diff --git a/src/apps.js b/src/apps.js
index 36e1b80ce..3d63ebd63 100644
--- a/src/apps.js
+++ b/src/apps.js
@@ -696,6 +696,11 @@ function checkAppState(app, state) {
         if (state !== exports.ISTATE_PENDING_UNINSTALL && state !== exports.ISTATE_PENDING_RESTORE) return new BoxError(BoxError.BAD_STATE, 'Not allowed in error state');
     }
 
+    if (app.runState === exports.RSTATE_STOPPED) {
+        // can't backup or restore since app addons are down. can't update because migration scripts won't run
+        if (state === exports.ISTATE_PENDING_UPDATE || state === exports.ISTATE_PENDING_BACKUP || state === exports.ISTATE_PENDING_RESTORE)  return new BoxError(BoxError.BAD_STATE, 'Not allowed in stopped state');
+    }
+
     return null;
 }