diff --git a/nova/compute/api.py b/nova/compute/api.py
index 6f1ff7c48e5f..e756cdd1ba66 100644
--- a/nova/compute/api.py
+++ b/nova/compute/api.py
@@ -2938,7 +2938,7 @@ class API(base.Base):
     # NOTE(melwitt): We don't check instance lock for snapshot because lock is
     #                intended to prevent accidental change/delete of instances
     @check_instance_state(vm_state=[vm_states.ACTIVE, vm_states.STOPPED,
-                                    vm_states.SUSPENDED])
+                                    vm_states.PAUSED, vm_states.SUSPENDED])
     def snapshot_volume_backed(self, context, instance, name,
                                extra_properties=None):
         """Snapshot the given volume-backed instance.
diff --git a/nova/tests/unit/compute/test_compute_api.py b/nova/tests/unit/compute/test_compute_api.py
index a1c8de7f33fe..ed44e4b343f9 100644
--- a/nova/tests/unit/compute/test_compute_api.py
+++ b/nova/tests/unit/compute/test_compute_api.py
@@ -3415,6 +3415,11 @@ class _ComputeAPIUnitTestMixIn(object):
                                           quiesce_unsupported=True,
                                           vm_state=vm_states.SUSPENDED)
 
+    def test_snapshot_volume_backed_with_pause(self):
+        self._test_snapshot_volume_backed(quiesce_required=False,
+                                          quiesce_unsupported=True,
+                                          vm_state=vm_states.PAUSED)
+
     @mock.patch.object(context, 'set_target_cell')
     @mock.patch.object(objects.BlockDeviceMapping, 'get_by_volume')
     def test_get_bdm_by_volume_id(self, mock_get_by_volume,