diff --git a/pkg/api/handlers/compat/containers_create.go b/pkg/api/handlers/compat/containers_create.go
index a113b94ac2..68cc711839 100644
--- a/pkg/api/handlers/compat/containers_create.go
+++ b/pkg/api/handlers/compat/containers_create.go
@@ -127,6 +127,10 @@ func CreateContainer(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	ic := abi.ContainerEngine{Libpod: runtime}
 	report, err := ic.ContainerCreate(r.Context(), sg)
 	if err != nil {
+		if errors.Is(err, define.ErrCtrExists) || errors.Is(err, storage.ErrDuplicateName) {
+			utils.Error(w, http.StatusConflict, fmt.Errorf("container create: %w", err))
+			return
+		}
 		utils.Error(w, http.StatusInternalServerError, fmt.Errorf("container create: %w", err))
 		return
 	}
diff --git a/test/apiv2/python/rest_api/test_v2_0_0_container.py b/test/apiv2/python/rest_api/test_v2_0_0_container.py
index 3c3c00fb60..3c24298f4c 100644
--- a/test/apiv2/python/rest_api/test_v2_0_0_container.py
+++ b/test/apiv2/python/rest_api/test_v2_0_0_container.py
@@ -278,6 +278,23 @@ class ContainerTestCase(APITestCase):
         # is zero.  I think the test needs some rewrite.
         # self.assertIsNotNone(prune_payload["ImagesDeleted"][1]["Deleted"])
 
+    def test_create_duplicate_name(self):
+        name = f"Container_{random.getrandbits(160):x}"
+        payload = {"Cmd": ["top"], "Image": "alpine:latest"}
+
+        r = requests.post(
+            self.podman_url + f"/v1.40/containers/create?name={name}", json=payload
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(r.status_code, 201, r.text)
+        container_id = r.json()["Id"]
+
+        r = requests.post(
+            self.podman_url + f"/v1.40/containers/create?name={name}", json=payload
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(r.status_code, 409, r.text)
+
+        requests.delete(self.podman_url + f"/v1.40/containers/{container_id}?force=true")
+
     def test_status(self):
         r = requests.post(
             self.podman_url + "/v1.40/containers/create?name=topcontainer",