diff --git a/hw/virtio/virtio-balloon.c b/hw/virtio/virtio-balloon.c
index e670f1e595..ce70adcc69 100644
--- a/hw/virtio/virtio-balloon.c
+++ b/hw/virtio/virtio-balloon.c
@@ -526,7 +526,8 @@ static bool get_free_page_hints(VirtIOBalloon *dev)
             ret = false;
             goto out;
         }
-        if (id == dev->free_page_report_cmd_id) {
+        if (dev->free_page_report_status == FREE_PAGE_REPORT_S_REQUESTED &&
+            id == dev->free_page_report_cmd_id) {
             dev->free_page_report_status = FREE_PAGE_REPORT_S_START;
         } else {
             /*