diff --git a/ironic_python_agent/extensions/standby.py b/ironic_python_agent/extensions/standby.py
index 5f1b9945d..496833a91 100644
--- a/ironic_python_agent/extensions/standby.py
+++ b/ironic_python_agent/extensions/standby.py
@@ -748,15 +748,24 @@ class StandbyExtension(base.BaseAgentExtension):
             self.sync()
         except errors.CommandExecutionError as e:
             LOG.warning('Failed to sync file system buffers: % s', e)
+
         try:
             _, stderr = utils.execute(command, use_standard_locale=True)
-            if 'ignoring request.' in stderr:
-                LOG.debug('%s command failed with error %s, '
-                          'falling back to sysrq-trigger.', command, stderr)
-                if command == 'poweroff':
-                    utils.execute("echo o > /proc/sysrq-trigger", shell=True)
-                elif command == 'reboot':
-                    utils.execute("echo b > /proc/sysrq-trigger", shell=True)
+        except processutils.ProcessExecutionError as e:
+            LOG.warning('%s command failed with error %s, '
+                        'falling back to sysrq-trigger', command, e)
+        else:
+            if 'ignoring request' in stderr:
+                LOG.warning('%s command has been ignored, '
+                            'falling back to sysrq-trigger', command)
+            else:
+                return
+
+        try:
+            if command == 'poweroff':
+                utils.execute("echo o > /proc/sysrq-trigger", shell=True)
+            elif command == 'reboot':
+                utils.execute("echo b > /proc/sysrq-trigger", shell=True)
         except processutils.ProcessExecutionError as e:
             raise errors.SystemRebootError(e.exit_code, e.stdout, e.stderr)
 
diff --git a/ironic_python_agent/tests/unit/extensions/test_standby.py b/ironic_python_agent/tests/unit/extensions/test_standby.py
index 9f138e47d..79b4a6ca4 100644
--- a/ironic_python_agent/tests/unit/extensions/test_standby.py
+++ b/ironic_python_agent/tests/unit/extensions/test_standby.py
@@ -1049,9 +1049,10 @@ class TestStandbyExtension(base.IronicAgentTest):
 
     @mock.patch('ironic_python_agent.utils.execute', autospec=True)
     def test_run_shutdown_command_valid_poweroff_sysrq(self, execute_mock):
-        execute_mock.side_effect = [('', ''), ('', ''), ('',
-                                    'Running in chroot, ignoring request.'),
-                                    ('', '')]
+        execute_mock.side_effect = [
+            ('', ''), ('', ''),
+            processutils.ProcessExecutionError(''),
+            ('', '')]
 
         self.agent_extension._run_shutdown_command('poweroff')
         calls = [mock.call('hwclock', '-v', '--systohc'),
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/container-poweroff-d9ffb637cf1cee6c.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/container-poweroff-d9ffb637cf1cee6c.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..8b2e68a6a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/container-poweroff-d9ffb637cf1cee6c.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+fixes:
+  - |
+    Fixes fall-back to sysrq when powering off or rebooting the node from
+    inside a container.