diff --git a/crun.1 b/crun.1
index d4f33d5da6..435a51f286 100644
--- a/crun.1
+++ b/crun.1
@@ -446,6 +446,11 @@ the pre-dump. It is important to use a relative path from the actual
 checkpoint directory specified via \fB--image-path\fP\&. It will fail
 if an absolute path is used.
 
+.PP
+\fB--manage-cgroups-mode\fP=\fIMODE\fP
+Specify which CRIU mange cgroup mode should be used. Permitted values are
+\fBsoft\fP, \fBignore\fP, \fBfull\fP or \fBstrict\fP\&. Default is \fBsoft\fP\&.
+
 .SH RESTORE OPTIONS
 .PP
 crun [global options] restore [options] CONTAINER
@@ -482,6 +487,11 @@ Detach from the container's process
 \fB--pid-file\fP=\fIFILE\fP
 Where to write the PID of the container
 
+.PP
+\fB--manage-cgroups-mode\fP=\fIMODE\fP
+Specify which CRIU mange cgroup mode should be used. Permitted values are
+\fBsoft\fP, \fBignore\fP, \fBfull\fP or \fBstrict\fP\&. Default is \fBsoft\fP\&.
+
 
 .SH Extensions to OCI
 .SH \fB\fCrun.oci.seccomp.receiver=PATH\fR
diff --git a/crun.1.md b/crun.1.md
index 3f0d940d38..e48cfd92e9 100644
--- a/crun.1.md
+++ b/crun.1.md
@@ -351,6 +351,10 @@ the pre-dump. It is important to use a relative path from the actual
 checkpoint directory specified via **--image-path**. It will fail
 if an absolute path is used.
 
+**--manage-cgroups-mode**=_MODE_
+Specify which CRIU manage cgroup mode should be used. Permitted values are
+**soft**, **ignore**, **full** or **strict**. Default is **soft**.
+
 ## RESTORE OPTIONS
 
 crun [global options] restore [options] CONTAINER
@@ -379,6 +383,10 @@ Detach from the container's process
 **--pid-file**=_FILE_
 Where to write the PID of the container
 
+**--manage-cgroups-mode**=_MODE_
+Specify which CRIU manage cgroup mode should be used. Permitted values are
+**soft**, **ignore**, **full** or **strict**. Default is **soft**.
+
 # Extensions to OCI
 
 ## `run.oci.seccomp.receiver=PATH`
diff --git a/src/checkpoint.c b/src/checkpoint.c
index bdfc3e79d2..88b8bb37ce 100644
--- a/src/checkpoint.c
+++ b/src/checkpoint.c
@@ -26,6 +26,9 @@
 #include <unistd.h>
 #include <errno.h>
 #include <regex.h>
+#ifdef HAVE_CRIU
+#  include <criu/criu.h>
+#endif
 
 #include "crun.h"
 #include "libcrun/container.h"
@@ -43,6 +46,7 @@ enum
   OPTION_FILE_LOCKS,
   OPTION_PARENT_PATH,
   OPTION_PRE_DUMP,
+  OPTION_MANAGE_CGROUPS_MODE,
 };
 
 static char doc[] = "OCI runtime";
@@ -61,12 +65,32 @@ static struct argp_option options[]
         { "parent-path", OPTION_PARENT_PATH, "DIR", 0, "path for previous criu image files in pre-dump", 0 },
         { "pre-dump", OPTION_PRE_DUMP, 0, 0, "dump container's memory information only, leave the container running after this", 0 },
 #endif
+        { "manage-cgroups-mode", OPTION_MANAGE_CGROUPS_MODE, "MODE", 0, "cgroups mode: 'soft' (default), 'ignore', 'full' and 'strict'", 0 },
         {
             0,
         } };
 
 static char args_doc[] = "checkpoint CONTAINER";
 
+int
+crun_parse_manage_cgroups_mode (char *param arg_unused)
+{
+#ifdef HAVE_CRIU
+  if (strcmp (param, "soft") == 0)
+    return CRIU_CG_MODE_SOFT;
+  else if (strcmp (param, "ignore") == 0)
+    return CRIU_CG_MODE_IGNORE;
+  else if (strcmp (param, "full") == 0)
+    return CRIU_CG_MODE_FULL;
+  else if (strcmp (param, "strict") == 0)
+    return CRIU_CG_MODE_STRICT;
+  else
+    libcrun_fail_with_error (0, "unknown cgroup mode specified");
+#else
+  return 0;
+#endif
+}
+
 static error_t
 parse_opt (int key, char *arg arg_unused, struct argp_state *state arg_unused)
 {
@@ -111,6 +135,10 @@ parse_opt (int key, char *arg arg_unused, struct argp_state *state arg_unused)
       cr_options.file_locks = true;
       break;
 
