diff --git a/src/app_runtime/core/runtime.py b/src/app_runtime/core/runtime.py
index c5f48e6..9ccf539 100644
--- a/src/app_runtime/core/runtime.py
+++ b/src/app_runtime/core/runtime.py
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ class RuntimeManager:
     async def start_runtime(self) -> str:
         if self._started:
             return "runtime already running"
-        if self.workers.lifecycle_state() == LifecycleState.STOPPING:
+        if self._state == LifecycleState.STOPPING:
             return "runtime is stopping"
         self.start(start_control_plane=False)
         return "runtime started"