diff --git a/VMInstance.py b/VMInstance.py
index 06bca623..7b680260 100644
--- a/VMInstance.py
+++ b/VMInstance.py
@@ -106,8 +106,9 @@ class VMInstance:
                 raise
         except:
             print('Could not migrate to the new domain; forcing away uncleanly')
-            self.zk.set(self.zkey + '/state', 'start'.encode('ascii'))
             self.stop_vm()
+            time.sleep(0.5)
+            self.zk.set(self.zkey + '/state', 'start'.encode('ascii'))
 
         try:
             self.thishypervisor.domain_list.remove(self.domuuid)