diff --git a/src/plugins/docker/dockerdevice.cpp b/src/plugins/docker/dockerdevice.cpp
index 834b5789626..e14b73c24f3 100644
--- a/src/plugins/docker/dockerdevice.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/docker/dockerdevice.cpp
@@ -877,7 +877,9 @@ void DockerDevicePrivate::tryCreateLocalFileAccess()
     if (!m_container.isEmpty() || DockerPlugin::isDaemonRunning().value_or(true) == false)
         return;
 
-    startContainer();
+    if (!m_shell)
+        startContainer();
+
     if (!DockerPlugin::isDaemonRunning().value_or(false))
         return;
     QtcProcess proc;