diff --git a/libcontainer/container_linux.go b/libcontainer/container_linux.go
index 0c518e35..294109cd 100644
--- a/libcontainer/container_linux.go
+++ b/libcontainer/container_linux.go
@@ -170,6 +170,13 @@ func (c *linuxContainer) Stats() (*Stats, error) {
 func (c *linuxContainer) Set(config configs.Config) error {
 	c.m.Lock()
 	defer c.m.Unlock()
+	status, err := c.currentStatus()
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	if status == Stopped {
+		return newGenericError(fmt.Errorf("container not running"), ContainerNotRunning)
+	}
 	c.config = &config
 	return c.cgroupManager.Set(c.config)
 }