diff --git a/libcontainerd/remote/client.go b/libcontainerd/remote/client.go
index ef94198dbf..06d8d9c041 100644
--- a/libcontainerd/remote/client.go
+++ b/libcontainerd/remote/client.go
@@ -703,10 +703,16 @@ func (c *client) processEventStream(ctx context.Context, ns string) {
 				errStatus, ok := status.FromError(err)
 				if !ok || errStatus.Code() != codes.Canceled {
 					c.logger.WithError(err).Error("failed to get event")
-					go c.processEventStream(ctx, ns)
-				} else {
-					c.logger.WithError(ctx.Err()).Info("stopping event stream following graceful shutdown")
+
+					// rate limit
+					select {
+					case <-time.After(time.Second):
+						go c.processEventStream(ctx, ns)
+						return
+					case <-ctx.Done():
+					}
 				}
+				c.logger.WithError(ctx.Err()).Info("stopping event stream following graceful shutdown")
 			}
 			return
 		case ev = <-eventStream: