diff --git a/src/lxc/lxc_driver.c b/src/lxc/lxc_driver.c
index 6884fea8cc..fc0df37e79 100644
--- a/src/lxc/lxc_driver.c
+++ b/src/lxc/lxc_driver.c
@@ -1378,6 +1378,12 @@ static int lxcDomainStart(virDomainPtr dom)
         goto cleanup;
     }
 
+    if (virDomainObjIsActive(vm)) {
+        lxcError(VIR_ERR_OPERATION_INVALID,
+                 "%s", _("Domain is already running"));
+        goto cleanup;
+    }
+
     ret = lxcVmStart(dom->conn, driver, vm);
 
     if (ret == 0)
@@ -1483,6 +1489,12 @@ static int lxcDomainShutdown(virDomainPtr dom)
         goto cleanup;
     }
 
+    if (!virDomainObjIsActive(vm)) {
+        lxcError(VIR_ERR_OPERATION_INVALID,
+                 "%s", _("Domain is not running"));
+        goto cleanup;
+    }
+
     ret = lxcVmTerminate(driver, vm, 0);
     event = virDomainEventNewFromObj(vm,
                                      VIR_DOMAIN_EVENT_STOPPED,
@@ -1662,6 +1674,12 @@ static int lxcDomainDestroy(virDomainPtr dom)
         goto cleanup;
     }
 
+    if (!virDomainObjIsActive(vm)) {
+        lxcError(VIR_ERR_OPERATION_INVALID,
+                 "%s", _("Domain is not running"));
+        goto cleanup;
+    }
+
     ret = lxcVmTerminate(driver, vm, SIGKILL);
     event = virDomainEventNewFromObj(vm,
                                      VIR_DOMAIN_EVENT_STOPPED,