diff --git a/migration/migration.c b/migration/migration.c
index 795b30f0d0..41a88fc50a 100644
--- a/migration/migration.c
+++ b/migration/migration.c
@@ -618,6 +618,29 @@ bool migrate_uri_parse(const char *uri, MigrationChannel **channel,
     return true;
 }
 
+static bool
+migration_incoming_state_setup(MigrationIncomingState *mis, Error **errp)
+{
+    MigrationStatus current = mis->state;
+
+    if (current == MIGRATION_STATUS_POSTCOPY_PAUSED) {
+        /*
+         * Incoming postcopy migration will stay in PAUSED state even if
+         * reconnection happened.
+         */
+        return true;
+    }
+
+    if (current != MIGRATION_STATUS_NONE) {
+        error_setg(errp, "Illegal migration incoming state: %s",
+                   MigrationStatus_str(current));
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    migrate_set_state(&mis->state, current, MIGRATION_STATUS_SETUP);
+    return true;
+}
+
 static void qemu_start_incoming_migration(const char *uri, bool has_channels,
                                           MigrationChannelList *channels,
                                           Error **errp)
@@ -656,8 +679,9 @@ static void qemu_start_incoming_migration(const char *uri, bool has_channels,
         return;
     }
 
-    migrate_set_state(&mis->state, MIGRATION_STATUS_NONE,
-                      MIGRATION_STATUS_SETUP);
+    if (!migration_incoming_state_setup(mis, errp)) {
+        return;
+    }
 
     if (addr->transport == MIGRATION_ADDRESS_TYPE_SOCKET) {
         SocketAddress *saddr = &addr->u.socket;