diff --git a/crates/runc-shim/src/container.rs b/crates/runc-shim/src/container.rs
index bd3bc5ab..1c38d1bb 100644
--- a/crates/runc-shim/src/container.rs
+++ b/crates/runc-shim/src/container.rs
@@ -18,11 +18,12 @@ use std::collections::HashMap;
 
 use async_trait::async_trait;
 use containerd_shim::{
+    api::Status,
     error::Result,
     protos::{
         api::{CreateTaskRequest, ExecProcessRequest, ProcessInfo, StateResponse},
         cgroups::metrics::Metrics,
-        protobuf::{well_known_types::any::Any, Message, MessageDyn},
+        protobuf::{well_known_types::any::Any, EnumOrUnknown, Message, MessageDyn},
         shim::oci::ProcessDetails,
     },
     Error,
@@ -104,6 +105,12 @@ where
     async fn state(&self, exec_id: Option<&str>) -> Result<StateResponse> {
         let process = self.get_process(exec_id)?;
         let mut resp = process.state().await?;
+        let init_state = self.init.state().await?.status;
+        if init_state == EnumOrUnknown::new(Status::PAUSING)
+            || init_state == EnumOrUnknown::new(Status::PAUSED)
+        {
+            resp.status = init_state;
+        }
         resp.bundle = self.bundle.to_string();
         debug!("container state: {:?}", resp);
         Ok(resp)