diff --git a/zun/api/controllers/v1/containers.py b/zun/api/controllers/v1/containers.py
index c51761f6a..f9d9d13ef 100644
--- a/zun/api/controllers/v1/containers.py
+++ b/zun/api/controllers/v1/containers.py
@@ -230,11 +230,6 @@ class ContainersController(base.Controller):
 
         hostname = container_dict.pop('hostname', None)
         if hostname is not None:
-            if CONF.use_sandbox:
-                raise exception.ConflictOptions(
-                    'Cannot set container\'s hostname when use sandbox. '
-                    'Because with sandbox, network_mode will be set, it '
-                    'is incompatible with legacy network (hostname).')
             req_version = pecan.request.version
             min_version = versions.Version('', '', '', '1.9')
             if req_version >= min_version:
diff --git a/zun/container/docker/driver.py b/zun/container/docker/driver.py
index 03b327c2b..83908988d 100644
--- a/zun/container/docker/driver.py
+++ b/zun/container/docker/driver.py
@@ -132,8 +132,11 @@ class DockerDriver(driver.ContainerDriver):
                 'labels': container.labels,
                 'tty': container.interactive,
                 'stdin_open': container.interactive,
-                'hostname': container.hostname,
             }
+            if not sandbox_id:
+                # Sandbox is not used so it is legitimate to customize
+                # the container's hostname
+                kwargs['hostname'] = container.hostname
 
             runtime = container.runtime if container.runtime\
                 else CONF.container_runtime
@@ -656,8 +659,9 @@ class DockerDriver(driver.ContainerDriver):
             network_api = zun_network.api(context=context, docker_api=docker)
             self._provision_network(context, network_api, requested_networks)
             name = self.get_sandbox_name(container)
-            sandbox = docker.create_container(image, name=name,
-                                              hostname=name[:63])
+            sandbox = docker.create_container(
+                image, name=name,
+                hostname=container.hostname or name[:63])
             container.set_sandbox_id(sandbox['Id'])
             addresses = self._setup_network_for_container(
                 context, container, requested_networks, network_api)
diff --git a/zun/tests/unit/container/docker/test_docker_driver.py b/zun/tests/unit/container/docker/test_docker_driver.py
index ffb6da8a9..60171e166 100644
--- a/zun/tests/unit/container/docker/test_docker_driver.py
+++ b/zun/tests/unit/container/docker/test_docker_driver.py
@@ -343,12 +343,14 @@ class TestDockerDriver(base.DriverTestCase):
         self.mock_docker.create_container = mock.Mock(
             return_value={'Id': 'val1', 'key1': 'val2'})
         mock_container = mock.MagicMock()
+        hostname = 'my_hostname'
+        mock_container.hostname = hostname
         requested_networks = []
         result_sandbox_id = self.driver.create_sandbox(
             self.context, mock_container, requested_networks,
             'kubernetes/pause')
         self.mock_docker.create_container.assert_called_once_with(
-            'kubernetes/pause', name=sandbox_name, hostname=sandbox_name)
+            'kubernetes/pause', name=sandbox_name, hostname=hostname)
         self.assertEqual(result_sandbox_id, 'val1')
 
     @mock.patch('zun.network.kuryr_network.KuryrNetwork'
@@ -363,6 +365,7 @@ class TestDockerDriver(base.DriverTestCase):
         self.mock_docker.create_container = mock.Mock(
             return_value={'Id': 'val1', 'key1': 'val2'})
         mock_container = mock.MagicMock()
+        mock_container.hostname = None
         requested_networks = []
         result_sandbox_id = self.driver.create_sandbox(
             self.context, mock_container, requested_networks,