diff --git a/pkg/api/handlers/compat/containers_create.go b/pkg/api/handlers/compat/containers_create.go
index 94d20a04a3..1e175d664b 100644
--- a/pkg/api/handlers/compat/containers_create.go
+++ b/pkg/api/handlers/compat/containers_create.go
@@ -86,6 +86,8 @@ func CreateContainer(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 		utils.Error(w, "Something went wrong.", http.StatusInternalServerError, errors.Wrap(err, "fill out specgen"))
 		return
 	}
+	// moby always create the working directory
+	sg.CreateWorkingDir = true
 
 	ic := abi.ContainerEngine{Libpod: runtime}
 	report, err := ic.ContainerCreate(r.Context(), sg)
diff --git a/pkg/specgen/generate/container_create.go b/pkg/specgen/generate/container_create.go
index f82b2a3c6a..fc66145df1 100644
--- a/pkg/specgen/generate/container_create.go
+++ b/pkg/specgen/generate/container_create.go
@@ -333,6 +333,9 @@ func createContainerOptions(ctx context.Context, rt *libpod.Runtime, s *specgen.
 	if s.WorkDir == "" {
 		s.WorkDir = "/"
 	}
+	if s.CreateWorkingDir {
+		options = append(options, libpod.WithCreateWorkingDir())
+	}
 	if s.StopSignal != nil {
 		options = append(options, libpod.WithStopSignal(*s.StopSignal))
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/specgen/specgen.go b/pkg/specgen/specgen.go
index 0c30c498a1..50ef3f1970 100644
--- a/pkg/specgen/specgen.go
+++ b/pkg/specgen/specgen.go
@@ -264,6 +264,10 @@ type ContainerStorageConfig struct {
 	// If unset, the default, /, will be used.
 	// Optional.
 	WorkDir string `json:"work_dir,omitempty"`
+	// Create the working directory if it doesn't exist.
+	// If unset, it doesn't create it.
+	// Optional.
+	CreateWorkingDir bool `json:"create_working_dir,omitempty"`
 	// RootfsPropagation is the rootfs propagation mode for the container.
 	// If not set, the default of rslave will be used.
 	// Optional.
diff --git a/test/python/docker/compat/test_containers.py b/test/python/docker/compat/test_containers.py
index 1ad1e7f153..e6f7d992de 100644
--- a/test/python/docker/compat/test_containers.py
+++ b/test/python/docker/compat/test_containers.py
@@ -251,3 +251,17 @@ def test_mount_preexisting_dir(self):
         ctr.start()
         ret, out = ctr.exec_run(["stat", "-c", "%u:%g", "/workspace"])
         self.assertEqual(out.rstrip(), b'1042:1043', "UID/GID set in dockerfile")
+
+
+    def test_non_existant_workdir(self):
+        dockerfile = (B'FROM quay.io/libpod/alpine:latest\n'
+                      B'USER root\n'
+                      B'WORKDIR /workspace/scratch\n'
+                      B'RUN touch test')
+        img: Image
+        img, out = self.client.images.build(fileobj=io.BytesIO(dockerfile))
+        ctr: Container = self.client.containers.create(image=img.id, detach=True, command="top",
+                                                       volumes=["test_non_existant_workdir:/workspace"])
+        ctr.start()
+        ret, out = ctr.exec_run(["stat", "/workspace/scratch/test"])
+        self.assertEqual(ret, 0, "Working directory created if it doesn't exist")