Abstract: Systems and techniques relating to passive meniscus stabilization during shutdown for ink jet printing systems are described. A described system includes a tank to store ink; a print head including a nozzle plate defining nozzles, the print head coupled with the tank to supply ink to the nozzles; an active pressure control system coupled with the tank and the print head, the active pressure control system maintaining a pressure level in the print head during an operational state of the printing system; and a passive pressure control system coupled with the print head to hydrostatically moderate the pressure level in the print head during a shutdown state of the printing system.