diff --git a/migration.c b/migration.c
index 190b37e55057242d41b769090bcf72e6bf5dc292..e6c8b16a1f77ed3c1b30c6018235a5f302f57f4e 100644
--- a/migration.c
+++ b/migration.c
@@ -261,12 +261,16 @@ void migrate_fd_put_ready(void *opaque)
     dprintf("iterate\n");
     if (qemu_savevm_state_iterate(s->file) == 1) {
         int state;
+        int old_vm_running = vm_running;
+
         dprintf("done iterating\n");
         vm_stop(0);
 
         bdrv_flush_all();
         if ((qemu_savevm_state_complete(s->file)) < 0) {
-            vm_start();
+            if (old_vm_running) {
+                vm_start();
+            }
             state = MIG_STATE_ERROR;
         } else {
             state = MIG_STATE_COMPLETED;