diff --git a/cmd/containerd/config_linux.go b/cmd/containerd/config_linux.go
index 68d3f1629..39080d622 100644
--- a/cmd/containerd/config_linux.go
+++ b/cmd/containerd/config_linux.go
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ func defaultConfig() *server.Config {
 		GRPC: server.GRPCConfig{
 			Address: server.DefaultAddress,
 		},
+		Subreaper: true,
 		Debug: server.Debug{
 			Level:   "info",
 			Address: server.DefaultDebugAddress,