diff --git a/scripts/lib/upgrade-zulip-stage-2 b/scripts/lib/upgrade-zulip-stage-2
index 693900b269..a33f4cae68 100755
--- a/scripts/lib/upgrade-zulip-stage-2
+++ b/scripts/lib/upgrade-zulip-stage-2
@@ -116,9 +116,10 @@ IS_SERVER_UP = True
 def shutdown_server() -> None:
     global IS_SERVER_UP
 
-    logging.info("Stopping Zulip...")
-    subprocess.check_call(["./scripts/stop-server"], preexec_fn=su_to_zulip)
-    IS_SERVER_UP = False
+    if IS_SERVER_UP:
+        logging.info("Stopping Zulip...")
+        subprocess.check_call(["./scripts/stop-server"], preexec_fn=su_to_zulip)
+        IS_SERVER_UP = False
 
 
 # postgresql.version is required for database servers, but wasn't