diff --git a/tests/metrics/lib/common.bash b/tests/metrics/lib/common.bash
index 8528d2c7b0..8ec227a80d 100755
--- a/tests/metrics/lib/common.bash
+++ b/tests/metrics/lib/common.bash
@@ -168,15 +168,18 @@ function init_env()
 
 	cmd=("docker" "ctr")
 
-	sudo systemctl restart docker
-
 	# check dependencies
 	check_cmds "${cmd[@]}"
 
 	# Remove all stopped containers
-	clean_env
 	clean_env_ctr
 
+	# restart docker only if it is not masked by systemd
+	docker_masked="$(systemctl list-unit-files --state=masked | grep -c docker)"
+	if [ "${docker_masked}" -eq 0 ]; then
+		sudo systemctl restart docker
+	fi
+
 	# This clean up is more aggressive, this is in order to
 	# decrease the factors that could affect the metrics results.
 	kill_processes_before_start
@@ -188,8 +191,12 @@ function init_env()
 # killed to start test with clean environment.
 function kill_processes_before_start()
 {
-	DOCKER_PROCS=$(sudo "${DOCKER_EXE}" ps -q)
-	[[ -n "${DOCKER_PROCS}" ]] && clean_env
+	docker_masked="$(systemctl list-unit-files --state=masked | grep -c "${DOCKER_EXE}")"
+
+	if [ "${docker_masked}" -eq 0 ]; then
+		DOCKER_PROCS=$(sudo "${DOCKER_EXE}" ps -q)
+		[[ -n "${DOCKER_PROCS}" ]] && clean_env
+	fi
 
 	CTR_PROCS=$(sudo "${CTR_EXE}" t list -q)
 	[[ -n "${CTR_PROCS}" ]] && clean_env_ctr