diff --git a/executor/engine.go b/executor/engine.go
index b3fba545..e3c78ca0 100644
--- a/executor/engine.go
+++ b/executor/engine.go
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ type Engine interface {
 	ExecService(context.Context, *pipeline.Container) error
 	// StreamService defines a function that
 	// tails the output for a service.
-	StreamService(context.Context, *pipeline.Container) error
+	StreamService(context.Context, *pipeline.Container, chan struct{}) error
 	// DestroyService defines a function that
 	// cleans up the service after execution.
 	DestroyService(context.Context, *pipeline.Container) error
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ type Engine interface {
 	ExecStep(context.Context, *pipeline.Container) error
 	// StreamStep defines a function that
 	// tails the output for a step.
-	StreamStep(context.Context, *pipeline.Container) error
+	StreamStep(context.Context, *pipeline.Container, chan struct{}) error
 	// DestroyStep defines a function that
 	// cleans up the step after execution.
 	DestroyStep(context.Context, *pipeline.Container) error
diff --git a/executor/linux/secret.go b/executor/linux/secret.go
index ad2c2b25..a879b868 100644
--- a/executor/linux/secret.go
+++ b/executor/linux/secret.go
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/go-vela/worker/internal/step"
 
 	"github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
+	"golang.org/x/sync/errgroup"
 )
 
 // secretSvc handles communication with secret processes during a build.
@@ -128,21 +129,44 @@ func (s *secretSvc) exec(ctx context.Context, p *pipeline.SecretSlice) error {
 		// https://pkg.go.dev/github.com/sirupsen/logrus?tab=doc#Entry.WithField
 		logger := s.client.Logger.WithField("secret", _secret.Origin.Name)
 
-		logger.Debug("running container")
-		// run the runtime container
-		err := s.client.Runtime.RunContainer(ctx, _secret.Origin, s.client.pipeline)
-		if err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
+		// create a channel so Runtime can optionally synchronize RunContainer and TailContainer
+		runtimeChannel := make(chan struct{})
+
+		// create an error group with the parent context
+		//
+		// https://pkg.go.dev/golang.org/x/sync/errgroup?tab=doc#WithContext
+		run, runCtx := errgroup.WithContext(ctx)
 
-		go func() {
+		run.Go(func() error {
+			logger.Debug("running container")
+			// run the runtime container
+			err := s.client.Runtime.RunContainer(runCtx, _secret.Origin, s.client.pipeline, runtimeChannel)
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+			return nil
+		})
+
+		// create an error group with the parent context
+		//
+		// https://pkg.go.dev/golang.org/x/sync/errgroup?tab=doc#WithContext
+		logs, logCtx := errgroup.WithContext(ctx)
+
+		logs.Go(func() error {
 			logger.Debug("stream logs for container")
 			// stream logs from container
-			err = s.client.secret.stream(ctx, _secret.Origin)
+			err = s.client.secret.stream(logCtx, _secret.Origin, runtimeChannel)
 			if err != nil {
 				logger.Error(err)
 			}
-		}()
+			return nil
+		})
+
+		// ensure that RunContainer has finished requesting the runtime container
+		err = run.Wait()
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
 
 		logger.Debug("waiting for container")
 		// wait for the runtime container
@@ -250,7 +274,7 @@ func (s *secretSvc) pull(secret *pipeline.Secret) (*library.Secret, error) {
 }
 
 // stream tails the output for a secret plugin.
-func (s *secretSvc) stream(ctx context.Context, ctn *pipeline.Container) error {
+func (s *secretSvc) stream(ctx context.Context, ctn *pipeline.Container, runtimeChannel chan struct{}) error {
 	// stream all the logs to the init step
 	_log, err := step.LoadLogs(s.client.init, &s.client.stepLogs)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -288,7 +312,7 @@ func (s *secretSvc) stream(ctx context.Context, ctn *pipeline.Container) error {
 
 	logger.Debug("tailing container")
 	// tail the runtime container
-	rc, err := s.client.Runtime.TailContainer(ctx, ctn)
+	rc, err := s.client.Runtime.TailContainer(ctx, ctn, runtimeChannel)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
diff --git a/executor/linux/secret_test.go b/executor/linux/secret_test.go
index 66ebd4da..70d5808a 100644
--- a/executor/linux/secret_test.go
+++ b/executor/linux/secret_test.go
@@ -523,6 +523,11 @@ func TestLinux_Secret_stream(t *testing.T) {
 		},
 	}
 