+    case OPTION_MANAGE_CGROUPS_MODE:
+      cr_options.manage_cgroups_mode = crun_parse_manage_cgroups_mode (argp_mandatory_argument (arg, state));
+      break;
+
     default:
       return ARGP_ERR_UNKNOWN;
     }
@@ -131,6 +159,8 @@ crun_command_checkpoint (struct crun_global_arguments *global_args, int argc, ch
     0,
   };
 
+  cr_options.manage_cgroups_mode = -1;
+
   argp_parse (&run_argp, argc, argv, ARGP_IN_ORDER, &first_arg, &cr_options);
   crun_assert_n_args (argc - first_arg, 1, 2);
 
diff --git a/src/checkpoint.h b/src/checkpoint.h
index 837f80ff0e..21230a2c42 100644
--- a/src/checkpoint.h
+++ b/src/checkpoint.h
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 
 #include "crun.h"
 
+int crun_parse_manage_cgroups_mode (char *param);
 int crun_command_checkpoint (struct crun_global_arguments *global_args, int argc, char **argv, libcrun_error_t *error);
 
 #endif
diff --git a/src/libcrun/container.h b/src/libcrun/container.h
index d7ab973d65..e599b348b6 100644
--- a/src/libcrun/container.h
+++ b/src/libcrun/container.h
@@ -98,6 +98,7 @@ struct libcrun_checkpoint_restore_s
   const char *console_socket;
   char *parent_path;
   bool pre_dump;
+  int manage_cgroups_mode;
 };
 typedef struct libcrun_checkpoint_restore_s libcrun_checkpoint_restore_t;
 
diff --git a/src/libcrun/criu.c b/src/libcrun/criu.c
index df9a756daf..83989ad6bb 100644
--- a/src/libcrun/criu.c
+++ b/src/libcrun/criu.c
@@ -488,6 +488,11 @@ libcrun_container_checkpoint_linux_criu (libcrun_container_status_t *status, lib
   criu_set_tcp_established (cr_options->tcp_established);
   criu_set_file_locks (cr_options->file_locks);
   criu_set_orphan_pts_master (true);
+  if (cr_options->manage_cgroups_mode == -1)
+    /* Defaulting to CRIU_CG_MODE_SOFT just as runc */
+    criu_set_manage_cgroups_mode (CRIU_CG_MODE_SOFT);
+  else
+    criu_set_manage_cgroups_mode (cr_options->manage_cgroups_mode);
   criu_set_manage_cgroups (true);
 
   ret = criu_dump ();
diff --git a/src/restore.c b/src/restore.c
index 1c72d072c7..1c7498bbdf 100644
--- a/src/restore.c
+++ b/src/restore.c
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
 #include <regex.h>
 
 #include "crun.h"
+#include "checkpoint.h"
 #include "libcrun/container.h"
 #include "libcrun/status.h"
 #include "libcrun/utils.h"
@@ -42,6 +43,7 @@ enum
   OPTION_PID_FILE,
   OPTION_CONSOLE_SOCKET,
   OPTION_FILE_LOCKS,
+  OPTION_MANAGE_CGROUPS_MODE,
 };
 
 static char doc[] = "OCI runtime";
@@ -64,6 +66,7 @@ static struct argp_option options[]
         { "console-socket", OPTION_CONSOLE_SOCKET, "SOCKET", 0,
           "path to a socket that will receive the master end of the tty", 0 },
         { "file-locks", OPTION_FILE_LOCKS, 0, 0, "allow file locks", 0 },
+        { "manage-cgroups-mode", OPTION_MANAGE_CGROUPS_MODE, "MODE", 0, "cgroups mode: 'soft' (default), 'ignore', 'full' and 'strict'", 0 },
         {
             0,
         } };
@@ -118,6 +121,10 @@ parse_opt (int key, char *arg arg_unused, struct argp_state *state arg_unused)
       crun_context.pid_file = argp_mandatory_argument (arg, state);
       break;
 
+    case OPTION_MANAGE_CGROUPS_MODE:
+      cr_options.manage_cgroups_mode = crun_parse_manage_cgroups_mode (argp_mandatory_argument (arg, state));
+      break;
+
     default:
       return ARGP_ERR_UNKNOWN;
     }