diff --git a/container/state.go b/container/state.go
index 01f7ab4584..32f3f5b7a5 100644
--- a/container/state.go
+++ b/container/state.go
@@ -278,7 +278,9 @@ func (s *State) SetRunning(pid int, initial bool) {
 	s.ErrorMsg = ""
 	s.Running = true
 	s.Restarting = false
-	s.Paused = false
+	if initial {
+		s.Paused = false
+	}
 	s.ExitCodeValue = 0
 	s.Pid = pid
 	if initial {