diff --git a/libcontainer/specconv/spec_linux.go b/libcontainer/specconv/spec_linux.go
index 16e9bac6c..125f79547 100644
--- a/libcontainer/specconv/spec_linux.go
+++ b/libcontainer/specconv/spec_linux.go
@@ -445,7 +445,7 @@ func CreateCgroupConfig(opts *CreateOpts, defaultDevs []*devices.Device) (*confi
 
 	if useSystemdCgroup {
 		if myCgroupPath == "" {
-			c.Parent = "system.slice"
+			// Default for c.Parent is set by systemd cgroup drivers.
 			c.ScopePrefix = "runc"
 			c.Name = name
 		} else {
diff --git a/libcontainer/specconv/spec_linux_test.go b/libcontainer/specconv/spec_linux_test.go
index dc880f32c..f4dc860fe 100644
--- a/libcontainer/specconv/spec_linux_test.go
+++ b/libcontainer/specconv/spec_linux_test.go
@@ -345,7 +345,7 @@ func TestLinuxCgroupSystemdWithEmptyPath(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Errorf("Couldn't create Cgroup config: %v", err)
 	}
 
-	expectedParent := "system.slice"
+	expectedParent := ""
 	if cgroup.Parent != expectedParent {
 		t.Errorf("Expected to have %s as Parent instead of %s", expectedParent, cgroup.Parent)
 	}