diff --git a/paunch/__init__.py b/paunch/__init__.py
index 93dae65..c6f4868 100644
--- a/paunch/__init__.py
+++ b/paunch/__init__.py
@@ -187,13 +187,14 @@ def debug(config_id, container_name, action, config, managed_by, labels=None,
             log=log
         )
     if action == 'print-cmd':
+        uname = r.unique_container_name(container_name)
         cmd = [
             r.cont_cmd,
             'run',
             '--name',
-            r.unique_container_name(container_name)
+            uname
         ]
-        builder.container_run_args(cmd, container_name)
+        builder.container_run_args(cmd, container_name, uname)
 
         if '--health-cmd' in cmd:
             health_check_arg_index = cmd.index('--health-cmd') + 1
@@ -208,13 +209,14 @@ def debug(config_id, container_name, action, config, managed_by, labels=None,
 
         print(' '.join(cmd))
     elif action == 'run':
+        uname = r.unique_container_name(container_name)
         cmd = [
             r.cont_cmd,
             'run',
             '--name',
-            r.unique_container_name(container_name)
+            uname
         ]
-        if builder.container_run_args(cmd, container_name):
+        if builder.container_run_args(cmd, container_name, uname):
             return r.execute_interactive(cmd, log)
     elif action == 'dump-yaml':
         print(yaml.safe_dump(config, default_flow_style=False))
diff --git a/paunch/builder/base.py b/paunch/builder/base.py
index 71277d3..45bec7b 100644
--- a/paunch/builder/base.py
+++ b/paunch/builder/base.py
@@ -105,7 +105,9 @@ class BaseBuilder(object):
                 ]
                 self.label_arguments(cmd, container)
                 self.log.debug("Start container {}.".format(container))
-                validations_passed = self.container_run_args(cmd, container)
+                validations_passed = self.container_run_args(cmd,
+                                                             container,
+                                                             container_name)
             elif action == 'exec':
                 cmd = [self.runner.cont_cmd, 'exec']
                 validations_passed = self.cont_exec_args(cmd, container)
diff --git a/paunch/builder/compose1.py b/paunch/builder/compose1.py
index 6c03a01..717b65d 100644
--- a/paunch/builder/compose1.py
+++ b/paunch/builder/compose1.py
@@ -22,13 +22,18 @@ class ComposeV1Builder(base.BaseBuilder):
         super(ComposeV1Builder, self).__init__(config_id, config, runner,
                                                labels, log)
 
-    def container_run_args(self, cmd, container):
+    def container_run_args(self, cmd, container, delegate=None):
         """Prepare the run command args, from the container configuration.
 
         :param cmd: The list of command options to be modified
         :param container: A dict with container configurations
+        :delegate: A compatibility parameter for podman, does nothing here
         :returns: True if configuration is valid, otherwise False
         """
+        if delegate and container != delegate:
+            self.log.debug("Delegate {} of container {} has no special "
+                           "meanings for this context and will be "
+                           "ignored".format(delegate, container))
         cconfig = self.config[container]
         if cconfig.get('detach', True):
             cmd.append('--detach=true')
diff --git a/paunch/builder/podman.py b/paunch/builder/podman.py
index 374a16c..21620d5 100644
--- a/paunch/builder/podman.py
+++ b/paunch/builder/podman.py
@@ -23,17 +23,24 @@ class PodmanBuilder(base.BaseBuilder):
                                             labels, log, cont_log_path,
                                             healthcheck_disabled)
 
-    def container_run_args(self, cmd, container):
+    def container_run_args(self, cmd, container, delegate=None):
         """Prepare the run command args, from the container configuration.
 
         :param cmd: The list of command options to be modified
         :param container: A dict with container configurations
+        :param delegate: A predictable/unique name of the actual container
         :returns: True if configuration is valid, otherwise False
         """
+        if delegate and container != delegate:
+            self.log.debug("Container {} has a delegate "
+                           "{}".format(container, delegate))
+        if not delegate:
+            delegate = container
         cconfig = self.config[container]
 
-        # write out a pid file so we can restart the container via systemd
-        cmd.append('--conmon-pidfile=/var/run/{}.pid'.format(container))
+        # write out a pid file so we can restart the container delegate
+        # via systemd
+        cmd.append('--conmon-pidfile=/var/run/{}.pid'.format(delegate))
 
         if cconfig.get('detach', True):
             cmd.append('--detach=true')