diff --git a/org.jdrupes.vmoperator.vmconlet/resources/org/jdrupes/vmoperator/vmconlet/VmConlet-view.ftl.html b/org.jdrupes.vmoperator.vmconlet/resources/org/jdrupes/vmoperator/vmconlet/VmConlet-view.ftl.html
index 913f45d..708a1a3 100644
--- a/org.jdrupes.vmoperator.vmconlet/resources/org/jdrupes/vmoperator/vmconlet/VmConlet-view.ftl.html
+++ b/org.jdrupes.vmoperator.vmconlet/resources/org/jdrupes/vmoperator/vmconlet/VmConlet-view.ftl.html
@@ -52,12 +52,14 @@
               v-html="controller.breakBeforeDots(entry[key])"></span>
           </td>
           <td class="jdrupes-vmoperator-vmconlet-view-action-list">
-            <span role="button" v-if="entry.spec.vm.state != 'Running'" 
+            <span role="button" 
+              v-if="entry.spec.vm.state != 'Running' && !entry['running']" 
               tabindex="0" class="fa fa-play" :title="localize('Start VM')"
               v-on:click="vmAction(entry.name, 'start')"></span>
             <span role="button" v-else class="fa fa-play"
               aria-disabled="true" :title="localize('Start VM')"></span>
-            <span role="button" v-if="entry.spec.vm.state != 'Stopped'"
+            <span role="button"
+              v-if="entry.spec.vm.state != 'Stopped' && entry['running']"
               tabindex="0" class="fa fa-stop" :title="localize('Stop VM')"
               v-on:click="vmAction(entry.name, 'stop')"></span>
             <span role="button" v-else class="fa fa-stop"
diff --git a/org.jdrupes.vmoperator.vmviewer/src/org/jdrupes/vmoperator/vmviewer/browser/VmViewer-functions.ts b/org.jdrupes.vmoperator.vmviewer/src/org/jdrupes/vmoperator/vmviewer/browser/VmViewer-functions.ts
index ca3b246..71bb0a4 100644
--- a/org.jdrupes.vmoperator.vmviewer/src/org/jdrupes/vmoperator/vmviewer/browser/VmViewer-functions.ts
+++ b/org.jdrupes.vmoperator.vmviewer/src/org/jdrupes/vmoperator/vmviewer/browser/VmViewer-functions.ts
@@ -92,13 +92,15 @@ window.orgJDrupesVmOperatorVmViewer.initPreview = (previewDom: HTMLElement,
                   :title="localize('Open console')"></td>
                 <td v-if="vmDef.spec"
                   class="jdrupes-vmoperator-vmviewer-preview-action-list">
-                  <span role="button" v-if="vmDef.spec.vm.state != 'Running'"
+                  <span role="button" 
+                    v-if="vmDef.spec.vm.state != 'Running' && !vmDef.running"
                     :aria-disabled="!vmDef.userPermissions.includes('start')" 
                     tabindex="0" class="fa fa-play" :title="localize('Start VM')"
                     v-on:click="vmAction(vmDef.name, 'start')"></span>
                   <span role="button" v-else class="fa fa-play"
                     aria-disabled="true" :title="localize('Start VM')"></span>
-                  <span role="button" v-if="vmDef.spec.vm.state != 'Stopped'"
+                  <span role="button"
+                    v-if="vmDef.spec.vm.state != 'Stopped' && vmDef.running"
                     :aria-disabled="!vmDef.userPermissions.includes('stop')" 
                     tabindex="0" class="fa fa-stop" :title="localize('Stop VM')"
                     v-on:click="vmAction(vmDef.name, 'stop')"></span>