diff --git a/migration/migration.c b/migration/migration.c
index edc0dac80a..3fb856f6e1 100644
--- a/migration/migration.c
+++ b/migration/migration.c
@@ -3626,7 +3626,9 @@ static void migration_iteration_finish(MigrationState *s)
     case MIGRATION_STATUS_CANCELLED:
     case MIGRATION_STATUS_CANCELLING:
         if (s->vm_was_running) {
-            vm_start();
+            if (!runstate_check(RUN_STATE_SHUTDOWN)) {
+                vm_start();
+            }
         } else {
             if (runstate_check(RUN_STATE_FINISH_MIGRATE)) {
                 runstate_set(RUN_STATE_POSTMIGRATE);