diff --git a/migration.c b/migration.c
index 62e030487d..e9a58228e9 100644
--- a/migration.c
+++ b/migration.c
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ void process_incoming_migration(QEMUFile *f)
     if (autostart) {
         vm_start();
     } else {
-        runstate_set(RUN_STATE_PRELAUNCH);
+        runstate_set(RUN_STATE_PAUSED);
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/vl.c b/vl.c
index ee3c43ae2f..188af45869 100644
--- a/vl.c
+++ b/vl.c
@@ -341,7 +341,7 @@ static const RunStateTransition runstate_transitions_def[] = {
     { RUN_STATE_DEBUG, RUN_STATE_RUNNING },
 
     { RUN_STATE_INMIGRATE, RUN_STATE_RUNNING },
-    { RUN_STATE_INMIGRATE, RUN_STATE_PRELAUNCH },
+    { RUN_STATE_INMIGRATE, RUN_STATE_PAUSED },
 
     { RUN_STATE_INTERNAL_ERROR, RUN_STATE_PAUSED },
     { RUN_STATE_INTERNAL_ERROR, RUN_STATE_FINISH_MIGRATE },