diff --git a/libcontainer/cgroups/systemd/dbus.go b/libcontainer/cgroups/systemd/dbus.go
index deca16b005b..0f7406cd9d6 100644
--- a/libcontainer/cgroups/systemd/dbus.go
+++ b/libcontainer/cgroups/systemd/dbus.go
@@ -10,37 +10,43 @@ import (
 	dbus "github.com/godbus/dbus/v5"
 )
 
+var (
+	dbusC        *systemdDbus.Conn
+	dbusMu       sync.RWMutex
+	dbusInited   bool
+	dbusRootless bool
+)
+
 type dbusConnManager struct {
-	conn     *systemdDbus.Conn
-	rootless bool
-	sync.RWMutex
 }
 
 // newDbusConnManager initializes systemd dbus connection manager.
 func newDbusConnManager(rootless bool) *dbusConnManager {
-	return &dbusConnManager{
-		rootless: rootless,
+	if dbusInited && rootless != dbusRootless {
+		panic("can't have both root and rootless dbus")
 	}
+	dbusRootless = rootless
+	return &dbusConnManager{}
 }
 
 // getConnection lazily initializes and returns systemd dbus connection.
 func (d *dbusConnManager) getConnection() (*systemdDbus.Conn, error) {
-	// In the case where d.conn != nil
+	// In the case where dbusC != nil
 	// Use the read lock the first time to ensure
 	// that Conn can be acquired at the same time.
-	d.RLock()
-	if conn := d.conn; conn != nil {
-		d.RUnlock()
+	dbusMu.RLock()
+	if conn := dbusC; conn != nil {
+		dbusMu.RUnlock()
 		return conn, nil
 	}
-	d.RUnlock()
+	dbusMu.RUnlock()
 
-	// In the case where d.conn == nil
+	// In the case where dbusC == nil
 	// Use write lock to ensure that only one
 	// will be created
-	d.Lock()
-	defer d.Unlock()
-	if conn := d.conn; conn != nil {
+	dbusMu.Lock()
+	defer dbusMu.Unlock()
+	if conn := dbusC; conn != nil {
 		return conn, nil
 	}
 
@@ -48,12 +54,12 @@ func (d *dbusConnManager) getConnection() (*systemdDbus.Conn, error) {
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
-	d.conn = conn
+	dbusC = conn
 	return conn, nil
 }
 
 func (d *dbusConnManager) newConnection() (*systemdDbus.Conn, error) {
-	if d.rootless {
+	if dbusRootless {
 		return newUserSystemdDbus()
 	}
 	return systemdDbus.NewWithContext(context.TODO())
@@ -62,11 +68,11 @@ func (d *dbusConnManager) newConnection() (*systemdDbus.Conn, error) {
 // resetConnection resets the connection to its initial state
 // (so it can be reconnected if necessary).
 func (d *dbusConnManager) resetConnection(conn *systemdDbus.Conn) {
-	d.Lock()
-	defer d.Unlock()
-	if d.conn != nil && d.conn == conn {
-		d.conn.Close()
-		d.conn = nil
+	dbusMu.Lock()
+	defer dbusMu.Unlock()
+	if dbusC != nil && dbusC == conn {
+		dbusC.Close()
+		dbusC = nil
 	}
 }