diff --git a/pkg/env/env.go b/pkg/env/env.go
index 8af9fd77c2..fb7949ad81 100644
--- a/pkg/env/env.go
+++ b/pkg/env/env.go
@@ -37,6 +37,22 @@ func Slice(m map[string]string) []string {
 	return env
 }
 
+// Map transforms the specified slice of environment variables into a
+// map.
+func Map(slice []string) map[string]string {
+	envmap := make(map[string]string, len(slice))
+	for _, val := range slice {
+		data := strings.SplitN(val, "=", 2)
+
+		if len(data) > 1 {
+			envmap[data[0]] = data[1]
+		} else {
+			envmap[data[0]] = ""
+		}
+	}
+	return envmap
+}
+
 // Join joins the two environment maps with override overriding base.
 func Join(base map[string]string, override map[string]string) map[string]string {
 	if len(base) == 0 {
@@ -87,10 +103,6 @@ func parseEnv(env map[string]string, line string) error {
 	}
 	// trim the front of a variable, but nothing else
 	name := strings.TrimLeft(data[0], whiteSpaces)
-	if strings.ContainsAny(name, whiteSpaces) {
-		return fmt.Errorf("name %q has white spaces, poorly formatted name", name)
-	}
-
 	if len(data) > 1 {
 		env[name] = data[1]
 	} else {
diff --git a/pkg/specgen/generate/container.go b/pkg/specgen/generate/container.go
index d43c1012f9..3bb2ae3d06 100644
--- a/pkg/specgen/generate/container.go
+++ b/pkg/specgen/generate/container.go
@@ -139,10 +139,8 @@ func CompleteSpec(ctx context.Context, r *libpod.Runtime, s *specgen.SpecGenerat
 	}
 	// First transform the os env into a map. We need it for the labels later in
 	// any case.
-	osEnv, err := envLib.ParseSlice(os.Environ())
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("error parsing host environment variables: %w", err)
-	}
+	osEnv := envLib.Map(os.Environ())
+
 	// Caller Specified defaults
 	if s.EnvHost {
 		defaultEnvs = envLib.Join(defaultEnvs, osEnv)
diff --git a/pkg/specgenutil/specgen.go b/pkg/specgenutil/specgen.go
index 9a7d50947f..9eb386e81a 100644
--- a/pkg/specgenutil/specgen.go
+++ b/pkg/specgenutil/specgen.go
@@ -355,10 +355,7 @@ func FillOutSpecGen(s *specgen.SpecGenerator, c *entities.ContainerCreateOptions
 
 	// First transform the os env into a map. We need it for the labels later in
 	// any case.
-	osEnv, err := envLib.ParseSlice(os.Environ())
-	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("error parsing host environment variables: %w", err)
-	}
+	osEnv := envLib.Map(os.Environ())
 
 	if !s.EnvHost {
 		s.EnvHost = c.EnvHost
diff --git a/test/e2e/run_env_test.go b/test/e2e/run_env_test.go
index bab52efc5e..4580d68ce7 100644
--- a/test/e2e/run_env_test.go
+++ b/test/e2e/run_env_test.go
@@ -58,6 +58,13 @@ var _ = Describe("Podman run", func() {
 		Expect(session).Should(Exit(0))
 		Expect(session.OutputToString()).To(ContainSubstring("/bin"))
 
+		// Verify environ keys with spaces do not blow up podman command
+		os.Setenv("FOO BAR", "BAZ")
+		session = podmanTest.Podman([]string{"run", "--rm", ALPINE, "true"})
+		session.WaitWithDefaultTimeout()
+		Expect(session).Should(Exit(0))
+		os.Unsetenv("FOO BAR")
+
 		os.Setenv("FOO", "BAR")
 		session = podmanTest.Podman([]string{"run", "--rm", "--env", "FOO", ALPINE, "printenv", "FOO"})
 		session.WaitWithDefaultTimeout()