diff --git a/libcontainer/container_linux.go b/libcontainer/container_linux.go
index cfb3ccf5cd1..7f0c51f31cf 100644
--- a/libcontainer/container_linux.go
+++ b/libcontainer/container_linux.go
@@ -290,7 +290,11 @@ func handleFifoResult(result openResult) error {
 	if err := readFromExecFifo(f); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	return os.Remove(f.Name())
+	err := os.Remove(f.Name())
+	if err == nil || os.IsNotExist(err) {
+		return nil
+	}
+	return err
 }
 
 type openResult struct {