diff --git a/libpod/container_log_linux.go b/libpod/container_log_linux.go
index de5a66dee1..dc305fabfd 100644
--- a/libpod/container_log_linux.go
+++ b/libpod/container_log_linux.go
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/containers/podman/v4/libpod/events"
 	"github.com/containers/podman/v4/libpod/logs"
 	"github.com/containers/podman/v4/pkg/rootless"
-	"github.com/coreos/go-systemd/v22/journal"
 	"github.com/coreos/go-systemd/v22/sdjournal"
 	"github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
 )
@@ -32,21 +31,6 @@ func init() {
 	logDrivers = append(logDrivers, define.JournaldLogging)
 }
 
-// initializeJournal will write an empty string to the journal
-// when a journal is created. This solves a problem when people
-// attempt to read logs from a container that has never had stdout/stderr
-func (c *Container) initializeJournal(ctx context.Context) error {
-	m := make(map[string]string)
-	m["SYSLOG_IDENTIFIER"] = "podman"
-	m["PODMAN_ID"] = c.ID()
-	history := events.History
-	m["PODMAN_EVENT"] = history.String()
-	container := events.Container
-	m["PODMAN_TYPE"] = container.String()
-	m["PODMAN_TIME"] = time.Now().Format(time.RFC3339Nano)
-	return journal.Send("", journal.PriInfo, m)
-}
-
 func (c *Container) readFromJournal(ctx context.Context, options *logs.LogOptions, logChannel chan *logs.LogLine, colorID int64) error {
 	// We need the container's events in the same journal to guarantee
 	// consistency, see #10323.
diff --git a/libpod/container_log_unsupported.go b/libpod/container_log_unsupported.go
index bb74a810d5..cdce820b4f 100644
--- a/libpod/container_log_unsupported.go
+++ b/libpod/container_log_unsupported.go
@@ -14,7 +14,3 @@ import (
 func (c *Container) readFromJournal(_ context.Context, _ *logs.LogOptions, _ chan *logs.LogLine, colorID int64) error {
 	return fmt.Errorf("journald logging only enabled with systemd on linux: %w", define.ErrOSNotSupported)
 }
-
-func (c *Container) initializeJournal(ctx context.Context) error {
-	return fmt.Errorf("journald logging only enabled with systemd on linux: %w", define.ErrOSNotSupported)
-}
diff --git a/libpod/runtime_ctr.go b/libpod/runtime_ctr.go
index caa4a2c7a1..2ff9dfb280 100644
--- a/libpod/runtime_ctr.go
+++ b/libpod/runtime_ctr.go
@@ -541,12 +541,8 @@ func (r *Runtime) setupContainer(ctx context.Context, ctr *Container) (_ *Contai
 	}
 
 	switch ctr.config.LogDriver {
-	case define.NoLogging, define.PassthroughLogging:
+	case define.NoLogging, define.PassthroughLogging, define.JournaldLogging:
 		break
-	case define.JournaldLogging:
-		if err := ctr.initializeJournal(ctx); err != nil {
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to initialize journal: %w", err)
-		}
 	default:
 		if ctr.config.LogPath == "" {
 			ctr.config.LogPath = filepath.Join(ctr.config.StaticDir, "ctr.log")