diff --git a/pkg/machine/applehv/stubber.go b/pkg/machine/applehv/stubber.go
index 3ebaf1eaa4..7f18b419ff 100644
--- a/pkg/machine/applehv/stubber.go
+++ b/pkg/machine/applehv/stubber.go
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ package applehv
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"net"
 	"strconv"
@@ -40,7 +41,7 @@ type AppleHVStubber struct {
 }
 
 func (a AppleHVStubber) UserModeNetworkEnabled(_ *vmconfigs.MachineConfig) bool {
-return true
+	return true
 }
 
 func (a AppleHVStubber) UseProviderNetworkSetup() bool {
@@ -93,6 +94,17 @@ func (a AppleHVStubber) RemoveAndCleanMachines(_ *define.MachineDirs) error {
 }
 
 func (a AppleHVStubber) SetProviderAttrs(mc *vmconfigs.MachineConfig, opts define.SetOptions) error {
+	mc.Lock()
+	defer mc.Unlock()
+
+	state, err := a.State(mc, false)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	if state != define.Stopped {
+		return errors.New("unable to change settings unless vm is stopped")
+	}
+
 	if opts.DiskSize != nil {
 		if err := resizeDisk(mc, *opts.DiskSize); err != nil {
 			return err
diff --git a/pkg/machine/e2e/set_test.go b/pkg/machine/e2e/set_test.go
index 439539746b..f1aa5b4771 100644
--- a/pkg/machine/e2e/set_test.go
+++ b/pkg/machine/e2e/set_test.go
@@ -192,4 +192,23 @@ var _ = Describe("podman machine set", func() {
 		Expect(inspectSession).To(Exit(0))
 		Expect(inspectSession.outputToString()).To(Equal("true"))
 	})
+
+	It("set while machine already running", func() {
+		name := randomString()
+		i := new(initMachine)
+		session, err := mb.setName(name).setCmd(i.withImagePath(mb.imagePath)).run()
+		Expect(err).ToNot(HaveOccurred())
+		Expect(session).To(Exit(0))
+
+		s := new(startMachine)
+		startSession, err := mb.setCmd(s).run()
+		Expect(err).ToNot(HaveOccurred())
+		Expect(startSession).To(Exit(0))
+
+		set := setMachine{}
+		setSession, err := mb.setName(name).setCmd(set.withRootful(true)).run()
+		Expect(err).ToNot(HaveOccurred())
+		Expect(setSession).To(Exit(125))
+		Expect(setSession.errorToString()).To(ContainSubstring("Error: unable to change settings unless vm is stopped"))
+	})
 })
diff --git a/pkg/machine/hyperv/stubber.go b/pkg/machine/hyperv/stubber.go
index 080d78c039..6d5c79d14d 100644
--- a/pkg/machine/hyperv/stubber.go
+++ b/pkg/machine/hyperv/stubber.go
@@ -317,7 +317,6 @@ func (h HyperVStubber) SetProviderAttrs(mc *vmconfigs.MachineConfig, opts define
 		return err
 	}
 
-	// TODO lets move this up into set as a "rule" for all machines
 	if vm.State() != hypervctl.Disabled {
 		return errors.New("unable to change settings unless vm is stopped")
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/machine/qemu/stubber.go b/pkg/machine/qemu/stubber.go
index 28614246bb..19b9758244 100644
--- a/pkg/machine/qemu/stubber.go
+++ b/pkg/machine/qemu/stubber.go
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package qemu
 import (
 	"bufio"
 	"bytes"
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"net"
 	"os"
@@ -255,6 +256,17 @@ func (q *QEMUStubber) resizeDisk(newSize strongunits.GiB, diskPath *define.VMFil
 }
 
 func (q *QEMUStubber) SetProviderAttrs(mc *vmconfigs.MachineConfig, opts define.SetOptions) error {
+	mc.Lock()
+	defer mc.Unlock()
+
+	state, err := q.State(mc, false)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	if state != define.Stopped {
+		return errors.New("unable to change settings unless vm is stopped")
+	}
+
 	if opts.DiskSize != nil {
 		if err := q.resizeDisk(*opts.DiskSize, mc.ImagePath); err != nil {
 			return err
diff --git a/pkg/machine/wsl/stubber.go b/pkg/machine/wsl/stubber.go
index a3693d9c99..9d0938530c 100644
--- a/pkg/machine/wsl/stubber.go
+++ b/pkg/machine/wsl/stubber.go
@@ -133,27 +133,17 @@ func (w WSLStubber) RemoveAndCleanMachines(_ *define.MachineDirs) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-
 func (w WSLStubber) SetProviderAttrs(mc *vmconfigs.MachineConfig, opts define.SetOptions) error {
 	mc.Lock()
 	defer mc.Unlock()
 
-	// TODO the check for running when setting rootful is something I have not
-	// seen in the other distributions.  I wonder if this is true everywhere or just
-	// with WSL?
-	// TODO maybe the "rule" for set is that it must be done when the machine is
-	// stopped?
-	// if opts.Rootful != nil && v.Rootful != *opts.Rootful {
-	// 	err := v.setRootful(*opts.Rootful)
-	// 	if err != nil {
-	// 		setErrors = append(setErrors, fmt.Errorf("setting rootful option: %w", err))
-	// 	} else {
-	// 		if v.isRunning() {
-	// 			logrus.Warn("restart is necessary for rootful change to go into effect")
-	// 		}
-	// 		v.Rootful = *opts.Rootful
-	// 	}
-	// }
+	state, err := w.State(mc, false)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	if state != define.Stopped {
+		return errors.New("unable to change settings unless vm is stopped")
+	}
 
 	if opts.Rootful != nil && mc.HostUser.Rootful != *opts.Rootful {
 		if err := mc.SetRootful(*opts.Rootful); err != nil {