diff --git a/libpod/boltdb_state.go b/libpod/boltdb_state.go
index c3db6152a9..e5219ab8c9 100644
--- a/libpod/boltdb_state.go
+++ b/libpod/boltdb_state.go
@@ -5,8 +5,10 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"net"
 	"os"
+	"strconv"
 	"strings"
 	"sync"
+	"time"
 
 	"github.com/containers/common/libnetwork/types"
 	"github.com/containers/podman/v4/libpod/define"
@@ -63,6 +65,13 @@ type BoltState struct {
 //   initially created the database. This must match for any further instances
 //   that access the database, to ensure that state mismatches with
 //   containers/storage do not occur.
+// - exitCodeBucket/exitCodeTimeStampBucket: (#14559) exit codes must be part
+//   of the database to resolve a previous race condition when one process waits
+//   for the exit file to be written and another process removes it along with
+//   the container during auto-removal.  The same race would happen trying to
+//   read the exit code from the containers bucket.  Hence, exit codes go into
+//   their own bucket.  To avoid the rather expensive JSON (un)marshaling, we
+//   have two buckets: one for the exit codes, the other for the timestamps.
 
 // NewBoltState creates a new bolt-backed state database
 func NewBoltState(path string, runtime *Runtime) (State, error) {
@@ -98,6 +107,8 @@ func NewBoltState(path string, runtime *Runtime) (State, error) {
 		allVolsBkt,
 		execBkt,
 		runtimeConfigBkt,
+		exitCodeBkt,
+		exitCodeTimeStampBkt,
 	}
 
 	// Does the DB need an update?
@@ -150,6 +161,10 @@ func (s *BoltState) Refresh() error {
 		return define.ErrDBClosed
 	}
 
+	if err := s.PruneContainerExitCodes(); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
 	db, err := s.getDBCon()
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -1341,6 +1356,166 @@ func (s *BoltState) GetContainerConfig(id string) (*ContainerConfig, error) {
 	return config, nil
 }
 
