diff --git a/virtcontainers/api.go b/virtcontainers/api.go
index 8302737e6f..82eea17c0e 100644
--- a/virtcontainers/api.go
+++ b/virtcontainers/api.go
@@ -615,7 +615,7 @@ func UpdateContainer(sandboxID, containerID string, resources specs.LinuxResourc
 		return errNeedContainerID
 	}
 
-	lockFile, err := rLockSandbox(sandboxID)
+	lockFile, err := rwLockSandbox(sandboxID)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}