diff --git a/nixos/modules/virtualisation/containerd.nix b/nixos/modules/virtualisation/containerd.nix
index c7ceb816a311..43cb6273f253 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/virtualisation/containerd.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/virtualisation/containerd.nix
@@ -86,6 +86,7 @@ in
 
         StateDirectory = "containerd";
         RuntimeDirectory = "containerd";
+        RuntimeDirectoryPreserve = "yes";
       };
       unitConfig = {
         StartLimitBurst = "16";