diff --git a/src/test/test_driver.c b/src/test/test_driver.c
index 51fb7c8f3f..c5e1a4591d 100644
--- a/src/test/test_driver.c
+++ b/src/test/test_driver.c
@@ -1731,10 +1731,15 @@ static int testDomainDestroy(virDomainPtr domain)
     virObjectEventPtr event = NULL;
     int ret = -1;
 
-
     if (!(privdom = testDomObjFromDomain(domain)))
         goto cleanup;
 
+    if (!virDomainObjIsActive(privdom)) {
+        virReportError(VIR_ERR_OPERATION_INVALID,
+                       "%s", _("domain is not running"));
+        goto cleanup;
+    }
+
     testDomainShutdownState(domain, privdom, VIR_DOMAIN_SHUTOFF_DESTROYED);
     event = virDomainEventLifecycleNewFromObj(privdom,
                                      VIR_DOMAIN_EVENT_STOPPED,