diff --git a/docker/client.py b/docker/client.py
index e4712c23c3..b038fb38ae 100644
--- a/docker/client.py
+++ b/docker/client.py
@@ -737,7 +737,7 @@ def start(self, container, binds=None, port_bindings=None, lxc_conf=None,
               dns=None, dns_search=None, volumes_from=None, network_mode=None,
               restart_policy=None, cap_add=None, cap_drop=None, devices=None,
               extra_hosts=None, read_only=None, pid_mode=None, ipc_mode=None,
-              security_opt=None, ulimits=None):
+              security_opt=None, ulimits=None, cgroup_parent=None):
 
         if utils.compare_version('1.10', self._version) < 0:
             if dns is not None:
@@ -782,7 +782,8 @@ def start(self, container, binds=None, port_bindings=None, lxc_conf=None,
             cap_drop=cap_drop, volumes_from=volumes_from, devices=devices,
             network_mode=network_mode, restart_policy=restart_policy,
             extra_hosts=extra_hosts, read_only=read_only, pid_mode=pid_mode,
-            ipc_mode=ipc_mode, security_opt=security_opt, ulimits=ulimits
+            ipc_mode=ipc_mode, security_opt=security_opt, ulimits=ulimits,
+            cgroup_parent=cgroup_parent
         )
 
         url = self._url("/containers/{0}/start".format(container))
diff --git a/docker/utils/utils.py b/docker/utils/utils.py
index a714c97c4b..792025a605 100644
--- a/docker/utils/utils.py
+++ b/docker/utils/utils.py
@@ -390,7 +390,7 @@ def create_host_config(
     restart_policy=None, cap_add=None, cap_drop=None, devices=None,
     extra_hosts=None, read_only=None, pid_mode=None, ipc_mode=None,
     security_opt=None, ulimits=None, log_config=None, mem_limit=None,
-    memswap_limit=None
+    memswap_limit=None, cgroup_parent=None
 ):
     host_config = {}
 
@@ -404,6 +404,9 @@ def create_host_config(
             memswap_limit = parse_bytes(memswap_limit)
         host_config['MemorySwap'] = memswap_limit
 
+    if cgroup_parent is not None:
+        host_config['CgroupParent'] = cgroup_parent
+
     if pid_mode not in (None, 'host'):
         raise errors.DockerException(
             'Invalid value for pid param: {0}'.format(pid_mode)
diff --git a/tests/utils_test.py b/tests/utils_test.py
index 1c8729ca00..b664a6e395 100644
--- a/tests/utils_test.py
+++ b/tests/utils_test.py
@@ -167,6 +167,10 @@ def test_logconfig_invalid_type(self):
             type=LogConfig.types.JSON, config='helloworld'
         ))
 
+    def test_set_cgroup_parent(self):
+        config = create_host_config(cgroup_parent="systemd.slice")
+        self.assertEqual("systemd.slice", config['CgroupParent'])
+
     def test_resolve_repository_name(self):
         # docker hub library image
         self.assertEqual(