+// AddContainerExitCode adds the exit code for the specified container to the database.
+func (s *BoltState) AddContainerExitCode(id string, exitCode int32) error {
+	db, err := s.getDBCon()
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	defer s.deferredCloseDBCon(db)
+
+	rawID := []byte(id)
+	rawExitCode := []byte(strconv.Itoa(int(exitCode)))
+	rawTimeStamp, err := time.Now().MarshalText()
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("marshaling exit-code time stamp: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	return db.Update(func(tx *bolt.Tx) error {
+		exitCodeBucket, err := getExitCodeBucket(tx)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		timeStampBucket, err := getExitCodeTimeStampBucket(tx)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+
+		if err := exitCodeBucket.Put(rawID, rawExitCode); err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("adding exit code of container %s to DB: %w", id, err)
+		}
+		if err := timeStampBucket.Put(rawID, rawTimeStamp); err != nil {
+			if rmErr := exitCodeBucket.Delete(rawID); rmErr != nil {
+				logrus.Errorf("Removing exit code of container %s from DB: %v", id, rmErr)
+			}
+			return fmt.Errorf("adding exit-code time stamp of container %s to DB: %w", id, err)
+		}
+
+		return nil
+	})
+}
+
+// GetContainerExitCode returns the exit code for the specified container.
+func (s *BoltState) GetContainerExitCode(id string) (int32, error) {
+	db, err := s.getDBCon()
+	if err != nil {
+		return -1, err
+	}
+	defer s.deferredCloseDBCon(db)
+
+	rawID := []byte(id)
+	result := int32(-1)
+	return result, db.View(func(tx *bolt.Tx) error {
+		exitCodeBucket, err := getExitCodeBucket(tx)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+
+		rawExitCode := exitCodeBucket.Get(rawID)
+		if rawExitCode == nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("getting exit code of container %s from DB: %w", id, define.ErrNoSuchExitCode)
+		}
+
+		exitCode, err := strconv.Atoi(string(rawExitCode))
+		if err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("converting raw exit code %v of container %s: %w", rawExitCode, id, err)
+		}
+
+		result = int32(exitCode)
+		return nil
+	})
+}
+
+// GetContainerExitCodeTimeStamp returns the time stamp when the exit code of
+// the specified container was added to the database.
+func (s *BoltState) GetContainerExitCodeTimeStamp(id string) (*time.Time, error) {
+	db, err := s.getDBCon()
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	defer s.deferredCloseDBCon(db)
+
+	rawID := []byte(id)
+	var result time.Time
+	return &result, db.View(func(tx *bolt.Tx) error {
+		timeStampBucket, err := getExitCodeTimeStampBucket(tx)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+
+		rawTimeStamp := timeStampBucket.Get(rawID)
+		if rawTimeStamp == nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("getting exit-code time stamp of container %s from DB: %w", id, define.ErrNoSuchExitCode)
+		}
+
+		if err := result.UnmarshalText(rawTimeStamp); err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("converting raw time stamp %v of container %s from DB: %w", rawTimeStamp, id, err)
+		}
+
+		return nil
+	})
+}
+
+// PrunExitCodes removes exit codes older than 5 minutes.
+func (s *BoltState) PruneContainerExitCodes() error {
+	db, err := s.getDBCon()
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	defer s.deferredCloseDBCon(db)
+
+	threshold := time.Minute * 5
+	return db.View(func(tx *bolt.Tx) error {
+		timeStampBucket, err := getExitCodeTimeStampBucket(tx)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+
+		return timeStampBucket.ForEach(func(rawID, rawTimeStamp []byte) error {
+			var timeStamp time.Time
+			if err := timeStamp.UnmarshalText(rawTimeStamp); err != nil {
+				return fmt.Errorf("converting raw time stamp %v of container %s from DB: %w", rawTimeStamp, string(rawID), err)
+			}
+			if time.Since(timeStamp) > threshold {
+				// Since the DB connection is locked, pass it
+				// to remove the exit codes to avoid race
+				// conditions.
+				return s.removeContainerExitCode(rawID, db)
+			}
+			return nil
+		})
+	})
+}
+
+// removeContainerExitCode removes the exit code and time stamp of the specified container.
+func (s *BoltState) removeContainerExitCode(rawID []byte, db *bolt.DB) error {
+	return db.Update(func(tx *bolt.Tx) error {
+		exitCodeBucket, err := getExitCodeBucket(tx)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		timeStampBucket, err := getExitCodeTimeStampBucket(tx)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+
+		var finalErr error
+		if err := exitCodeBucket.Delete(rawID); err != nil {
+			finalErr = fmt.Errorf("removing exit code of container %s from DB: %w", string(rawID), err)
+		}
+		if err := timeStampBucket.Delete(rawID); err != nil {
+			err = fmt.Errorf("removing exit-code time stamp of container %s from DB: %w", string(rawID), err)
+			if finalErr != nil {
+				logrus.Error(err)
+			} else {
+				finalErr = err
+			}
+		}
+
+		return finalErr
+	})
+}
+
 // AddExecSession adds an exec session to the state.
 func (s *BoltState) AddExecSession(ctr *Container, session *ExecSession) error {
 	if !s.valid {
diff --git a/libpod/boltdb_state_internal.go b/libpod/boltdb_state_internal.go
index d6f035af93..edba78d6dc 100644
--- a/libpod/boltdb_state_internal.go
+++ b/libpod/boltdb_state_internal.go
@@ -29,6 +29,9 @@ const (
 	aliasesName       = "aliases"
 	runtimeConfigName = "runtime-config"
 
+	exitCodeName          = "exit-code"
+	exitCodeTimeStampName = "exit-code-time-stamp"
+
 	configName         = "config"
 	stateName          = "state"
 	dependenciesName   = "dependencies"
@@ -65,6 +68,9 @@ var (
 	volDependenciesBkt = []byte(volCtrDependencies)
 	networksBkt        = []byte(networksName)
 
+	exitCodeBkt          = []byte(exitCodeName)
+	exitCodeTimeStampBkt = []byte(exitCodeTimeStampName)
+
 	configKey     = []byte(configName)
 	stateKey      = []byte(stateName)
 	netNSKey      = []byte(netNSName)
@@ -362,6 +368,22 @@ func getRuntimeConfigBucket(tx *bolt.Tx) (*bolt.Bucket, error) {
 	return bkt, nil
 }
 
