diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_backup.c b/src/qemu/qemu_backup.c
index d3d98c1d6a..6ce29c28e1 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_backup.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_backup.c
@@ -583,6 +583,9 @@ qemuBackupJobTerminate(virDomainObjPtr vm,
         }
     }
 
+    if (!virDomainObjIsActive(vm))
+        return;
+
     qemuDomainJobInfoUpdateTime(priv->job.current);
 
     g_clear_pointer(&priv->job.completed, qemuDomainJobInfoFree);