diff --git a/gns3server/compute/qemu/qemu_vm.py b/gns3server/compute/qemu/qemu_vm.py
index 93d550ab..d6441685 100644
--- a/gns3server/compute/qemu/qemu_vm.py
+++ b/gns3server/compute/qemu/qemu_vm.py
@@ -1764,6 +1764,12 @@ class QemuVM(BaseNode):
                     if version is None:
                         raise QemuError("HAXM acceleration support is not installed on this host")
                     log.info("HAXM support version {} detected".format(version))
+
+                    # check if the HAXM service is running
+                    from gns3server.utils.windows_service import check_windows_service_is_running
+                    if not check_windows_service_is_running("intelhaxm"):
+                        raise QemuError("Intel HAXM service is not running on this host")
+
                 else:
                     return False
             elif sys.platform.startswith("darwin"):
diff --git a/gns3server/utils/interfaces.py b/gns3server/utils/interfaces.py
index 541697b1..e39d6a3c 100644
--- a/gns3server/utils/interfaces.py
+++ b/gns3server/utils/interfaces.py
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ import socket
 import struct
 import psutil
 
+from .windows_service import check_windows_service_is_running
 from gns3server.config import Config
 
 if psutil.version_info < (3, 0, 0):
@@ -174,23 +175,6 @@ def is_interface_bridge(interface):
     return os.path.exists(os.path.join("/sys/class/net/", interface, "bridge"))
 
 
-def _check_windows_service(service_name):
-
-    import pywintypes
-    import win32service
-    import win32serviceutil
-
-    try:
-        if win32serviceutil.QueryServiceStatus(service_name, None)[1] != win32service.SERVICE_RUNNING:
-            return False
-    except pywintypes.error as e:
-        if e.winerror == 1060:
-            return False
-        else:
-            raise aiohttp.web.HTTPInternalServerError(text="Could not check if the {} service is running: {}".format(service_name, e.strerror))
-    return True
-
-
 def interfaces():
     """
     Gets the network interfaces on this server.
@@ -231,7 +215,7 @@ def interfaces():
     else:
         try:
             service_installed = True
-            if not _check_windows_service("npf") and not _check_windows_service("npcap"):
+            if not check_windows_service_is_running("npf") and not check_windows_service_is_running("npcap"):
                 service_installed = False
             else:
                 results = get_windows_interfaces()
diff --git a/gns3server/utils/windows_service.py b/gns3server/utils/windows_service.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..7b2e2310
--- /dev/null
+++ b/gns3server/utils/windows_service.py
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+#
+# Copyright (C) 2016 GNS3 Technologies Inc.
+#
+# This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+# it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+# the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+# (at your option) any later version.
+#
+# This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+# but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+# MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+# GNU General Public License for more details.
+#
+# You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+# along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+"""
+Check for Windows service.
+"""
+
+import aiohttp
+
+
+def check_windows_service_is_running(service_name):
+
+    import pywintypes
+    import win32service
+    import win32serviceutil
+
+    try:
+        if win32serviceutil.QueryServiceStatus(service_name, None)[1] != win32service.SERVICE_RUNNING:
+            return False
+    except pywintypes.error as e:
+        if e.winerror == 1060:
+            return False
+        else:
+            raise aiohttp.web.HTTPInternalServerError(text="Could not check if the {} service is running: {}".format(service_name, e.strerror))
+    return True