diff --git a/libcontainer/container_linux.go b/libcontainer/container_linux.go
index 9f2b48c4f..ec5ace55d 100644
--- a/libcontainer/container_linux.go
+++ b/libcontainer/container_linux.go
@@ -263,9 +263,6 @@ func (c *linuxContainer) start(process *Process, isInit bool) error {
 	}
 	// generate a timestamp indicating when the container was started
 	c.created = time.Now().UTC()
-	c.state = &runningState{
-		c: c,
-	}
 	if isInit {
 		c.state = &createdState{
 			c: c,
@@ -292,6 +289,10 @@ func (c *linuxContainer) start(process *Process, isInit bool) error {
 				}
 			}
 		}
+	} else {
+		c.state = &runningState{
+			c: c,
+		}
 	}
 	return nil
 }