diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c b/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c
index db2b25adbd..413f62c85f 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c
@@ -19975,6 +19975,12 @@ qemuDomainGetSEVMeasurement(virQEMUDriver *driver,
     if (qemuDomainObjBeginJob(driver, vm, QEMU_JOB_QUERY) < 0)
         return -1;
 
+    if (!virDomainObjIsActive(vm)) {
+        virReportError(VIR_ERR_OPERATION_INVALID,
+                       "%s", _("domain is not running"));
+        goto endjob;
+    }
+
     qemuDomainObjEnterMonitor(driver, vm);
     tmp = qemuMonitorGetSEVMeasurement(QEMU_DOMAIN_PRIVATE(vm)->mon);