diff --git a/savevm.c b/savevm.c
index bf4d0e76c3..abb4a60643 100644
--- a/savevm.c
+++ b/savevm.c
@@ -1599,12 +1599,8 @@ void qemu_savevm_state_cancel(Monitor *mon, QEMUFile *f)
 
 static int qemu_savevm_state(Monitor *mon, QEMUFile *f)
 {
-    int saved_vm_running;
     int ret;
 
-    saved_vm_running = runstate_is_running();
-    vm_stop(RUN_STATE_SAVE_VM);
-
     if (qemu_savevm_state_blocked(mon)) {
         ret = -EINVAL;
         goto out;
@@ -1626,9 +1622,6 @@ out:
     if (qemu_file_has_error(f))
         ret = -EIO;
 
-    if (!ret && saved_vm_running)
-        vm_start();
-
     return ret;
 }