diff --git a/pkg/server/container_create_unix.go b/pkg/server/container_create_unix.go
index 28863cb0c..fc51bcf15 100644
--- a/pkg/server/container_create_unix.go
+++ b/pkg/server/container_create_unix.go
@@ -182,11 +182,15 @@ func (c *criService) containerSpec(id string, sandboxID string, sandboxPid uint3
 	if !c.config.DisableProcMount {
 		// Apply masked paths if specified.
 		// If the container is privileged, this will be cleared later on.
-		specOpts = append(specOpts, oci.WithMaskedPaths(securityContext.GetMaskedPaths()))
+		if maskedPaths := securityContext.GetMaskedPaths(); maskedPaths != nil {
+			specOpts = append(specOpts, oci.WithMaskedPaths(maskedPaths))
+		}
 
 		// Apply readonly paths if specified.
 		// If the container is privileged, this will be cleared later on.
-		specOpts = append(specOpts, oci.WithReadonlyPaths(securityContext.GetReadonlyPaths()))
+		if readonlyPaths := securityContext.GetReadonlyPaths(); readonlyPaths != nil {
+			specOpts = append(specOpts, oci.WithReadonlyPaths(readonlyPaths))
+		}
 	}
 
 	if securityContext.GetPrivileged() {
diff --git a/pkg/server/container_create_unix_test.go b/pkg/server/container_create_unix_test.go
index d55dea715..d5514e520 100644
--- a/pkg/server/container_create_unix_test.go
+++ b/pkg/server/container_create_unix_test.go
@@ -959,12 +959,12 @@ func TestMaskedAndReadonlyPaths(t *testing.T) {
 			expectedReadonly: defaultSpec.Linux.ReadonlyPaths,
 			privileged:       false,
 		},
-		"should always apply CRI specified paths when disable_proc_mount = false": {
+		"should apply default if not specified when disable_proc_mount = false": {
 			disableProcMount: false,
 			masked:           nil,
 			readonly:         nil,
-			expectedMasked:   nil,
-			expectedReadonly: nil,
+			expectedMasked:   defaultSpec.Linux.MaskedPaths,
+			expectedReadonly: defaultSpec.Linux.ReadonlyPaths,
 			privileged:       false,
 		},
 		"should be able to specify empty paths": {