diff --git a/util/types.go b/util/types.go
index dc5f4b6c8e7..49f4989cae1 100644
--- a/util/types.go
+++ b/util/types.go
@@ -1,8 +1,9 @@
 package util
 
 const (
-	// DefaultRuntime is the default command to use to run the container.
-	DefaultRuntime = "runc"
+	// DefaultRuntime should no longer be used.
+	// Default runtime should come from containers.conf
+	DefaultRuntime = "crun"
 	// DefaultCNIPluginPath is the default location of CNI plugin helpers.
 	DefaultCNIPluginPath = "/usr/libexec/cni:/opt/cni/bin"
 	// DefaultCNIConfigDir is the default location of CNI configuration files.
diff --git a/util/util.go b/util/util.go
index 99f68d9e1ce..5b512a4540e 100644
--- a/util/util.go
+++ b/util/util.go
@@ -260,10 +260,15 @@ func Runtime() string {
 
 	// Need to switch default until runc supports cgroups v2
 	if unified, _ := IsCgroup2UnifiedMode(); unified {
-		return "crun"
+		return
 	}
 
-	return DefaultRuntime
+	conf, err := config.Default()
+	if err != nil {
+		logrus.Debugf("Error loading container config when searching for local runtime.")
+		return "DefaultRuntime"
+	}
+	return conf.Engine.OCIRuntime
 }
 
 // StringInSlice returns a boolean indicating if the exact value s is present