+func getExitCodeBucket(tx *bolt.Tx) (*bolt.Bucket, error) {
+	bkt := tx.Bucket(exitCodeBkt)
+	if bkt == nil {
+		return nil, errors.Wrapf(define.ErrDBBadConfig, "exit-code container bucket not found in DB")
+	}
+	return bkt, nil
+}
+
+func getExitCodeTimeStampBucket(tx *bolt.Tx) (*bolt.Bucket, error) {
+	bkt := tx.Bucket(exitCodeTimeStampBkt)
+	if bkt == nil {
+		return nil, errors.Wrapf(define.ErrDBBadConfig, "exit-code time stamp bucket not found in DB")
+	}
+	return bkt, nil
+}
+
 func (s *BoltState) getContainerConfigFromDB(id []byte, config *ContainerConfig, ctrsBkt *bolt.Bucket) error {
 	ctrBkt := ctrsBkt.Bucket(id)
 	if ctrBkt == nil {
diff --git a/libpod/container_api.go b/libpod/container_api.go
index b064d35281..c14fe95b09 100644
--- a/libpod/container_api.go
+++ b/libpod/container_api.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package libpod
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"fmt"
 	"io"
 	"io/ioutil"
 	"net/http"
@@ -490,41 +491,84 @@ func (c *Container) RemoveArtifact(name string) error {
 
 // Wait blocks until the container exits and returns its exit code.
 func (c *Container) Wait(ctx context.Context) (int32, error) {
-	return c.WaitWithInterval(ctx, DefaultWaitInterval)
+	return c.WaitForExit(ctx, DefaultWaitInterval)
 }
 
-// WaitWithInterval blocks until the container to exit and returns its exit
-// code. The argument is the interval at which checks the container's status.
-func (c *Container) WaitWithInterval(ctx context.Context, waitTimeout time.Duration) (int32, error) {
+// WaitForExit blocks until the container exits and returns its exit code. The
+// argument is the interval at which checks the container's status.
+func (c *Container) WaitForExit(ctx context.Context, pollInterval time.Duration) (int32, error) {
 	if !c.valid {
 		return -1, define.ErrCtrRemoved
 	}
 
-	exitFile, err := c.exitFilePath()
-	if err != nil {
-		return -1, err
-	}
-	chWait := make(chan error, 1)
+	id := c.ID()
+	var conmonTimer time.Timer
+	conmonTimerSet := false
 
-	go func() {
-		<-ctx.Done()
-		chWait <- define.ErrCanceled
-	}()
+	getExitCode := func() (bool, int32, error) {
+		containerRemoved := false
+		if !c.batched {
+			c.lock.Lock()
+			defer c.lock.Unlock()
+		}
 
-	for {
-		// ignore errors here (with exception of cancellation), it is only used to avoid waiting
-		// too long.
-		_, e := WaitForFile(exitFile, chWait, waitTimeout)
-		if e == define.ErrCanceled {
-			return -1, define.ErrCanceled
+		if err := c.syncContainer(); err != nil {
+			if !errors.Is(err, define.ErrNoSuchCtr) {
+				return false, -1, err
+			}
+			containerRemoved = true
+		}
+
+		// If conmon is not alive anymore set a timer to make sure
+		// we're returning even if conmon has forcefully been killed.
+		if !conmonTimerSet && !containerRemoved {
+			conmonAlive, err := c.ociRuntime.CheckConmonRunning(c)
+			switch {
+			case errors.Is(err, define.ErrNoSuchCtr):
+				containerRemoved = true
+			case err != nil:
+				return false, -1, err
+			case !conmonAlive:
+				timerDuration := time.Second * 20
+				conmonTimer = *time.NewTimer(timerDuration)
+				conmonTimerSet = true
+			}
+		}
+
+		if !containerRemoved {
+			// If conmon is dead for more than $timerDuration or if the
+			// container has exited properly, try to look up the exit code.
+			select {
+			case <-conmonTimer.C:
+				logrus.Debugf("Exceeded conmon timeout waiting for container %s to exit", id)
+			default:
+				if !c.ensureState(define.ContainerStateExited, define.ContainerStateConfigured) {
+					return false, -1, nil
+				}
+			}
 		}
 