+	// these tests use docker runtime, so simulate docker runtime behavior by
+	// passing a closed channel to let TailContainer start right away
+	runtimeChannel := make(chan struct{})
+	close(runtimeChannel)
+
 	// run tests
 	for _, test := range tests {
 		_engine, err := New(
@@ -540,7 +545,7 @@ func TestLinux_Secret_stream(t *testing.T) {
 		// add init container info to client
 		_ = _engine.CreateBuild(context.Background())
 
-		err = _engine.secret.stream(context.Background(), test.container)
+		err = _engine.secret.stream(context.Background(), test.container, runtimeChannel)
 
 		if test.failure {
 			if err == nil {
diff --git a/executor/linux/service.go b/executor/linux/service.go
index 66fa3309..a5a6ea21 100644
--- a/executor/linux/service.go
+++ b/executor/linux/service.go
@@ -136,12 +136,23 @@ func (c *client) ExecService(ctx context.Context, ctn *pipeline.Container) error
 	// https://pkg.go.dev/github.com/go-vela/worker/internal/service#Snapshot
 	defer func() { service.Snapshot(ctn, c.build, c.Vela, c.Logger, c.repo, _service) }()
 
-	logger.Debug("running container")
-	// run the runtime container
-	err = c.Runtime.RunContainer(ctx, ctn, c.pipeline)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
+	// create a channel so Runtime can optionally synchronize RunContainer and TailContainer
+	runtimeChannel := make(chan struct{})
+
+	// create an error group with the parent context
+	//
+	// https://pkg.go.dev/golang.org/x/sync/errgroup?tab=doc#WithContext
+	run, runCtx := errgroup.WithContext(ctx)
+
+	run.Go(func() error {
+		logger.Debug("running container")
+		// run the runtime container
+		err = c.Runtime.RunContainer(runCtx, ctn, c.pipeline, runtimeChannel)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		return nil
+	})
 
 	// create an error group with the parent context
 	//
@@ -151,21 +162,26 @@ func (c *client) ExecService(ctx context.Context, ctn *pipeline.Container) error
 	logs.Go(func() error {
 		logger.Debug("streaming logs for container")
 		// stream logs from container
-		err := c.StreamService(logCtx, ctn)
+		err := c.StreamService(logCtx, ctn, runtimeChannel)
 		if err != nil {
 			logger.Error(err)
 		}
-
 		return nil
 	})
 
+	// ensure that RunContainer has finished requesting the runtime container
+	err = run.Wait()
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
 	return nil
 }
 
 // StreamService tails the output for a service.
 //
 // nolint: funlen // ignore function length
-func (c *client) StreamService(ctx context.Context, ctn *pipeline.Container) error {
+func (c *client) StreamService(ctx context.Context, ctn *pipeline.Container, runtimeChannel chan struct{}) error {
 	// update engine logger with service metadata
 	//
 	// https://pkg.go.dev/github.com/sirupsen/logrus?tab=doc#Entry.WithField
@@ -181,7 +197,7 @@ func (c *client) StreamService(ctx context.Context, ctn *pipeline.Container) err
 
 	defer func() {
 		// tail the runtime container
-		rc, err := c.Runtime.TailContainer(ctx, ctn)
+		rc, err := c.Runtime.TailContainer(ctx, ctn, runtimeChannel)
 		if err != nil {
 			logger.Errorf("unable to tail container output for upload: %v", err)
 
