diff --git a/compos/common/compos_client.rs b/compos/common/compos_client.rs
index dd8e54f..22304f1 100644
--- a/compos/common/compos_client.rs
+++ b/compos/common/compos_client.rs
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@
         )
         .context("Failed to find VirtualizationService")?;
 
-        let vm = service.startVm(&config, Some(&log_fd)).context("Failed to start VM")?;
+        let vm = service.createVm(&config, Some(&log_fd)).context("Failed to create VM")?;
         let vm_state = Arc::new(VmStateMonitor::default());
 
         let vm_state_clone = Arc::clone(&vm_state);
@@ -98,6 +98,8 @@
         );
         vm.registerCallback(&callback)?;
 
+        vm.start()?;
+
         let cid = vm_state.wait_for_start()?;
 
         // TODO: Use onPayloadReady to avoid this
diff --git a/compos/compos_key_cmd/compos_key_cmd.cpp b/compos/compos_key_cmd/compos_key_cmd.cpp
index 874a208..eb11d92 100644
--- a/compos/compos_key_cmd/compos_key_cmd.cpp
+++ b/compos/compos_key_cmd/compos_key_cmd.cpp
@@ -213,7 +213,7 @@
         appConfig.memoryMib = 0; // Use default
 
         LOG(INFO) << "Starting VM";
-        auto status = service->startVm(config, logFd, &mVm);
+        auto status = service->createVm(config, logFd, &mVm);
         if (!status.isOk()) {
             return Error() << status.getDescription();
         }
@@ -224,7 +224,7 @@
             return Error() << status.getDescription();
         }
 
-        LOG(INFO) << "Started VM with cid = " << cid;
+        LOG(INFO) << "Created VM with CID = " << cid;
 
         // We need to use this rather than std::make_shared to make sure the
         // embedded weak_ptr is initialised.
@@ -235,6 +235,12 @@
             return Error() << status.getDescription();
         }
 
+        status = mVm->start();
+        if (!status.isOk()) {
+            return Error() << status.getDescription();
+        }
+        LOG(INFO) << "Started VM";
+
         if (!mCallback->waitForStarted()) {
             return Error() << "VM Payload failed to start";
         }