diff --git a/paasta_tools/paasta_execute_docker_command.py b/paasta_tools/paasta_execute_docker_command.py
index 212d9717a8..0b74abd40e 100755
--- a/paasta_tools/paasta_execute_docker_command.py
+++ b/paasta_tools/paasta_execute_docker_command.py
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@
 
 from paasta_tools.mesos_tools import get_container_id_for_mesos_id
 from paasta_tools.utils import get_docker_client
+from paasta_tools.utils import is_using_unprivileged_containers
 
 
 def parse_args():
@@ -68,7 +69,11 @@ def signal_handler(signum, frame):
 
 def execute_in_container(docker_client, container_id, cmd, timeout):
     container_info = docker_client.inspect_container(container_id)
-    if container_info["ExecIDs"] and len(container_info["ExecIDs"]) > 0:
+    if (
+        container_info["ExecIDs"]
+        and len(container_info["ExecIDs"]) > 0
+        and not is_using_unprivileged_containers()
+    ):
         for possible_exec_id in container_info["ExecIDs"]:
             exec_info = docker_client.exec_inspect(possible_exec_id)["ProcessConfig"]
             if exec_info["entrypoint"] == "/bin/sh" and exec_info["arguments"] == [
diff --git a/tests/test_paasta_execute_docker_command.py b/tests/test_paasta_execute_docker_command.py
index 3b8108511f..01338eead3 100644
--- a/tests/test_paasta_execute_docker_command.py
+++ b/tests/test_paasta_execute_docker_command.py
@@ -38,6 +38,11 @@ def test_execute_in_container():
     )
 
 
+@mock.patch(
+    "paasta_tools.paasta_execute_docker_command.is_using_unprivileged_containers",
+    lambda: False,
+    autospec=None,
+)
 def test_execute_in_container_reuses_exec():
     fake_container_id = "fake_container_id"
     fake_execid = "fake_execid"
@@ -59,6 +64,11 @@ def test_execute_in_container_reuses_exec():
     mock_docker_client.exec_start.assert_called_once_with(fake_execid, stream=False)
 
 
+@mock.patch(
+    "paasta_tools.paasta_execute_docker_command.is_using_unprivileged_containers",
+    lambda: False,
+    autospec=None,
+)
 def test_execute_in_container_reuses_only_valid_exec():
     fake_container_id = "fake_container_id"
     fake_execid = "fake_execid"