Docker fails to start on Debian 13 (kernel 6.12.58) -> Unit failed to load properly, Device or resource busy

Docker Engine General
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Hi all,

I’m trying to install Docker on an embedded controller running Debian 13 with a 6.12.58 kernel, but Docker refuses to start. The installation completes without errors, but the daemon immediately fails.

This is the output of systemctl status docker.service:

× docker.service - Docker Application Container Engine
     Loaded: error (Reason: Unit docker.service failed to load properly, please adjust/correct and reload service manager: Device or resource busy)
     Active: failed (Result: exit-code) since Sat 2025-11-29 07:46:36 CET; 12min ago
 Invocation: b92812fc824748b99fd363ca4a25fdbe
TriggeredBy: × docker.socket
       Docs: https://docs.docker.com
   Main PID: 1483 (code=exited, status=1/FAILURE)

Nov 29 07:46:36 GOcontroll systemd[1]: docker.service: Scheduled restart job, restart counter is at 3.
Nov 29 07:46:36 GOcontroll systemd[1]: docker.service: Start request repeated too quickly.
Nov 29 07:46:36 GOcontroll systemd[1]: docker.service: Failed with result 'exit-code'.
Nov 29 07:46:36 GOcontroll systemd[1]: Failed to start docker.service - Docker Application Container Engine.

And when I try:

systemctl start docker

I get:

Failed to start docker.service: Unit docker.service failed to load properly, please adjust/correct and reload service manager: Device or resource busy
See system logs and 'systemctl status docker.service' for details.

The setup:

Has anyone seen this issue on kernels in the 6.12.x series?
Could this be related to missing kernel features for Docker (overlayfs, cgroup bpf, namespaces, etc.)?

Any suggestions are welcome!

Thanks in advance.

2

The default kernel of vanilla distributions listed in the supported platforms matrix should come with the required modules.

You can use this script to check if all required kernel modules are available in your kernel:

curl https://raw.githubusercontent.com/moby/moby/master/contrib/check-config.sh | bash
1 Like
3

Thank you meyay, the script is really helpful! It looks like I’m missing quit some modules. I’m going to figure out how I can get these modules added as separate modules or build-in.

4

I have the same issue did you get this fixed?

5

@shribl123

Still working on it. It seams there are some kernel modules missing.