diff --git a/pkg/apparmor/apparmor_linux.go b/pkg/apparmor/apparmor_linux.go
index ab54df8ea..a54c91145 100644
--- a/pkg/apparmor/apparmor_linux.go
+++ b/pkg/apparmor/apparmor_linux.go
@@ -35,8 +35,10 @@ func hostSupports() bool {
 	checkAppArmor.Do(func() {
 		// see https://github.com/opencontainers/runc/blob/0d49470392206f40eaab3b2190a57fe7bb3df458/libcontainer/apparmor/apparmor_linux.go
 		if _, err := os.Stat("/sys/kernel/security/apparmor"); err == nil && os.Getenv("container") == "" {
-			buf, err := os.ReadFile("/sys/module/apparmor/parameters/enabled")
-			appArmorSupported = err == nil && len(buf) > 1 && buf[0] == 'Y'
+			if _, err = os.Stat("/sbin/apparmor_parser"); err == nil {
+				buf, err := os.ReadFile("/sys/module/apparmor/parameters/enabled")
+				appArmorSupported = err == nil && len(buf) > 1 && buf[0] == 'Y'
+			}
 		}
 	})
 	return appArmorSupported