diff --git a/api-daemon/pvcapid/flaskapi.py b/api-daemon/pvcapid/flaskapi.py
index a1eb8574..4cd6c82c 100755
--- a/api-daemon/pvcapid/flaskapi.py
+++ b/api-daemon/pvcapid/flaskapi.py
@@ -1365,7 +1365,8 @@ class API_VM_Node(Resource):
         { 'name': 'action', 'choices': ('migrate', 'unmigrate', 'move'), 'helptext': "A valid action must be specified", 'required': True },
         { 'name': 'node' },
         { 'name': 'force' },
-        { 'name': 'wait' }
+        { 'name': 'wait' },
+        { 'name': 'force_live' }
     ])
     @Authenticator
     def post(self, vm, reqargs):
@@ -1396,6 +1397,10 @@ class API_VM_Node(Resource):
             name: wait
             type: boolean
             description: Whether to block waiting for the migration to complete
+          - in: query
+            name: force_live
+            type: boolean
+            description: Whether to enforce live migration and disable shutdown-based fallback migration
         responses:
           200:
             description: OK
@@ -1412,13 +1417,14 @@ class API_VM_Node(Resource):
         node = reqargs.get('node', None)
         force = bool(strtobool(reqargs.get('force', 'false')))
         wait = bool(strtobool(reqargs.get('wait', 'false')))
+        force_live = bool(strtobool(reqargs.get('force_live', 'false')))
 
         if action == 'move':
-            return api_helper.vm_move(vm, node, wait)
+            return api_helper.vm_move(vm, node, wait, force_live)
         if action == 'migrate':
-            return api_helper.vm_migrate(vm, node, force, wait)
+            return api_helper.vm_migrate(vm, node, force, wait, force_live)
         if action == 'unmigrate':
-            return api_helper.vm_unmigrate(vm, wait)
+            return api_helper.vm_unmigrate(vm, wait, force_live)
         abort(400)
 api.add_resource(API_VM_Node, '/vm/<vm>/node')
 
diff --git a/api-daemon/pvcapid/helper.py b/api-daemon/pvcapid/helper.py
index 58fe200a..8f250409 100755
--- a/api-daemon/pvcapid/helper.py
+++ b/api-daemon/pvcapid/helper.py
@@ -661,12 +661,12 @@ def vm_disable(name):
     }
     return output, retcode
 
-def vm_move(name, node, wait):
+def vm_move(name, node, wait, force_live):
     """
     Move a VM to another node.
     """
     zk_conn = pvc_common.startZKConnection(config['coordinators'])
-    retflag, retdata = pvc_vm.move_vm(zk_conn, name, node, wait)
+    retflag, retdata = pvc_vm.move_vm(zk_conn, name, node, wait, force_live)
     pvc_common.stopZKConnection(zk_conn)
 
     if retflag:
@@ -679,12 +679,12 @@ def vm_move(name, node, wait):
     }
     return output, retcode
 
-def vm_migrate(name, node, flag_force, wait):
+def vm_migrate(name, node, flag_force, wait, force_live):
     """
     Temporarily migrate a VM to another node.
     """
     zk_conn = pvc_common.startZKConnection(config['coordinators'])
-    retflag, retdata = pvc_vm.migrate_vm(zk_conn, name, node, flag_force, wait)
+    retflag, retdata = pvc_vm.migrate_vm(zk_conn, name, node, flag_force, wait, force_live)
     pvc_common.stopZKConnection(zk_conn)
 
     if retflag:
@@ -697,12 +697,12 @@ def vm_migrate(name, node, flag_force, wait):
     }
     return output, retcode
 
-def vm_unmigrate(name, wait):
+def vm_unmigrate(name, wait, force_live):
     """
     Unmigrate a migrated VM.
     """
     zk_conn = pvc_common.startZKConnection(config['coordinators'])
-    retflag, retdata = pvc_vm.unmigrate_vm(zk_conn, name, wait)
+    retflag, retdata = pvc_vm.unmigrate_vm(zk_conn, name, wait, force_live)
     pvc_common.stopZKConnection(zk_conn)
 
     if retflag:
diff --git a/client-cli/cli_lib/vm.py b/client-cli/cli_lib/vm.py
index 91fbcf3d..051fc417 100644
--- a/client-cli/cli_lib/vm.py
+++ b/client-cli/cli_lib/vm.py
@@ -203,19 +203,20 @@ def vm_state(config, vm, target_state, wait=False):
 
     return retstatus, response.json()['message']
 
-def vm_node(config, vm, target_node, action, force=False, wait=False):
+def vm_node(config, vm, target_node, action, force=False, wait=False, force_live=False):
     """
     Modify the current node of VM via {action}
 
