diff --git a/pkg/kubelet/dockershim/docker_image.go b/pkg/kubelet/dockershim/docker_image.go
index b1171c6f05..1b39522f86 100644
--- a/pkg/kubelet/dockershim/docker_image.go
+++ b/pkg/kubelet/dockershim/docker_image.go
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import (
 	"net/http"
 
 	dockertypes "github.com/docker/docker/api/types"
+	dockerfilters "github.com/docker/docker/api/types/filters"
 	"github.com/docker/docker/pkg/jsonmessage"
 
 	runtimeapi "k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/kubelet/apis/cri/v1alpha1/runtime"
@@ -33,8 +34,9 @@ import (
 func (ds *dockerService) ListImages(filter *runtimeapi.ImageFilter) ([]*runtimeapi.Image, error) {
 	opts := dockertypes.ImageListOptions{}
 	if filter != nil {
-		if imgSpec := filter.GetImage(); imgSpec != nil {
-			opts.Filters.Add("reference", imgSpec.Image)
+		if filter.GetImage().GetImage() != "" {
+			opts.Filters = dockerfilters.NewArgs()
+			opts.Filters.Add("reference", filter.GetImage().GetImage())
 		}
 	}