diff --git a/platform/xdebugger-impl/src/com/intellij/xdebugger/impl/mixedmode/XMixedModeCombinedDebugProcess.kt b/platform/xdebugger-impl/src/com/intellij/xdebugger/impl/mixedmode/XMixedModeCombinedDebugProcess.kt
index b1b262aa1195..2580c0974fdc 100644
--- a/platform/xdebugger-impl/src/com/intellij/xdebugger/impl/mixedmode/XMixedModeCombinedDebugProcess.kt
+++ b/platform/xdebugger-impl/src/com/intellij/xdebugger/impl/mixedmode/XMixedModeCombinedDebugProcess.kt
@@ -115,6 +115,11 @@ class XMixedModeCombinedDebugProcess(
   }
 
   override fun startPausing() {
+    if (!session.isMixedModeHighProcessReady) {
+      low.startPausing()
+      return
+    }
+
     stateMachine.set(PauseRequested)
   }