diff --git a/src/shell-app.c b/src/shell-app.c
index 9c03a4ad8..ca367b12e 100644
--- a/src/shell-app.c
+++ b/src/shell-app.c
@@ -828,10 +828,13 @@ shell_app_sync_running_state (ShellApp *app)
 {
   g_return_if_fail (app->running_state != NULL);
 
-  if (app->running_state->interesting_windows == 0)
-    shell_app_state_transition (app, SHELL_APP_STATE_STOPPED);
-  else if (app->state != SHELL_APP_STATE_STARTING)
-    shell_app_state_transition (app, SHELL_APP_STATE_RUNNING);
+  if (app->state != SHELL_APP_STATE_STARTING)
+    {
+      if (app->running_state->interesting_windows == 0)
+        shell_app_state_transition (app, SHELL_APP_STATE_STOPPED);
+      else
+        shell_app_state_transition (app, SHELL_APP_STATE_RUNNING);
+    }
 }