diff --git a/node/src/main/kotlin/net/corda/node/services/statemachine/MultiThreadedStateMachineManager.kt b/node/src/main/kotlin/net/corda/node/services/statemachine/MultiThreadedStateMachineManager.kt
index 288517750f..40077b495c 100644
--- a/node/src/main/kotlin/net/corda/node/services/statemachine/MultiThreadedStateMachineManager.kt
+++ b/node/src/main/kotlin/net/corda/node/services/statemachine/MultiThreadedStateMachineManager.kt
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ class MultiThreadedStateMachineManager(
         serviceHub.networkMapCache.nodeReady.then {
             resumeRestoredFlows(fibers)
             flowMessaging.start { receivedMessage, deduplicationHandler ->
-                lifeCycle.requireState(State.STARTED) {
+                lifeCycle.requireState(State.STARTED, StateMachineStoppedException("Flow cannot be started. State machine is stopped.")) {
                     deliverExternalEvent(deduplicationHandler.externalCause)
                 }
             }