diff --git a/dom0/qvm-core/qubes.py b/dom0/qvm-core/qubes.py
index 96af11d5..78a97d45 100755
--- a/dom0/qvm-core/qubes.py
+++ b/dom0/qvm-core/qubes.py
@@ -1628,6 +1628,9 @@ class QubesVm(object):
         if dry_run:
             return
 
+        if not self.is_running():
+            raise QubesException ("VM already stopped!")
+
         subprocess.call (['/usr/sbin/xl', 'shutdown', str(xid) if xid is not None else self.name])
         #xc.domain_destroy(self.get_xid())
 
@@ -1635,6 +1638,9 @@ class QubesVm(object):
         if dry_run:
             return
 
+        if not self.is_running() and not self.is_paused():
+            raise QubesException ("VM already stopped!")
+
         subprocess.call (['/usr/sbin/xl', 'destroy', str(xid) if xid is not None else self.name])
 
     def pause(self):