diff --git a/man/runc-run.8.md b/man/runc-run.8.md
index 216649ae4..495946971 100644
--- a/man/runc-run.8.md
+++ b/man/runc-run.8.md
@@ -42,6 +42,12 @@ container to inherit the calling processes session key.
 : Pass _N_ additional file descriptors to the container (**stdio** +
 **$LISTEN_FDS** + _N_ in total). Default is **0**.
 
+**--keep**
+: Keep container's state directory and cgroup. This can be helpful if a user
+wants to check the state (e.g. of cgroup controllers) after the container has
+exited. If this option is used, a manual **runc delete** is needed afterwards
+to clean an exited container's artefacts.
+
 # SEE ALSO
 
 **runc**(8).
diff --git a/run.go b/run.go
index f8d631784..f18a0c154 100644
--- a/run.go
+++ b/run.go
@@ -40,6 +40,10 @@ command(s) that get executed on start, edit the args parameter of the spec. See
 			Name:  "detach, d",
 			Usage: "detach from the container's process",
 		},
+		cli.BoolFlag{
+			Name:  "keep",
+			Usage: "do not delete the container after it exits",
+		},
 		cli.StringFlag{
 			Name:  "pid-file",
 			Value: "",
diff --git a/tests/integration/run.bats b/tests/integration/run.bats
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..63be89d2c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/integration/run.bats
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bats
+
+load helpers
+
+function setup() {
+	setup_hello
+}
+
+function teardown() {
+	teardown_bundle
+}
+
+@test "runc run" {
+	runc run test_hello
+	[ "$status" -eq 0 ]
+
+	runc state test_hello
+	[ "$status" -ne 0 ]
+}
+
+@test "runc run --keep" {
+	runc run --keep test_run_keep
+	[ "$status" -eq 0 ]
+
+	testcontainer test_run_keep stopped
+
+	runc state test_run_keep
+	[ "$status" -eq 0 ]
+
+	runc delete test_run_keep
+
+	runc state test_run_keep
+	[ "$status" -ne 0 ]
+}
+
+@test "runc run --keep (check cgroup exists)" {
+	# for systemd driver, the unit's cgroup path will be auto removed if container's all processes exited
+	requires no_systemd
+
+	[[ "$ROOTLESS" -ne 0 ]] && requires rootless_cgroup
+
+	set_cgroups_path
+
+	runc run --keep test_run_keep
+	[ "$status" -eq 0 ]
+
+	testcontainer test_run_keep stopped
+
+	runc state test_run_keep
+	[ "$status" -eq 0 ]
+
+	# check that cgroup exists
+	check_cgroup_value "pids.max" "max"
+
+	runc delete test_run_keep
+
+	runc state test_run_keep
+	[ "$status" -ne 0 ]
+}
diff --git a/utils_linux.go b/utils_linux.go
index 8b8d9e57e..293e166b4 100644
--- a/utils_linux.go
+++ b/utils_linux.go
@@ -439,7 +439,7 @@ func startContainer(context *cli.Context, spec *specs.Spec, action CtAct, criuOp
 
 	r := &runner{
 		enableSubreaper: !context.Bool("no-subreaper"),
-		shouldDestroy:   true,
+		shouldDestroy:   !context.Bool("keep"),
 		container:       container,
 		listenFDs:       listenFDs,
 		notifySocket:    notifySocket,