diff --git a/ui/input.c b/ui/input.c
index fb1f404095..830f912f99 100644
--- a/ui/input.c
+++ b/ui/input.c
@@ -411,6 +411,10 @@ void qemu_input_event_send_key_qcode(QemuConsole *src, QKeyCode q, bool down)
 
 void qemu_input_event_send_key_delay(uint32_t delay_ms)
 {
+    if (!runstate_is_running() && !runstate_check(RUN_STATE_SUSPENDED)) {
+        return;
+    }
+
     if (!kbd_timer) {
         kbd_timer = timer_new_ms(QEMU_CLOCK_VIRTUAL, qemu_input_queue_process,
                                  &kbd_queue);