diff --git a/dom0/qvm-core/qubes.py b/dom0/qvm-core/qubes.py
index f5cff8bc..e729c190 100755
--- a/dom0/qvm-core/qubes.py
+++ b/dom0/qvm-core/qubes.py
@@ -1406,6 +1406,18 @@ class QubesVm(object):
         subprocess.call (['/usr/sbin/xl', 'destroy', self.name])
         #xc.domain_destroy(self.get_xid())
 
+    def pause(self):
+        if dry_run:
+            return
+
+        xc.domain_pause(self.get_xid())
+
+    def unpause(self):
+        if dry_run:
+            return
+
+        xc.domain_unpause(self.get_xid())
+
     def remove_from_disk(self):
         if dry_run:
             return
diff --git a/dom0/qvm-tools/qvm-run b/dom0/qvm-tools/qvm-run
index 73f929d0..db5ad720 100755
--- a/dom0/qvm-tools/qvm-run
+++ b/dom0/qvm-tools/qvm-run
@@ -63,13 +63,13 @@ def vm_run_cmd(vm, cmd, options):
     if options.pause:
         if options.verbose:
             print >> sys.stderr, "Pausing VM: '{0}'...".format(vm.name)
-        subprocess.call (["/usr/sbin/xl", "pause", vm.name])
+        vm.pause()
         return
 
     if options.unpause:
         if options.verbose:
             print >> sys.stderr, "UnPausing VM: '{0}'...".format(vm.name)
-        subprocess.call (["/usr/sbin/xl", "unpause", vm.name])
+        vm.unpause()
         return
 
     if options.verbose: