diff --git a/contrib/init/openrc/docker.initd b/contrib/init/openrc/docker.initd
index 2d79a7397..a9d21b170 100755
--- a/contrib/init/openrc/docker.initd
+++ b/contrib/init/openrc/docker.initd
@@ -11,6 +11,9 @@ DOCKER_OPTS=${DOCKER_OPTS:-}
 start() {
 	checkpath -f -m 0644 -o root:docker "$DOCKER_LOGFILE"
 
+	ulimit -n 1048576
+	ulimit -u 1048576
+
 	ebegin "Starting docker daemon"
 	start-stop-daemon --start --background \
 		--exec "$DOCKER_BINARY" \
diff --git a/contrib/init/sysvinit-debian/docker b/contrib/init/sysvinit-debian/docker
index a3b935375..6250cae05 100755
--- a/contrib/init/sysvinit-debian/docker
+++ b/contrib/init/sysvinit-debian/docker
@@ -88,6 +88,9 @@ case "$1" in
 		touch "$DOCKER_LOGFILE"
 		chgrp docker "$DOCKER_LOGFILE"
 
+		ulimit -n 1048576
+		ulimit -u 1048576
+
 		log_begin_msg "Starting $DOCKER_DESC: $BASE"
 		start-stop-daemon --start --background \
 			--no-close \