diff --git a/pkg/specgenutil/specgen.go b/pkg/specgenutil/specgen.go
index ea4fc4ca91..c15c560314 100644
--- a/pkg/specgenutil/specgen.go
+++ b/pkg/specgenutil/specgen.go
@@ -492,8 +492,8 @@ func FillOutSpecGen(s *specgen.SpecGenerator, c *entities.ContainerCreateOptions
 	}
 
 	// Intel RDT CAT
-	s.IntelRdt = &specs.LinuxIntelRdt{}
 	if c.IntelRdtClosID != "" {
+		s.IntelRdt = &specs.LinuxIntelRdt{}
 		s.IntelRdt.ClosID = c.IntelRdtClosID
 	}