A system and method include initiating a live migration of a virtual machine from a first host machine to a second host machine. The system and method include calculating, using a live migration tool, a data limit for an incremental data copy. The system and method also include determining, using the live migration tool, that a set of modified data stored in the memory of the first host machine equals or exceeds the data limit. The system and method further include pausing operation of the virtual machine responsive to the set of modified data stored in the memory of the first host machine equaling or exceeding the data limit.