diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c b/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c
index 67471c0371..52df21e283 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c
@@ -2042,7 +2042,7 @@ static int qemuDomainShutdownFlags(virDomainPtr dom, unsigned int flags)
     if (qemuDomainObjBeginJob(driver, vm, QEMU_JOB_MODIFY) < 0)
         goto cleanup;
 
-    if (!virDomainObjIsActive(vm)) {
+    if (virDomainObjGetState(vm, NULL) != VIR_DOMAIN_RUNNING) {
         virReportError(VIR_ERR_OPERATION_INVALID,
                        "%s", _("domain is not running"));
         goto endjob;