diff --git a/src/csharp/Grpc.Core.Tests/ServerTest.cs b/src/csharp/Grpc.Core.Tests/ServerTest.cs
index fa693162adad51a283e2995367998c72a8b64d9c..3b51aa633008af6218f0475a116e60f8de511fe0 100644
--- a/src/csharp/Grpc.Core.Tests/ServerTest.cs
+++ b/src/csharp/Grpc.Core.Tests/ServerTest.cs
@@ -93,5 +93,20 @@ namespace Grpc.Core.Tests
 
             server.ShutdownAsync().Wait();
         }
+
+        [Test]
+        public void UnstartedServerCanBeShutdown()
+        {
+            var server = new Server();
+            server.ShutdownAsync().Wait();
+            Assert.Throws(typeof(InvalidOperationException), () => server.Start());
+        }
+
+        [Test]
+        public void UnstartedServerDoesNotPreventShutdown()
+        {
+            // just create a server, don't start it, and make sure it doesn't prevent shutdown.
+            var server = new Server();
+        }
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/csharp/Grpc.Core/Server.cs b/src/csharp/Grpc.Core/Server.cs
index ae7a8c9a9a1cba584fb9c9c0b9c2690be21bfa09..3b554e5e87e92a14bcbb02d2617f3492754487c5 100644
--- a/src/csharp/Grpc.Core/Server.cs
+++ b/src/csharp/Grpc.Core/Server.cs
@@ -140,6 +140,7 @@ namespace Grpc.Core
             lock (myLock)
             {
                 GrpcPreconditions.CheckState(!startRequested);
+                GrpcPreconditions.CheckState(!shutdownRequested);
                 startRequested = true;
                 
                 handle.Start();
@@ -203,7 +204,6 @@ namespace Grpc.Core
         {
             lock (myLock)
             {
-                GrpcPreconditions.CheckState(startRequested);
                 GrpcPreconditions.CheckState(!shutdownRequested);
                 shutdownRequested = true;
             }
@@ -215,7 +215,6 @@ namespace Grpc.Core
             {
                 handle.CancelAllCalls();
             }
-
             await ShutdownCompleteOrEnvironmentDeadAsync().ConfigureAwait(false);
 
             DisposeHandle();