diff --git a/gdbstub.c b/gdbstub.c
index e80e1d32b1..90e54cb4e3 100644
--- a/gdbstub.c
+++ b/gdbstub.c
@@ -371,7 +371,9 @@ static inline void gdb_continue(GDBState *s)
 #ifdef CONFIG_USER_ONLY
     s->running_state = 1;
 #else
-    vm_start();
+    if (runstate_check(RUN_STATE_DEBUG)) {
+        vm_start();
+    }
 #endif
 }