-		stopped, code, err := c.isStopped()
+		exitCode, err := c.runtime.state.GetContainerExitCode(id)
+		if err != nil {
+			return true, -1, err
+		}
+
+		return true, exitCode, nil
+	}
+
+	for {
+		hasExited, exitCode, err := getExitCode()
+		if hasExited {
+			return exitCode, err
+		}
 		if err != nil {
 			return -1, err
 		}
-		if stopped {
-			return code, nil
+		select {
+		case <-ctx.Done():
+			return -1, fmt.Errorf("waiting for exit code of container %s canceled", id)
+		default:
+			time.Sleep(pollInterval)
 		}
 	}
 }
@@ -551,11 +595,12 @@ func (c *Container) WaitForConditionWithInterval(ctx context.Context, waitTimeou
 	wantedStates := make(map[define.ContainerStatus]bool, len(conditions))
 
 	for _, condition := range conditions {
-		if condition == define.ContainerStateStopped || condition == define.ContainerStateExited {
+		switch condition {
+		case define.ContainerStateExited, define.ContainerStateStopped:
 			waitForExit = true
-			continue
+		default:
+			wantedStates[condition] = true
 		}
-		wantedStates[condition] = true
 	}
 
 	trySend := func(code int32, err error) {
@@ -572,7 +617,7 @@ func (c *Container) WaitForConditionWithInterval(ctx context.Context, waitTimeou
 		go func() {
 			defer wg.Done()
 
-			code, err := c.WaitWithInterval(ctx, waitTimeout)
+			code, err := c.WaitForExit(ctx, waitTimeout)
 			trySend(code, err)
 		}()
 	}
diff --git a/libpod/container_internal.go b/libpod/container_internal.go
index ce48987f61..ae61298f37 100644
--- a/libpod/container_internal.go
+++ b/libpod/container_internal.go
@@ -219,7 +219,7 @@ func (c *Container) handleExitFile(exitFile string, fi os.FileInfo) error {
 	// Write an event for the container's death
 	c.newContainerExitedEvent(c.state.ExitCode)
 
-	return nil
+	return c.runtime.state.AddContainerExitCode(c.ID(), c.state.ExitCode)
 }
 
 func (c *Container) shouldRestart() bool {
@@ -784,20 +784,6 @@ func (c *Container) getArtifactPath(name string) string {
 	return filepath.Join(c.config.StaticDir, artifactsDir, name)
 }
 
-// Used with Wait() to determine if a container has exited
-func (c *Container) isStopped() (bool, int32, error) {
-	if !c.batched {
-		c.lock.Lock()
-		defer c.lock.Unlock()
-	}
-	err := c.syncContainer()
-	if err != nil {
-		return true, -1, err
-	}
-
-	return !c.ensureState(define.ContainerStateRunning, define.ContainerStatePaused, define.ContainerStateStopping), c.state.ExitCode, nil
-}
-
 // save container state to the database
 func (c *Container) save() error {
 	if err := c.runtime.state.SaveContainer(c); err != nil {
@@ -1282,13 +1268,6 @@ func (c *Container) stop(timeout uint) error {
 		}
 	}
 
-	// Check if conmon is still alive.
-	// If it is not, we won't be getting an exit file.
-	conmonAlive, err := c.ociRuntime.CheckConmonRunning(c)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
 	// Set the container state to "stopping" and unlock the container
 	// before handing it over to conmon to unblock other commands.  #8501
 	// demonstrates nicely that a high stop timeout will block even simple
@@ -1341,21 +1320,18 @@ func (c *Container) stop(timeout uint) error {
 	}
 
 	c.newContainerEvent(events.Stop)
-
-	c.state.PID = 0
-	c.state.ConmonPID = 0
 	c.state.StoppedByUser = true
 
+	conmonAlive, err := c.ociRuntime.CheckConmonRunning(c)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 	if !conmonAlive {
-		// Conmon is dead, so we can't expect an exit code.
-		c.state.ExitCode = -1
-		c.state.FinishedTime = time.Now()
-		c.state.State = define.ContainerStateStopped
-		if err := c.save(); err != nil {
-			logrus.Errorf("Saving container %s status: %v", c.ID(), err)
+		if err := c.checkExitFile(); err != nil {
+			return err
 		}
 