@@ -221,7 +237,7 @@ func (c *client) StreamService(ctx context.Context, ctn *pipeline.Container) err
 
 	logger.Debug("tailing container")
 	// tail the runtime container
-	rc, err := c.Runtime.TailContainer(ctx, ctn)
+	rc, err := c.Runtime.TailContainer(ctx, ctn, runtimeChannel)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
diff --git a/executor/linux/service_test.go b/executor/linux/service_test.go
index ab9fee11..81b72111 100644
--- a/executor/linux/service_test.go
+++ b/executor/linux/service_test.go
@@ -352,6 +352,11 @@ func TestLinux_StreamService(t *testing.T) {
 		},
 	}
 
+	// these tests use docker runtime, so simulate docker runtime behavior by
+	// passing a closed channel to let TailContainer start right away
+	runtimeChannel := make(chan struct{})
+	close(runtimeChannel)
+
 	// run tests
 	for _, test := range tests {
 		_engine, err := New(
@@ -371,7 +376,7 @@ func TestLinux_StreamService(t *testing.T) {
 			_engine.serviceLogs.Store(test.container.ID, new(library.Log))
 		}
 
-		err = _engine.StreamService(context.Background(), test.container)
+		err = _engine.StreamService(context.Background(), test.container, runtimeChannel)
 
 		if test.failure {
 			if err == nil {
diff --git a/executor/linux/step.go b/executor/linux/step.go
index f823aede..1e0a5905 100644
--- a/executor/linux/step.go
+++ b/executor/linux/step.go
@@ -148,12 +148,23 @@ func (c *client) ExecStep(ctx context.Context, ctn *pipeline.Container) error {
 	// https://pkg.go.dev/github.com/go-vela/worker/internal/step#Snapshot
 	defer func() { step.Snapshot(ctn, c.build, c.Vela, c.Logger, c.repo, _step) }()
 
-	logger.Debug("running container")
-	// run the runtime container
-	err = c.Runtime.RunContainer(ctx, ctn, c.pipeline)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
+	// create a channel so Runtime can optionally synchronize RunContainer and TailContainer
+	runtimeChannel := make(chan struct{})
+
+	// create an error group with the parent context
+	//
+	// https://pkg.go.dev/golang.org/x/sync/errgroup?tab=doc#WithContext
+	run, runCtx := errgroup.WithContext(ctx)
+
+	run.Go(func() error {
+		logger.Debug("running container")
+		// run the runtime container
+		err = c.Runtime.RunContainer(runCtx, ctn, c.pipeline, runtimeChannel)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		return nil
+	})
 
 	// create an error group with the parent context
 	//
@@ -163,7 +174,7 @@ func (c *client) ExecStep(ctx context.Context, ctn *pipeline.Container) error {
 	logs.Go(func() error {
 		logger.Debug("streaming logs for container")
 		// stream logs from container
-		err := c.StreamStep(logCtx, ctn)
+		err := c.StreamStep(logCtx, ctn, runtimeChannel)
 		if err != nil {
 			logger.Error(err)
 		}
@@ -171,6 +182,12 @@ func (c *client) ExecStep(ctx context.Context, ctn *pipeline.Container) error {
 		return nil
 	})
 
+	// ensure that RunContainer has finished requesting the runtime container
+	err = run.Wait()
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
 	// do not wait for detached containers
 	if ctn.Detach {
 		return nil
@@ -196,7 +213,7 @@ func (c *client) ExecStep(ctx context.Context, ctn *pipeline.Container) error {
 // StreamStep tails the output for a step.
 //
 // nolint: funlen // ignore function length
-func (c *client) StreamStep(ctx context.Context, ctn *pipeline.Container) error {
+func (c *client) StreamStep(ctx context.Context, ctn *pipeline.Container, runtimeChannel chan struct{}) error {
 	// TODO: remove hardcoded reference
 	if ctn.Name == "init" {
 		return nil
@@ -219,7 +236,7 @@ func (c *client) StreamStep(ctx context.Context, ctn *pipeline.Container) error
 
 	defer func() {
 		// tail the runtime container
-		rc, err := c.Runtime.TailContainer(ctx, ctn)
+		rc, err := c.Runtime.TailContainer(ctx, ctn, runtimeChannel)
 		if err != nil {
 			logger.Errorf("unable to tail container output for upload: %v", err)
 
