diff --git a/tools/virsh.c b/tools/virsh.c
index 0d0ebca89ba46d39b029f543bafb9a07509473d3..9faac350eba561ed41f4001910cdd936b143106d 100644
--- a/tools/virsh.c
+++ b/tools/virsh.c
@@ -523,6 +523,7 @@ cmdRunConsole(vshControl *ctl, virDomainPtr dom)
     char *doc;
     char *thatHost = NULL;
     char *thisHost = NULL;
+    virDomainInfo dominfo;
 
     if (!(thisHost = virGetHostname(ctl->conn))) {
         vshError(ctl, "%s", _("Failed to get local hostname"));
@@ -539,6 +540,16 @@ cmdRunConsole(vshControl *ctl, virDomainPtr dom)
         goto cleanup;
     }
 
+    if (virDomainGetInfo(dom, &dominfo) < 0) {
+        vshError(ctl, "%s", _("Unable to get domain status"));
+        goto cleanup;
+    }
+
+    if (dominfo.state == VIR_DOMAIN_SHUTOFF) {
+        vshError(ctl, "%s", _("The domain is not running"));
+        goto cleanup;
+    }
+
     doc = virDomainGetXMLDesc(dom, 0);
     if (!doc)
         goto cleanup;