diff --git a/container_test.go b/container_test.go
index 77429081e..d78650efe 100644
--- a/container_test.go
+++ b/container_test.go
@@ -273,6 +273,11 @@ func TestContainerExec(t *testing.T) {
 		close(finished)
 	}()
 
+	if err := task.Start(ctx); err != nil {
+		t.Error(err)
+		return
+	}
+
 	// start an exec process without running the original container process info
 	processSpec := spec.Process
 	withExecExitStatus(processSpec, 6)
@@ -367,6 +372,11 @@ func TestContainerPids(t *testing.T) {
 		statusC <- status
 	}()
 
+	if err := task.Start(ctx); err != nil {
+		t.Error(err)
+		return
+	}
+
 	pid := task.Pid()
 	if pid <= 0 {
 		t.Errorf("invalid task pid %d", pid)
@@ -847,6 +857,11 @@ func TestContainerExecNoBinaryExists(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	defer task.Delete(ctx)
 
+	if err := task.Start(ctx); err != nil {
+		t.Error(err)
+		return
+	}
+
 	finished := make(chan struct{}, 1)
 	go func() {
 		if _, err := task.Wait(ctx); err != nil {