     API endpoint: POST /vm/{vm}/node
-    API arguments: node={target_node}, action={action}, force={force}, wait={wait}
+    API arguments: node={target_node}, action={action}, force={force}, wait={wait}, force_live={force_live}
     API schema: {"message":"{data}"}
     """
     params={
         'node': target_node,
         'action': action,
         'force': str(force).lower(),
-        'wait': str(wait).lower()
+        'wait': str(wait).lower(),
+        'force_live': str(force_live).lower()
     }
     response = call_api(config, 'post', '/vm/{vm}/node'.format(vm=vm), params=params)
 
diff --git a/client-cli/pvc.py b/client-cli/pvc.py
index 42b3141e..d45cd973 100755
--- a/client-cli/pvc.py
+++ b/client-cli/pvc.py
@@ -868,13 +868,17 @@ def vm_disable(domain):
     '-w', '--wait', 'wait', is_flag=True, default=False,
     help='Wait for migration to complete before returning.'
 )
+@click.option(
+    '--force-live', 'force_live', is_flag=True, default=False,
+    help='Do not fall back to shutdown-based migration if live migration fails.'
+)
 @cluster_req
-def vm_move(domain, target_node, wait):
+def vm_move(domain, target_node, wait, force_live):
     """
     Permanently move virtual machine DOMAIN, via live migration if running and possible, to another node. DOMAIN may be a UUID or name.
     """
 
-    retcode, retmsg = pvc_vm.vm_node(config, domain, target_node, 'move', force=False, wait=wait)
+    retcode, retmsg = pvc_vm.vm_node(config, domain, target_node, 'move', force=False, wait=wait, force_live=force_live)
     cleanup(retcode, retmsg)
 
 ###############################################################################
@@ -896,13 +900,17 @@ def vm_move(domain, target_node, wait):
     '-w', '--wait', 'wait', is_flag=True, default=False,
     help='Wait for migration to complete before returning.'
 )
+@click.option(
+    '--force-live', 'force_live', is_flag=True, default=False,
+    help='Do not fall back to shutdown-based migration if live migration fails.'
+)
 @cluster_req
-def vm_migrate(domain, target_node, force_migrate, wait):
+def vm_migrate(domain, target_node, force_migrate, wait, force_live):
     """
     Temporarily migrate running virtual machine DOMAIN, via live migration if possible, to another node. DOMAIN may be a UUID or name. If DOMAIN is not running, it will be started on the target node.
     """
 
-    retcode, retmsg = pvc_vm.vm_node(config, domain, target_node, 'migrate', force=force_migrate, wait=wait)
+    retcode, retmsg = pvc_vm.vm_node(config, domain, target_node, 'migrate', force=force_migrate, wait=wait, force_live=force_live)
     cleanup(retcode, retmsg)
 
 ###############################################################################
@@ -916,13 +924,17 @@ def vm_migrate(domain, target_node, force_migrate, wait):
     '-w', '--wait', 'wait', is_flag=True, default=False,
     help='Wait for migration to complete before returning.'
 )
+@click.option(
+    '--force-live', 'force_live', is_flag=True, default=False,
+    help='Do not fall back to shutdown-based migration if live migration fails.'
+)
 @cluster_req
-def vm_unmigrate(domain, wait):
+def vm_unmigrate(domain, wait, force_live):
     """
     Restore previously migrated virtual machine DOMAIN, via live migration if possible, to its original node. DOMAIN may be a UUID or name. If DOMAIN is not running, it will be started on the target node.
     """
 
-    retcode, retmsg = pvc_vm.vm_node(config, domain, None, 'unmigrate', force=False, wait=wait)
+    retcode, retmsg = pvc_vm.vm_node(config, domain, None, 'unmigrate', force=False, wait=wait, force_live=force_live)
     cleanup(retcode, retmsg)
 
 ###############################################################################
diff --git a/daemon-common/vm.py b/daemon-common/vm.py
index b49fec92..21624531 100644
--- a/daemon-common/vm.py
+++ b/daemon-common/vm.py
@@ -441,7 +441,7 @@ def disable_vm(zk_conn, domain):
 
     return True, 'Marked VM "{}" as disable.'.format(domain)
 
-def move_vm(zk_conn, domain, target_node, wait=False):
+def move_vm(zk_conn, domain, target_node, wait=False, force_live=False):
     # Validate that VM exists in cluster
     dom_uuid = getDomainUUID(zk_conn, domain)
     if not dom_uuid:
@@ -453,7 +453,10 @@ def move_vm(zk_conn, domain, target_node, wait=False):
         # If the current state isn't start, preserve it; we're not doing live migration
         target_state = current_state
     else:
-        target_state = 'migrate'
+        if force_live:
+            target_state = 'migrate-live'
+        else:
+            target_state = 'migrate'
 
     current_node = zkhandler.readdata(zk_conn, '/domains/{}/node'.format(dom_uuid))
 
