diff --git a/qubes/vm/qubesvm.py b/qubes/vm/qubesvm.py
index fa7fd3ec6..c92b8ba7b 100644
--- a/qubes/vm/qubesvm.py
+++ b/qubes/vm/qubesvm.py
@@ -1381,6 +1381,8 @@ async def shutdown(self, force=False, wait=False, timeout=None):
         try:
             await self.fire_event_async('domain-pre-shutdown',
                                         pre_event=True, force=force)
+            if self.is_paused():
+                raise qubes.exc.QubesVMNotRunningError(self)
 
             if self.__waiter is None:
                 self.__waiter = asyncio.get_running_loop().create_future()