diff --git a/pkg/compute/guestdrivers/google.go b/pkg/compute/guestdrivers/google.go
index 9f047c6a51..8b45bcf9b7 100644
--- a/pkg/compute/guestdrivers/google.go
+++ b/pkg/compute/guestdrivers/google.go
@@ -242,6 +242,7 @@ func (self *SGoogleGuestDriver) RequestStartOnHost(ctx context.Context, guest *m
 				log.Errorf("failed to update google userdata")
 			}
 		}
+		guest.SetStatus(userCred, api.VM_RUNNING, "StartOnHost")
 		return task.ScheduleRun(result)
 	}
 	return guest.SetStatus(userCred, api.VM_RUNNING, "StartOnHost")