diff --git a/components/engine/daemon/delete.go b/components/engine/daemon/delete.go
index f16d38beb3..c6f8efec45 100644
--- a/components/engine/daemon/delete.go
+++ b/components/engine/daemon/delete.go
@@ -128,6 +128,7 @@ func (daemon *Daemon) cleanupContainer(container *container.Container, forceRemo
 			container.SetRemovalError(e)
 			return e
 		}
+		container.RWLayer = nil
 	}
 
 	if err := system.EnsureRemoveAll(container.Root); err != nil {