diff --git a/cmd/dockerd/daemon.go b/cmd/dockerd/daemon.go
index 6095701a52..07f876c3e5 100644
--- a/cmd/dockerd/daemon.go
+++ b/cmd/dockerd/daemon.go
@@ -99,6 +99,8 @@ func (cli *DaemonCli) start(opts *daemonOptions) (err error) {
 		FullTimestamp:   true,
 	})
 
+	system.InitLCOW(cli.Config.Experimental)
+
 	if err := setDefaultUmask(); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("Failed to set umask: %v", err)
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/system/init_unix.go b/pkg/system/init_unix.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..a219895e6d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/system/init_unix.go
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+// +build !windows
+
+package system
+
+// InitLCOW does nothing since LCOW is a windows only feature
+func InitLCOW(experimental bool) {
+}
diff --git a/pkg/system/init_windows.go b/pkg/system/init_windows.go
index 019c66441c..e751837267 100644
--- a/pkg/system/init_windows.go
+++ b/pkg/system/init_windows.go
@@ -8,9 +8,10 @@ import "os"
 // on build number. @jhowardmsft
 var lcowSupported = false
 
-func init() {
+// InitLCOW sets whether LCOW is supported or not
+func InitLCOW(experimental bool) {
 	// LCOW initialization
-	if os.Getenv("LCOW_SUPPORTED") != "" {
+	if experimental && os.Getenv("LCOW_SUPPORTED") != "" {
 		lcowSupported = true
 	}