diff --git a/checkpoint.go b/checkpoint.go
index ac32bbb50..a8a27f248 100644
--- a/checkpoint.go
+++ b/checkpoint.go
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ checkpointed.`,
 		cli.StringFlag{Name: "page-server", Value: "", Usage: "ADDRESS:PORT of the page server"},
 		cli.BoolFlag{Name: "file-locks", Usage: "handle file locks, for safety"},
 		cli.BoolFlag{Name: "pre-dump", Usage: "dump container's memory information only, leave the container running after this"},
-		cli.StringFlag{Name: "manage-cgroups-mode", Value: "", Usage: "cgroups mode: 'soft' (default), 'full' and 'strict'"},
+		cli.StringFlag{Name: "manage-cgroups-mode", Value: "", Usage: "cgroups mode: soft|full|strict|ignore (default: soft)"},
 		cli.StringSliceFlag{Name: "empty-ns", Usage: "create a namespace, but don't restore its properties"},
 		cli.BoolFlag{Name: "auto-dedup", Usage: "enable auto deduplication of memory images"},
 	},
@@ -149,17 +149,19 @@ func criuOptions(context *cli.Context) (*libcontainer.CriuOpts, error) {
 		}
 	}
 
-	if cgOpt := context.String("manage-cgroups-mode"); cgOpt != "" {
-		switch cgOpt {
-		case "soft":
-			opts.ManageCgroupsMode = criu.CriuCgMode_SOFT
-		case "full":
-			opts.ManageCgroupsMode = criu.CriuCgMode_FULL
-		case "strict":
-			opts.ManageCgroupsMode = criu.CriuCgMode_STRICT
-		default:
-			return nil, errors.New("Invalid manage cgroups mode")
-		}
+	switch context.String("manage-cgroups-mode") {
+	case "":
+		// do nothing
+	case "soft":
+		opts.ManageCgroupsMode = criu.CriuCgMode_SOFT
+	case "full":
+		opts.ManageCgroupsMode = criu.CriuCgMode_FULL
+	case "strict":
+		opts.ManageCgroupsMode = criu.CriuCgMode_STRICT
+	case "ignore":
+		opts.ManageCgroupsMode = criu.CriuCgMode_IGNORE
+	default:
+		return nil, errors.New("Invalid manage-cgroups-mode value")
 	}
 
 	// runc doesn't manage network devices and their configuration.
diff --git a/man/runc-checkpoint.8.md b/man/runc-checkpoint.8.md
index 373259d4c..a7dad29d3 100644
--- a/man/runc-checkpoint.8.md
+++ b/man/runc-checkpoint.8.md
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ together with **criu lazy-pages**. See
 : Do a pre-dump, i.e. dump container's memory information only, leaving the
 container running. See [criu iterative migration](https://criu.org/Iterative_migration).
 
-**--manage-cgroups-mode** **soft**|**full**|**strict**.
+**--manage-cgroups-mode** **soft**|**full**|**strict**|**ignore**.
 : Cgroups mode. Default is **soft**. See
 [criu --manage-cgroups option](https://criu.org/CLI/opt/--manage-cgroups).
 
diff --git a/man/runc-restore.8.md b/man/runc-restore.8.md
index a2b3da6c6..4f9d55f44 100644
--- a/man/runc-restore.8.md
+++ b/man/runc-restore.8.md
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ image files directory.
 : Allow checkpoint/restore of file locks. See
 [criu --file-locks option](https://criu.org/CLI/opt/--file-locks).
 
-**--manage-cgroups-mode** **soft**|**full**|**strict**.
+**--manage-cgroups-mode** **soft**|**full**|**strict**|**ignore**.
 : Cgroups mode. Default is **soft**. See
 [criu --manage-cgroups option](https://criu.org/CLI/opt/--manage-cgroups).
 
diff --git a/restore.go b/restore.go
index 30ce89a2d..d65afcfc7 100644
--- a/restore.go
+++ b/restore.go
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ using the runc checkpoint command.`,
 		cli.StringFlag{
 			Name:  "manage-cgroups-mode",
 			Value: "",
-			Usage: "cgroups mode: 'soft' (default), 'full' and 'strict'",
+			Usage: "cgroups mode: soft|full|strict|ignore (default: soft)",
 		},
 		cli.StringFlag{
 			Name:  "bundle, b",