diff --git a/pkg/kubelet/image_manager.go b/pkg/kubelet/image_manager.go
index 658f0f54a9f..4aa13c318fc 100644
--- a/pkg/kubelet/image_manager.go
+++ b/pkg/kubelet/image_manager.go
@@ -39,6 +39,9 @@ type imageManager interface {
 	// enough space as per the garbage collection policy.
 	GarbageCollect() error
 
+	// Start async garbage collection of images.
+	Start() error
+
 	// TODO(vmarmol): Have this subsume pulls as well.
 }
 
@@ -104,15 +107,10 @@ func newImageManager(dockerClient dockertools.DockerInterface, cadvisorInterface
 		nodeRef:      nodeRef,
 	}
 
-	err := im.start()
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to start image manager: %v", err)
-	}
-
 	return im, nil
 }
 
-func (im *realImageManager) start() error {
+func (im *realImageManager) Start() error {
 	// Initial detection make detected time "unknown" in the past.
 	var zero time.Time
 	err := im.detectImages(zero)
diff --git a/pkg/kubelet/kubelet.go b/pkg/kubelet/kubelet.go
index bde538b75a3..b3c04ade5c8 100644
--- a/pkg/kubelet/kubelet.go
+++ b/pkg/kubelet/kubelet.go
@@ -600,6 +600,12 @@ func (kl *Kubelet) Run(updates <-chan PodUpdate) {
 		glog.Infof("Running in container %q", kl.resourceContainer)
 	}
 
+	err := kl.imageManager.Start()
+	if err != nil {
+		kl.recorder.Eventf(kl.nodeRef, "imageManagerFailed", "Failed to start ImageManager %v", err)
+		glog.Errorf("Failed to start ImageManager, images may not be garbage collected: %v", err)
+	}
+
 	go kl.syncNodeStatus()
 	// Run the system oom watcher forever.
 	go util.Until(kl.runOOMWatcher, time.Second, util.NeverStop)