@@ -497,7 +500,7 @@ def move_vm(zk_conn, domain, target_node, wait=False):
 
     return True, retmsg
 
-def migrate_vm(zk_conn, domain, target_node, force_migrate, wait=False):
+def migrate_vm(zk_conn, domain, target_node, force_migrate, wait=False, force_live=False):
     # Validate that VM exists in cluster
     dom_uuid = getDomainUUID(zk_conn, domain)
     if not dom_uuid:
@@ -509,7 +512,10 @@ def migrate_vm(zk_conn, domain, target_node, force_migrate, wait=False):
         # If the current state isn't start, preserve it; we're not doing live migration
         target_state = current_state
     else:
-        target_state = 'migrate'
+        if force_live:
+            target_state = 'migrate-live'
+        else:
+            target_state = 'migrate'
 
     current_node = zkhandler.readdata(zk_conn, '/domains/{}/node'.format(dom_uuid))
     last_node = zkhandler.readdata(zk_conn, '/domains/{}/lastnode'.format(dom_uuid))
@@ -556,7 +562,7 @@ def migrate_vm(zk_conn, domain, target_node, force_migrate, wait=False):
 
     return True, retmsg
 
-def unmigrate_vm(zk_conn, domain, wait=False):
+def unmigrate_vm(zk_conn, domain, wait=False, force_live=False):
     # Validate that VM exists in cluster
     dom_uuid = getDomainUUID(zk_conn, domain)
     if not dom_uuid:
@@ -568,7 +574,10 @@ def unmigrate_vm(zk_conn, domain, wait=False):
         # If the current state isn't start, preserve it; we're not doing live migration
         target_state = current_state
     else:
-        target_state = 'migrate'
+        if force_live:
+            target_state = 'migrate-live'
+        else:
+            target_state = 'migrate'
 
     target_node = zkhandler.readdata(zk_conn, '/domains/{}/lastnode'.format(dom_uuid))
 
diff --git a/node-daemon/pvcnoded/VMInstance.py b/node-daemon/pvcnoded/VMInstance.py
index 585d8227..8a900101 100644
--- a/node-daemon/pvcnoded/VMInstance.py
+++ b/node-daemon/pvcnoded/VMInstance.py
@@ -371,7 +371,7 @@ class VMInstance(object):
         return True
 
     # Migrate the VM to a target host
-    def migrate_vm(self):
+    def migrate_vm(self, force_live=False):
         # Don't try to migrate a node to itself, set back to start
         if self.node == self.lastnode:
             zkhandler.writedata(self.zk_conn, { '/domains/{}/state'.format(self.domuuid): 'start' })
@@ -383,8 +383,16 @@ class VMInstance(object):
 
         migrate_ret = self.live_migrate_vm()
         if not migrate_ret:
-            self.logger.out('Could not live migrate VM; shutting down to migrate instead', state='e', prefix='Domain {}:'.format(self.domuuid))
-            zkhandler.writedata(self.zk_conn, { '/domains/{}/state'.format(self.domuuid): 'shutdown' })
+            if force_live:
+                self.logger.out('Could not live migrate VM; live migration enforced, aborting', state='e', prefix='Domain {}:'.format(self.domuuid))
+                zkhandler.writedata(self.zk_conn, {
+                    '/domains/{}/state'.format(self.domuuid): 'start',
+                    '/domains/{}/node'.format(self.domuuid): self.this_node.name,
+                    '/domains/{}/lastnode'.format(self.domuuid): ''
+                })
+            else:
+                self.logger.out('Could not live migrate VM; shutting down to migrate instead', state='e', prefix='Domain {}:'.format(self.domuuid))
+                zkhandler.writedata(self.zk_conn, { '/domains/{}/state'.format(self.domuuid): 'shutdown' })
         else:
             self.removeDomainFromList()
             # Stop the log watcher
@@ -418,7 +426,7 @@ class VMInstance(object):
                     break
                 else:
                     # If the state is no longer migrate
-                    if self.state != 'migrate':
+                    if self.state not in ['migrate', 'migrate-live']:
                         # The receive was aborted before it timed out or was completed
                         self.logger.out('Receive aborted via state change', state='w', prefix='Domain {}:'.format(self.domuuid))
                         break
@@ -498,6 +506,7 @@ class VMInstance(object):
         # Valid states are:
         #   start
         #   migrate
+        #   migrate-live
         #   restart
         #   shutdown
         #   stop
@@ -523,7 +532,7 @@ class VMInstance(object):
                         # Add domain to running list
                         self.addDomainToList()
                     # VM is already running and should be but stuck in migrate state
-                    elif self.state == "migrate":
+                    elif self.state == "migrate" or self.state == "migrate-live":
                         # Start the log watcher
                         self.console_log_instance.start()
                         zkhandler.writedata(self.zk_conn, { '/domains/{}/state'.format(self.domuuid): 'start' })
@@ -544,7 +553,7 @@ class VMInstance(object):
                         # Start the domain
                         self.start_vm()
                     # VM should be migrated to this node
-                    elif self.state == "migrate":
+                    elif self.state == "migrate" or self.state == "migrate-live":
                         # Receive the migration
                         self.receive_migrate()
                     # VM should be restarted (i.e. started since it isn't running)
@@ -566,7 +575,10 @@ class VMInstance(object):
                 if running == libvirt.VIR_DOMAIN_RUNNING:
                     # VM should be migrated away from this node
                     if self.state == "migrate":
-                        self.migrate_vm()
+                        self.migrate_vm(force_live=False)
+                    # VM should be migrated away from this node, live only (no shutdown fallback)
+                    elif self.state == "migrate-live":
+                        self.migrate_vm(force_live=True)
                     # VM should be shutdown gracefully
                     elif self.state == 'shutdown':
                         self.shutdown_vm()