diff --git a/utils_linux.go b/utils_linux.go
index edf7a4cfd..33cd41dd0 100644
--- a/utils_linux.go
+++ b/utils_linux.go
@@ -286,22 +286,23 @@ func (r *runner) run(config *specs.Process) (_ int, retErr error) {
 	if err != nil {
 		return -1, err
 	}
+	defer func() {
+		// We should terminate the process once we got an error.
+		if retErr != nil {
+			r.terminate(process)
+		}
+	}()
 	if err = tty.waitConsole(); err != nil {
-		r.terminate(process)
 		return -1, err
 	}
 	tty.ClosePostStart()
 	if r.pidFile != "" {
 		if err = createPidFile(r.pidFile, process); err != nil {
-			r.terminate(process)
 			return -1, err
 		}
 	}
 	handler := <-handlerCh
 	status, err := handler.forward(process, tty, detach)
-	if err != nil {
-		r.terminate(process)
-	}
 	if detach {
 		return 0, nil
 	}