diff --git a/packages/google-cloud-compute/samples/snippets/sample_start_stop.py b/packages/google-cloud-compute/samples/snippets/sample_start_stop.py
index a73f05ba53fa..66218c74e1b5 100644
--- a/packages/google-cloud-compute/samples/snippets/sample_start_stop.py
+++ b/packages/google-cloud-compute/samples/snippets/sample_start_stop.py
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ def start_instance_with_encryption_key(
 # [START compute_stop_instance]
 def stop_instance(project_id: str, zone: str, instance_name: str):
     """
-    Stops a stopped Google Compute Engine instance.
+    Stops a running Google Compute Engine instance.
 
     Args:
         project_id: project ID or project number of the Cloud project your instance belongs to.