diff --git a/daemon/containerd/soft_delete.go b/daemon/containerd/soft_delete.go
index ecba46e62a..9d26f7ade6 100644
--- a/daemon/containerd/soft_delete.go
+++ b/daemon/containerd/soft_delete.go
@@ -30,19 +30,12 @@ func (i *ImageService) softImageDelete(ctx context.Context, img containerdimages
 
 	// Create dangling image if this is the last image pointing to this target.
 	if len(imgs) == 1 {
-		danglingImage := img
-
-		danglingImage.Name = danglingImageName(img.Target.Digest)
-		delete(danglingImage.Labels, containerdimages.AnnotationImageName)
-		delete(danglingImage.Labels, ocispec.AnnotationRefName)
-
-		_, err = is.Create(context.Background(), danglingImage)
+		err = i.ensureDanglingImage(context.Background(), img)
 
 		// Error out in case we couldn't persist the old image.
-		// If it already exists, then just continue.
-		if err != nil && !cerrdefs.IsAlreadyExists(err) {
+		if err != nil {
 			return errdefs.System(errors.Wrapf(err, "failed to create a dangling image for the replaced image %s with digest %s",
-				danglingImage.Name, danglingImage.Target.Digest.String()))
+				img.Name, img.Target.Digest.String()))
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -57,6 +50,22 @@ func (i *ImageService) softImageDelete(ctx context.Context, img containerdimages
 	return nil
 }
 
+func (i *ImageService) ensureDanglingImage(ctx context.Context, from containerdimages.Image) error {
+	danglingImage := from
+
+	danglingImage.Name = danglingImageName(from.Target.Digest)
+	delete(danglingImage.Labels, containerdimages.AnnotationImageName)
+	delete(danglingImage.Labels, ocispec.AnnotationRefName)
+
+	_, err := i.client.ImageService().Create(context.Background(), danglingImage)
+	// If it already exists, then just continue.
+	if cerrdefs.IsAlreadyExists(err) {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	return err
+}
+
 func danglingImageName(digest digest.Digest) string {
 	return "moby-dangling@" + digest.String()
 }