diff --git a/types/options.go b/types/options.go
index ba5838cfc4..88003ddcae 100644
--- a/types/options.go
+++ b/types/options.go
@@ -299,8 +299,10 @@ func getRootlessStorageOpts(rootlessUID int, systemOpts StoreOptions) (StoreOpti
 			}
 		}
 	}
-	if opts.GraphDriverName == "" {
+	if opts.GraphDriverName == "" && len(systemOpts.GraphDriverPriority) == 0 {
 		opts.GraphDriverName = "vfs"
+	} else {
+		opts.GraphDriverPriority = systemOpts.GraphDriverPriority
 	}
 
 	if os.Getenv("STORAGE_OPTS") != "" {