for block time variability)
@@ -1727,16 +1729,16 @@
         GuessVerificationProgress(chainParams.TxData(), pindex);
     double dProgressTip =
         GuessVerificationProgress(chainParams.TxData(), chainActive.Tip());
-    while (pindex) {
+    while (pindex && !fAbortRescan) {
         if (pindex->nHeight % 100 == 0 && dProgressTip - dProgressStart > 0.0) {
             ShowProgress(
                 _("Rescanning..."),
-                std::max(1,
-                         std::min(99, (int)((GuessVerificationProgress(
-                                                 chainParams.TxData(), pindex) -
-                                             dProgressStart) /
-                                            (dProgressTip - dProgressStart) *
-                                            100))));
+                std::max(1, std::min<int>(99,
+                                          (GuessVerificationProgress(
+                                               chainParams.TxData(), pindex) -
+                                           dProgressStart) /
+                                              (dProgressTip - dProgressStart) *
+                                              100)));
         }
 
         CBlock block;
@@ -1759,8 +1761,14 @@
         }
     }
 
+    if (pindex && fAbortRescan) {
+        LogPrintf("Rescan aborted at block %d. Progress=%f\n", pindex->nHeight,
+                  GuessVerificationProgress(chainParams.TxData(), pindex));
+    }
+
     // Hide progress dialog in GUI.
     ShowProgress(_("Rescanning..."), 100);
+    fScanningWallet = false;
 
     return ret;
 }