-		return errors.Wrapf(define.ErrConmonDead, "container %s conmon process missing, cannot retrieve exit code", c.ID())
+		return c.save()
 	}
 
 	if err := c.save(); err != nil {
@@ -1939,6 +1915,18 @@ func (c *Container) cleanup(ctx context.Context) error {
 		}
 	}
 
+	// Prune the exit codes of other container during clean up.
+	// Since Podman is no daemon, we have to clean them up somewhere.
+	// Cleanup seems like a good place as it's not performance
+	// critical.
+	if err := c.runtime.state.PruneContainerExitCodes(); err != nil {
+		if lastError == nil {
+			lastError = err
+		} else {
+			logrus.Errorf("Pruning container exit codes: %v", err)
+		}
+	}
+
 	return lastError
 }
 
diff --git a/libpod/define/errors.go b/libpod/define/errors.go
index f5a7c73e5d..9757a85b13 100644
--- a/libpod/define/errors.go
+++ b/libpod/define/errors.go
@@ -24,6 +24,10 @@ var (
 	// not exist.
 	ErrNoSuchExecSession = errors.New("no such exec session")
 
+	// ErrNoSuchExitCode indicates that the requested container exit code
+	// does not exist.
+	ErrNoSuchExitCode = errors.New("no such exit code")
+
 	// ErrDepExists indicates that the current object has dependencies and
 	// cannot be removed before them.
 	ErrDepExists = errors.New("dependency exists")
diff --git a/libpod/events.go b/libpod/events.go
index f09d8402af..021b3b53c7 100644
--- a/libpod/events.go
+++ b/libpod/events.go
@@ -151,6 +151,9 @@ func (r *Runtime) GetEvents(ctx context.Context, filters []string) ([]*events.Ev
 // GetLastContainerEvent takes a container name or ID and an event status and returns
 // the last occurrence of the container event
 func (r *Runtime) GetLastContainerEvent(ctx context.Context, nameOrID string, containerEvent events.Status) (*events.Event, error) {
+	// FIXME: events should be read in reverse order!
+	// https://github.com/containers/podman/issues/14579
+
 	// check to make sure the event.Status is valid
 	if _, err := events.StringToStatus(containerEvent.String()); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
diff --git a/libpod/oci_conmon_linux.go b/libpod/oci_conmon_linux.go
index b076609375..d417626dc8 100644
--- a/libpod/oci_conmon_linux.go
+++ b/libpod/oci_conmon_linux.go
@@ -264,11 +264,6 @@ func (r *ConmonOCIRuntime) CreateContainer(ctr *Container, restoreOptions *Conta
 // status, but will instead only check for the existence of the conmon exit file
 // and update state to stopped if it exists.
 func (r *ConmonOCIRuntime) UpdateContainerStatus(ctr *Container) error {
-	exitFile, err := r.ExitFilePath(ctr)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
 	runtimeDir, err := util.GetRuntimeDir()
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -340,22 +335,10 @@ func (r *ConmonOCIRuntime) UpdateContainerStatus(ctr *Container) error {
 	// Only grab exit status if we were not already stopped
 	// If we were, it should already be in the database
 	if ctr.state.State == define.ContainerStateStopped && oldState != define.ContainerStateStopped {
-		var fi os.FileInfo
-		chWait := make(chan error)
-		defer close(chWait)
-
-		_, err := WaitForFile(exitFile, chWait, time.Second*5)
-		if err == nil {
-			fi, err = os.Stat(exitFile)
+		if _, err := ctr.Wait(context.Background()); err != nil {
+			logrus.Errorf("Waiting for container %s to exit: %v", ctr.ID(), err)
 		}
-		if err != nil {
-			ctr.state.ExitCode = -1
-			ctr.state.FinishedTime = time.Now()
-			logrus.Errorf("No exit file for container %s found: %v", ctr.ID(), err)
-			return nil
-		}
-
-		return ctr.handleExitFile(exitFile, fi)
+		return nil
 	}
 
