diff --git a/masakari/engine/drivers/taskflow/instance_failure.py b/masakari/engine/drivers/taskflow/instance_failure.py
index e8e866c3..f5012ee6 100644
--- a/masakari/engine/drivers/taskflow/instance_failure.py
+++ b/masakari/engine/drivers/taskflow/instance_failure.py
@@ -56,6 +56,13 @@ class StopInstanceTask(base.MasakariTask):
             raise exception.SkipInstanceRecoveryException()
 
         vm_state = getattr(instance, 'OS-EXT-STS:vm_state')
+        if vm_state in ['paused', 'rescued']:
+            msg = _("Recovery of instance '%(instance_uuid)s' is ignored as"
+                    " it is in '%(vm_state)s' state.") % {
+                'instance_uuid': instance_uuid, 'vm_state': vm_state}
+            LOG.warning(msg)
+            raise exception.IgnoreInstanceRecoveryException(msg)
+
         if vm_state != 'stopped':
             if vm_state == 'resized':
                 self.novaclient.reset_instance_state(
diff --git a/masakari/engine/manager.py b/masakari/engine/manager.py
index 58db9749..27127ec9 100644
--- a/masakari/engine/manager.py
+++ b/masakari/engine/manager.py
@@ -110,6 +110,8 @@ class MasakariManager(manager.Manager):
             self.driver.execute_instance_failure(
                 context, notification.payload.get('instance_uuid'),
                 notification.notification_uuid)
+        except exception.IgnoreInstanceRecoveryException:
+            notification_status = fields.NotificationStatus.IGNORED
         except exception.SkipInstanceRecoveryException:
             notification_status = fields.NotificationStatus.FINISHED
         except (exception.MasakariException,
diff --git a/masakari/exception.py b/masakari/exception.py
index eb587e43..d0faa1a1 100644
--- a/masakari/exception.py
+++ b/masakari/exception.py
@@ -352,3 +352,7 @@ class ReservedHostsUnavailable(MasakariException):
 
 class LockAlreadyAcquired(MasakariException):
     msg_fmt = _('Lock is already acquired on %(resource)s.')
+
+
+class IgnoreInstanceRecoveryException(MasakariException):
+    msg_fmt = _('Instance recovery is ignored.')
diff --git a/masakari/tests/unit/engine/test_engine_mgr.py b/masakari/tests/unit/engine/test_engine_mgr.py
index f2a595a7..0ba4fb85 100644
--- a/masakari/tests/unit/engine/test_engine_mgr.py
+++ b/masakari/tests/unit/engine/test_engine_mgr.py
@@ -388,3 +388,33 @@ class EngineManagerUnitTestCase(test.NoDBTestCase):
                                          notification=notification)
         self.assertEqual("ignored", notification.status)
         self.assertFalse(mock_host_failure.called)
+
+    @mock.patch("masakari.compute.nova.API.stop_server")
+    @mock.patch.object(notification_obj.Notification, "save")
+    @mock.patch("masakari.compute.nova.API.get_server")
+    def test_process_notification_type_vm_ignore_instance_in_paused(
+            self, mock_get_server, mock_notification_save, mock_stop_server):
+        notification = self._get_vm_type_notification()
+        mock_get_server.return_value = fakes.FakeNovaClient.Server(
+            id=1, uuid=uuidsentinel.fake_ins, host='fake_host',
+            vm_state='paused', ha_enabled=True)
+
+        self.engine.process_notification(self.context,
+                                         notification=notification)
+        self.assertEqual("ignored", notification.status)
+        self.assertFalse(mock_stop_server.called)
+
+    @mock.patch("masakari.compute.nova.API.stop_server")
+    @mock.patch.object(notification_obj.Notification, "save")
+    @mock.patch("masakari.compute.nova.API.get_server")
+    def test_process_notification_type_vm_ignore_instance_in_rescued(
+            self, mock_get_server, mock_notification_save, mock_stop_server):
+        notification = self._get_vm_type_notification()
+        mock_get_server.return_value = fakes.FakeNovaClient.Server(
+            id=1, uuid=uuidsentinel.fake_ins, host='fake_host',
+            vm_state='rescued', ha_enabled=True)
+
+        self.engine.process_notification(self.context,
+                                         notification=notification)
+        self.assertEqual("ignored", notification.status)
+        self.assertFalse(mock_stop_server.called)