An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to start image formation in accordance with a second job while performing the image formation in accordance with a first job, each of the first job and the second job including information indicating one of paper feeding units; a detecting unit configured to detect whether a recording medium is stored in a paper feeding unit indicated by the first job; and an image formation control unit configured to cause the image forming unit to continue the image formation in accordance with the second job when the detecting unit detects that a recording medium is stored in the paper feeding unit, and cause the image forming unit to suspend the image formation in accordance with the second job when the detecting unit detects that no recording medium is stored in the paper feeding unit.