diff --git a/internal/cri/server/restart.go b/internal/cri/server/restart.go
index f4d63b211..228e751b4 100644
--- a/internal/cri/server/restart.go
+++ b/internal/cri/server/restart.go
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ package server
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
@@ -107,6 +108,14 @@ func (c *criService) recover(ctx context.Context) error {
 		metadata := sandboxstore.Metadata{}
 		err := sbx.GetExtension(podsandbox.MetadataKey, &metadata)
 		if err != nil {
+			if errors.Is(err, errdefs.ErrNotFound) {
+				err = c.client.SandboxStore().Delete(ctx, sbx.ID)
+				if err != nil {
+					return fmt.Errorf("failed to delete sandbox in response to missing metadata for sandbox %q: %w", sbx.ID, err)
+				}
+				// TODO: cleanup network namespace
+				continue
+			}
 			return fmt.Errorf("failed to get metadata for stored sandbox %q: %w", sbx.ID, err)
 		}