diff --git a/libcontainer/factory_linux.go b/libcontainer/factory_linux.go
index 023d623f3..e6c71ac34 100644
--- a/libcontainer/factory_linux.go
+++ b/libcontainer/factory_linux.go
@@ -338,7 +338,12 @@ func (l *LinuxFactory) StartInitialization() (err error) {
 
 	defer func() {
 		if e := recover(); e != nil {
-			err = fmt.Errorf("panic from initialization: %w, %v", e, string(debug.Stack()))
+			if e, ok := e.(error); ok {
+				err = fmt.Errorf("panic from initialization: %w, %s", e, debug.Stack())
+			} else {
+				//nolint:errorlint // here e is not of error type
+				err = fmt.Errorf("panic from initialization: %v, %s", e, debug.Stack())
+			}
 		}
 	}()