 	// Handle ContainerStateStopping - keep it unless the container
@@ -1166,7 +1149,6 @@ func (r *ConmonOCIRuntime) createOCIContainer(ctr *Container, restoreOptions *Co
 	}).Debugf("running conmon: %s", r.conmonPath)
 
 	cmd := exec.Command(r.conmonPath, args...)
-	cmd.Dir = ctr.bundlePath()
 	cmd.SysProcAttr = &syscall.SysProcAttr{
 		Setpgid: true,
 	}
diff --git a/libpod/state.go b/libpod/state.go
index 4710237693..4fbd3c302a 100644
--- a/libpod/state.go
+++ b/libpod/state.go
@@ -111,6 +111,15 @@ type State interface {
 	// Return a container config from the database by full ID
 	GetContainerConfig(id string) (*ContainerConfig, error)
 
+	// Add the exit code for the specified container to the database.
+	AddContainerExitCode(id string, exitCode int32) error
+
+	// Return the exit code for the specified container.
+	GetContainerExitCode(id string) (int32, error)
+
+	// Remove exit codes older than 5 minutes.
+	PruneContainerExitCodes() error
+
 	// Add creates a reference to an exec session in the database.
 	// The container the exec session is attached to will be recorded.
 	// The container state will not be modified.
diff --git a/pkg/api/handlers/utils/containers.go b/pkg/api/handlers/utils/containers.go
index 8588b49ba2..1795f6ce11 100644
--- a/pkg/api/handlers/utils/containers.go
+++ b/pkg/api/handlers/utils/containers.go
@@ -191,7 +191,6 @@ func waitDockerCondition(ctx context.Context, containerName string, interval tim
 var notRunningStates = []define.ContainerStatus{
 	define.ContainerStateCreated,
 	define.ContainerStateRemoving,
-	define.ContainerStateStopped,
 	define.ContainerStateExited,
 	define.ContainerStateConfigured,
 }
diff --git a/pkg/domain/infra/abi/containers.go b/pkg/domain/infra/abi/containers.go
index 1934533cf6..281e448f63 100644
--- a/pkg/domain/infra/abi/containers.go
+++ b/pkg/domain/infra/abi/containers.go
@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/containers/image/v5/manifest"
 	"github.com/containers/podman/v4/libpod"
 	"github.com/containers/podman/v4/libpod/define"
-	"github.com/containers/podman/v4/libpod/events"
 	"github.com/containers/podman/v4/libpod/logs"
 	"github.com/containers/podman/v4/pkg/checkpoint"
 	"github.com/containers/podman/v4/pkg/domain/entities"
@@ -939,6 +938,7 @@ func (ic *ContainerEngine) ContainerStart(ctx context.Context, namesOrIds []stri
 				}
 				return reports, errors.Wrapf(err, "unable to start container %s", ctr.ID())
 			}
+
 			exitCode = ic.GetContainerExitCode(ctx, ctr)
 			reports = append(reports, &entities.ContainerStartReport{
 				Id:       ctr.ID(),
@@ -1099,25 +1099,11 @@ func (ic *ContainerEngine) ContainerRun(ctx context.Context, opts entities.Conta
 
 func (ic *ContainerEngine) GetContainerExitCode(ctx context.Context, ctr *libpod.Container) int {
 	exitCode, err := ctr.Wait(ctx)
-	if err == nil {
-		return int(exitCode)
-	}
-	if errors.Cause(err) != define.ErrNoSuchCtr {
-		logrus.Errorf("Could not retrieve exit code: %v", err)
+	if err != nil {
+		logrus.Errorf("Waiting for container %s: %v", ctr.ID(), err)
 		return define.ExecErrorCodeNotFound
 	}
-	// Make 4 attempt with 0.25s backoff between each for 1 second total
-	var event *events.Event
-	for i := 0; i < 4; i++ {
-		event, err = ic.Libpod.GetLastContainerEvent(ctx, ctr.ID(), events.Exited)
-		if err != nil {
-			time.Sleep(250 * time.Millisecond)
-			continue
-		}
-		return event.ContainerExitCode
-	}
-	logrus.Errorf("Could not retrieve exit code from event: %v", err)
-	return define.ExecErrorCodeNotFound
+	return int(exitCode)
 }
 
 func (ic *ContainerEngine) ContainerLogs(ctx context.Context, containers []string, options entities.ContainerLogsOptions) error {