diff --git a/qubes/vm/qubesvm.py b/qubes/vm/qubesvm.py
index fa7fd3ec6..335df9305 100644
--- a/qubes/vm/qubesvm.py
+++ b/qubes/vm/qubesvm.py
@@ -1385,7 +1385,11 @@ async def shutdown(self, force=False, wait=False, timeout=None):
             if self.__waiter is None:
                 self.__waiter = asyncio.get_running_loop().create_future()
             waiter = self.__waiter
-            self.libvirt_domain.shutdown()
+
+            if self.is_paused():
+                self.libvirt_domain.destroy()
+            else:
+                self.libvirt_domain.shutdown()
 
             if wait:
                 if timeout is None: