diff --git a/libpod/runtime.go b/libpod/runtime.go
index 855f3a9f96..950ac65eb2 100644
--- a/libpod/runtime.go
+++ b/libpod/runtime.go
@@ -543,7 +543,11 @@ func makeRuntime(ctx context.Context, runtime *Runtime) (retErr error) {
 				return err
 			}
 			if became {
-				utils.MovePauseProcessToScope(pausePid)
+				// Check if the pause process was created.  If it was created, then
+				// move it to its own systemd scope.
+				if _, err = os.Stat(pausePid); err == nil {
+					utils.MovePauseProcessToScope(pausePid)
+				}
 				os.Exit(ret)
 			}
 		}
diff --git a/test/e2e/system_reset_test.go b/test/e2e/system_reset_test.go
index 102526a468..93ab166cd2 100644
--- a/test/e2e/system_reset_test.go
+++ b/test/e2e/system_reset_test.go
@@ -60,6 +60,8 @@ var _ = Describe("podman system reset", func() {
 		session.WaitWithDefaultTimeout()
 		Expect(session).Should(Exit(0))
 
+		Expect(session.ErrorToString()).To(Not(ContainSubstring("Failed to add pause process")))
+
 		// If remote then the API service should have exited
 		// On local tests this is a noop
 		podmanTest.StartRemoteService()