diff --git a/criu/seize.c b/criu/seize.c
index edeb57cc8a..b8e070c00e 100644
--- a/criu/seize.c
+++ b/criu/seize.c
@@ -509,6 +509,7 @@ static int check_freezer_cgroup(void)
 {
 	enum freezer_state state = THAWED;
 	int fd;
+	int exit_code = -1;
 
 	BUG_ON(!freeze_cgroup_disabled);
 
@@ -517,17 +518,22 @@ static int check_freezer_cgroup(void)
 		return -1;
 
 	state = get_freezer_state(fd);
-	close(fd);
 	if (state == FREEZER_ERROR) {
-		return -1;
+		goto err;
 	}
 
+	origin_freezer_state = state == FREEZING ? FROZEN : state;
+
 	if (state != THAWED) {
-		pr_err("One or more plugins are incompatible with the freezer cgroup in the FROZEN state.\n");
-		return -1;
+		pr_warn("unfreezing cgroup for plugin compatibility\n");
+		if (freezer_write_state(fd, THAWED))
+			goto err;
 	}
 
-	return 0;
+	exit_code = 0;
+err:
+	close(fd);
+	return exit_code;
 }
 
 static int freeze_processes(void)