diff --git a/pkg/machine/gvproxy.go b/pkg/machine/gvproxy.go
index 97eef42ac0..5f75c11557 100644
--- a/pkg/machine/gvproxy.go
+++ b/pkg/machine/gvproxy.go
@@ -5,13 +5,37 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"io/fs"
 	"strconv"
+	"time"
 
 	"github.com/containers/podman/v6/pkg/machine/define"
 )
 
+const (
+	pidFileWaitTimeout   = 2 * time.Second
+	pidFileCheckInterval = 50 * time.Millisecond
+)
+
+func readPIDFileWithRetry(f define.VMFile) ([]byte, error) {
+	deadline := time.Now().Add(pidFileWaitTimeout)
+
+	for time.Now().Before(deadline) {
+		gvPid, err := f.Read()
+		if err == nil {
+			return gvPid, nil
+		}
+		if !errors.Is(err, fs.ErrNotExist) {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		time.Sleep(pidFileCheckInterval)
+	}
+
+	// Final attempt after timeout
+	return f.Read()
+}
+
 // CleanupGVProxy reads the --pid-file for gvproxy attempts to stop it
 func CleanupGVProxy(f define.VMFile) error {
-	gvPid, err := f.Read()
+	gvPid, err := readPIDFileWithRetry(f)
 	if err != nil {
 		// The file will also be removed by gvproxy when it exits so
 		// we need to account for the race and can just ignore it here.
diff --git a/pkg/machine/hyperv/hutil.go b/pkg/machine/hyperv/hutil.go
index 72cf15dc71..c2fb950285 100644
--- a/pkg/machine/hyperv/hutil.go
+++ b/pkg/machine/hyperv/hutil.go
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ var (
 	ErrHypervRegistryInitRequiresElevation   = errors.New("the first time Podman initializes a Hyper-V machine, it requires admin rights. Please run Podman as an administrator")
 	ErrHypervRegistryRemoveRequiresElevation = errors.New("removing this Hyper-V machine requires admin rights to clean up the Windows Registry. Please run Podman as an administrator")
 	ErrHypervRegistryUpdateRequiresElevation = errors.New("this machine's configuration requires additional Hyper-V networking (hvsock) entries in the Windows Registry. Please run Podman as an administrator")
+	ErrHypervLegacyMachineRequiresElevation  = errors.New("starting or stopping Hyper-V machines created with Podman 5.x or earlier requires admin rights. Please run Podman as an administrator")
 )
 
 func HasHyperVAdminRights() bool {
diff --git a/pkg/machine/hyperv/stubber.go b/pkg/machine/hyperv/stubber.go
index 245860127d..2a30607bec 100644
--- a/pkg/machine/hyperv/stubber.go
+++ b/pkg/machine/hyperv/stubber.go
@@ -265,6 +265,21 @@ func (h HyperVStubber) canRemove(mc *vmconfigs.MachineConfig) error {
 	return ErrHypervRegistryRemoveRequiresElevation
 }
 
+// canStartOrStop checks if the machine can be started or stopped.
+// Legacy machines require admin rights to start or stop.
+func (h HyperVStubber) canStartOrStop(mc *vmconfigs.MachineConfig) error {
+	if windows.HasAdminRights() {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	// if machine is legacy (machineName field), require admin rights to start or stop
+	if isLegacyMachine(mc) {
+		return ErrHypervLegacyMachineRequiresElevation
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
 // countMachinesWithToolname counts only machines that have a toolname field with value "podman".
 func (h HyperVStubber) countMachinesWithToolname() (int, error) {
 	dirs, err := env.GetMachineDirs(h.VMType())
@@ -345,7 +360,9 @@ func (h HyperVStubber) StartNetworking(mc *vmconfigs.MachineConfig, cmd *gvproxy
 }
 
 func (h HyperVStubber) StartVM(mc *vmconfigs.MachineConfig) (func() error, func() error, error) {
-	var err error
+	if err := h.canStartOrStop(mc); err != nil {
+		return nil, nil, err
+	}
 
 	_, vm, err := GetVMFromMC(mc)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -412,6 +429,10 @@ func (h HyperVStubber) State(mc *vmconfigs.MachineConfig, _ bool) (define.Status
 }
 
 func (h HyperVStubber) StopVM(mc *vmconfigs.MachineConfig, hardStop bool) error {
+	if err := h.canStartOrStop(mc); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
 	vmm := hypervctl.NewVirtualMachineManager()
 	vm, err := vmm.GetMachine(mc.Name)
 	if err != nil {