diff --git a/libcontainer/cgroups/systemd/dbus.go b/libcontainer/cgroups/systemd/dbus.go
index 3c30f6bb9d8..a70a9df43e8 100644
--- a/libcontainer/cgroups/systemd/dbus.go
+++ b/libcontainer/cgroups/systemd/dbus.go
@@ -21,9 +21,12 @@ type dbusConnManager struct{}
 
 // newDbusConnManager initializes systemd dbus connection manager.
 func newDbusConnManager(rootless bool) *dbusConnManager {
+	dbusMu.Lock()
+	defer dbusMu.Unlock()
 	if dbusInited && rootless != dbusRootless {
 		panic("can't have both root and rootless dbus")
 	}
+	dbusInited = true
 	dbusRootless = rootless
 	return &dbusConnManager{}
 }