diff --git a/migration.c b/migration.c
index f2499cfdd4..a63e2a21af 100644
--- a/migration.c
+++ b/migration.c
@@ -70,8 +70,6 @@ void process_incoming_migration(QEMUFile *f)
     qemu_announce_self();
     DPRINTF("successfully loaded vm state\n");
 
-    incoming_expected = false;
-
     if (autostart) {
         vm_start();
     } else {
diff --git a/monitor.c b/monitor.c
index b98b8bd2b2..68956a5671 100644
--- a/monitor.c
+++ b/monitor.c
@@ -1311,7 +1311,7 @@ static int do_cont(Monitor *mon, const QDict *qdict, QObject **ret_data)
 {
     struct bdrv_iterate_context context = { mon, 0 };
 
-    if (incoming_expected) {
+    if (runstate_check(RSTATE_IN_MIGRATE)) {
         qerror_report(QERR_MIGRATION_EXPECTED);
         return -1;
     }
diff --git a/vl.c b/vl.c
index cc68fb327d..2fb09f5012 100644
--- a/vl.c
+++ b/vl.c
@@ -187,7 +187,6 @@ int nb_nics;
 NICInfo nd_table[MAX_NICS];
 int vm_running;
 int autostart;
-int incoming_expected; /* Started with -incoming and waiting for incoming */
 static int rtc_utc = 1;
 static int rtc_date_offset = -1; /* -1 means no change */
 QEMUClock *rtc_clock;
@@ -3041,7 +3040,6 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv, char **envp)
                 break;
             case QEMU_OPTION_incoming:
                 incoming = optarg;
-                incoming_expected = true;
                 break;
             case QEMU_OPTION_nodefaults:
                 default_serial = 0;