diff --git a/include/sysemu/runstate.h b/include/sysemu/runstate.h
index 88a67e22b0..618eb491af 100644
--- a/include/sysemu/runstate.h
+++ b/include/sysemu/runstate.h
@@ -40,6 +40,15 @@ static inline bool shutdown_caused_by_guest(ShutdownCause cause)
     return cause >= SHUTDOWN_CAUSE_GUEST_SHUTDOWN;
 }
 
+/*
+ * In a "live" state, the vcpu clock is ticking, and the runstate notifiers
+ * think we are running.
+ */
+static inline bool runstate_is_live(RunState state)
+{
+    return state == RUN_STATE_RUNNING || state == RUN_STATE_SUSPENDED;
+}
+
 void vm_start(void);
 
 /**
diff --git a/qapi/misc.json b/qapi/misc.json
index cda2effa81..3622d98d01 100644
--- a/qapi/misc.json
+++ b/qapi/misc.json
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@
 ##
 # @stop:
 #
-# Stop all guest VCPU execution.
+# Stop guest VM execution.
 #
 # Since: 0.14
 #
@@ -143,6 +143,9 @@
 #     the guest remains paused once migration finishes, as if the -S
 #     option was passed on the command line.
 #
+#     In the "suspended" state, it will completely stop the VM and
+#     cause a transition to the "paused" state. (Since 9.0)
+#
 # Example:
 #
 # -> { "execute": "stop" }
@@ -153,7 +156,7 @@
 ##
 # @cont:
 #
-# Resume guest VCPU execution.
+# Resume guest VM execution.
 #
 # Since: 0.14
 #
@@ -165,6 +168,10 @@
 #     guest starts once migration finishes, removing the effect of the
 #     -S command line option if it was passed.
 #
+#     If the VM was previously suspended, and not been reset or woken,
+#     this command will transition back to the "suspended" state.
+#     (Since 9.0)
+#
 # Example:
 #
 # -> { "execute": "cont" }
diff --git a/qapi/run-state.json b/qapi/run-state.json
index f216ba54ec..ca05502e0a 100644
--- a/qapi/run-state.json
+++ b/qapi/run-state.json
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@
 ##
 # @StatusInfo:
 #
-# Information about VCPU run state
+# Information about VM run state
 #
 # @running: true if all VCPUs are runnable, false if not runnable
 #
@@ -130,9 +130,9 @@
 ##
 # @query-status:
 #
-# Query the run status of all VCPUs
+# Query the run status of the VM
 #
-# Returns: @StatusInfo reflecting all VCPUs
+# Returns: @StatusInfo reflecting the VM
 #
 # Since: 0.14
 #
diff --git a/system/cpus.c b/system/cpus.c
index 9f631ab734..f162435dd4 100644
--- a/system/cpus.c
+++ b/system/cpus.c
@@ -277,11 +277,15 @@ bool vm_get_suspended(void)
 static int do_vm_stop(RunState state, bool send_stop)
 {
     int ret = 0;
+    RunState oldstate = runstate_get();
 
-    if (runstate_is_running()) {
+    if (runstate_is_live(oldstate)) {
+        vm_was_suspended = (oldstate == RUN_STATE_SUSPENDED);
         runstate_set(state);
         cpu_disable_ticks();
-        pause_all_vcpus();
+        if (oldstate == RUN_STATE_RUNNING) {
+            pause_all_vcpus();
+        }
         vm_state_notify(0, state);
         if (send_stop) {
             qapi_event_send_stop();
@@ -694,11 +698,13 @@ int vm_stop(RunState state)
 
 /**
  * Prepare for (re)starting the VM.
- * Returns -1 if the vCPUs are not to be restarted (e.g. if they are already
- * running or in case of an error condition), 0 otherwise.
+ * Returns 0 if the vCPUs should be restarted, -1 on an error condition,
+ * and 1 otherwise.
  */
 int vm_prepare_start(bool step_pending)
 {
+    int ret = vm_was_suspended ? 1 : 0;
+    RunState state = vm_was_suspended ? RUN_STATE_SUSPENDED : RUN_STATE_RUNNING;
     RunState requested;
 
     qemu_vmstop_requested(&requested);
@@ -729,9 +735,10 @@ int vm_prepare_start(bool step_pending)
     qapi_event_send_resume();
 
     cpu_enable_ticks();
-    runstate_set(RUN_STATE_RUNNING);
-    vm_state_notify(1, RUN_STATE_RUNNING);
-    return 0;
+    runstate_set(state);
+    vm_state_notify(1, state);
+    vm_was_suspended = false;
+    return ret;
 }
 
 void vm_start(void)
@@ -745,7 +752,7 @@ void vm_start(void)
    current state is forgotten forever */
 int vm_stop_force_state(RunState state)
 {
-    if (runstate_is_running()) {
+    if (runstate_is_live(runstate_get())) {
         return vm_stop(state);
     } else {
         int ret;
diff --git a/system/runstate.c b/system/runstate.c
index ea9d6c2a32..e2fa2040cb 100644
--- a/system/runstate.c
+++ b/system/runstate.c
@@ -108,6 +108,7 @@ static const RunStateTransition runstate_transitions_def[] = {
     { RUN_STATE_PAUSED, RUN_STATE_POSTMIGRATE },
     { RUN_STATE_PAUSED, RUN_STATE_PRELAUNCH },
     { RUN_STATE_PAUSED, RUN_STATE_COLO},
+    { RUN_STATE_PAUSED, RUN_STATE_SUSPENDED},
 
     { RUN_STATE_POSTMIGRATE, RUN_STATE_RUNNING },
     { RUN_STATE_POSTMIGRATE, RUN_STATE_FINISH_MIGRATE },
@@ -161,6 +162,7 @@ static const RunStateTransition runstate_transitions_def[] = {
     { RUN_STATE_SUSPENDED, RUN_STATE_FINISH_MIGRATE },
     { RUN_STATE_SUSPENDED, RUN_STATE_PRELAUNCH },
     { RUN_STATE_SUSPENDED, RUN_STATE_COLO},
+    { RUN_STATE_SUSPENDED, RUN_STATE_PAUSED},
 
     { RUN_STATE_WATCHDOG, RUN_STATE_RUNNING },
     { RUN_STATE_WATCHDOG, RUN_STATE_FINISH_MIGRATE },
@@ -502,6 +504,7 @@ void qemu_system_reset(ShutdownCause reason)
         qapi_event_send_reset(shutdown_caused_by_guest(reason), reason);
     }
     cpu_synchronize_all_post_reset();
+    vm_set_suspended(false);
 }
 
 /*