diff --git a/cmd/ignite/run/start.go b/cmd/ignite/run/start.go
index 4f09ab23f..4219e83fb 100644
--- a/cmd/ignite/run/start.go
+++ b/cmd/ignite/run/start.go
@@ -49,6 +49,15 @@ func Start(so *StartOptions, fs *flag.FlagSet) error {
 		return fmt.Errorf("VM %q is already running", so.vm.GetUID())
 	}
 
+	// Stopped VMs don't contain the runtime and network information. Set the
+	// default runtime and network from the providers if empty.
+	if so.vm.Status.Runtime.Name == "" {
+		so.vm.Status.Runtime.Name = providers.RuntimeName
+	}
+	if so.vm.Status.Network.Plugin == "" {
+		so.vm.Status.Network.Plugin = providers.NetworkPluginName
+	}
+
 	// In case the runtime and network-plugin are specified explicitly at
 	// start, set the runtime and network-plugin on the VM. This overrides the
 	// global config and config on the VM object, if any.
diff --git a/e2e/vm_lifecycle_test.go b/e2e/vm_lifecycle_test.go
index bdf502e5c..90a716405 100644
--- a/e2e/vm_lifecycle_test.go
+++ b/e2e/vm_lifecycle_test.go
@@ -171,3 +171,33 @@ func TestVMStartNonDefaultProvider(t *testing.T) {
 	gotInspect := strings.TrimSpace(string(inspectOut))
 	assert.Equal(t, gotInspect, wantInspect, fmt.Sprintf("unexpected VM properties:\n\t(WNT): %q\n\t(GOT): %q", wantInspect, gotInspect))
 }
+
+func TestVMStopStartDefaultProviders(t *testing.T) {
+	assert.Assert(t, e2eHome != "", "IGNITE_E2E_HOME should be set")
+
+	vmName := "e2e-test-vm-stop-start-default-providers"
+
+	igniteCmd := util.NewCommand(t, igniteBin)
+
+	// Clean-up the following VM.
+	defer igniteCmd.New().
+		With("rm", "-f", vmName).
+		Run()
+
+	// Run the VM.
+	igniteCmd.New().
+		With("run").
+		With(util.DefaultVMImage).
+		With("--name=" + vmName).
+		Run()
+
+	// Stop the VM.
+	igniteCmd.New().
+		With("stop", vmName).
+		Run()
+
+	// Start the VM.
+	igniteCmd.New().
+		With("start", vmName).
+		Run()
+}