@@ -264,7 +281,7 @@ func (c *client) StreamStep(ctx context.Context, ctn *pipeline.Container) error
 
 	logger.Debug("tailing container")
 	// tail the runtime container
-	rc, err := c.Runtime.TailContainer(ctx, ctn)
+	rc, err := c.Runtime.TailContainer(ctx, ctn, runtimeChannel)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
diff --git a/executor/linux/step_test.go b/executor/linux/step_test.go
index ace74ba0..71d9a8e7 100644
--- a/executor/linux/step_test.go
+++ b/executor/linux/step_test.go
@@ -397,6 +397,11 @@ func TestLinux_StreamStep(t *testing.T) {
 		},
 	}
 
+	// these tests use docker runtime, so simulate docker runtime behavior by
+	// passing a closed channel to let TailContainer start right away
+	runtimeChannel := make(chan struct{})
+	close(runtimeChannel)
+
 	// run tests
 	for _, test := range tests {
 		_engine, err := New(
@@ -417,7 +422,7 @@ func TestLinux_StreamStep(t *testing.T) {
 			_engine.stepLogs.Store(test.container.ID, new(library.Log))
 		}
 
-		err = _engine.StreamStep(context.Background(), test.container)
+		err = _engine.StreamStep(context.Background(), test.container, runtimeChannel)
 
 		if test.failure {
 			if err == nil {
diff --git a/executor/local/service.go b/executor/local/service.go
index bc5269c5..f3047594 100644
--- a/executor/local/service.go
+++ b/executor/local/service.go
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@ import (
 	"github.com/go-vela/types/constants"
 	"github.com/go-vela/types/library"
 	"github.com/go-vela/types/pipeline"
+
+	"golang.org/x/sync/errgroup"
 )
 
 // create a service logging pattern.
@@ -90,27 +92,50 @@ func (c *client) ExecService(ctx context.Context, ctn *pipeline.Container) error
 	// https://pkg.go.dev/github.com/go-vela/worker/internal/service#Snapshot
 	defer func() { service.Snapshot(ctn, c.build, nil, nil, nil, _service) }()
 
-	// run the runtime container
-	err = c.Runtime.RunContainer(ctx, ctn, c.pipeline)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
+	// create a channel so Runtime can optionally synchronize RunContainer and TailContainer
+	runtimeChannel := make(chan struct{})
 
-	go func() {
+	// create an error group with the parent context
+	//
+	// https://pkg.go.dev/golang.org/x/sync/errgroup?tab=doc#WithContext
+	run, runCtx := errgroup.WithContext(ctx)
+
+	run.Go(func() error {
+		// run the runtime container
+		err = c.Runtime.RunContainer(runCtx, ctn, c.pipeline, runtimeChannel)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		return nil
+	})
+
+	// create an error group with the parent context
+	//
+	// https://pkg.go.dev/golang.org/x/sync/errgroup?tab=doc#WithContext
+	logs, logCtx := errgroup.WithContext(ctx)
+
+	logs.Go(func() error {
 		// stream logs from container
-		err := c.StreamService(context.Background(), ctn)
+		err := c.StreamService(logCtx, ctn, runtimeChannel)
 		if err != nil {
 			fmt.Fprintln(os.Stdout, "unable to stream logs for service:", err)
 		}
-	}()
+		return nil
+	})
+
+	// ensure that RunContainer has finished requesting the runtime container
+	err = run.Wait()
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 
 	return nil
 }
 
 // StreamService tails the output for a service.
-func (c *client) StreamService(ctx context.Context, ctn *pipeline.Container) error {
+func (c *client) StreamService(ctx context.Context, ctn *pipeline.Container, runtimeChannel chan struct{}) error {
 	// tail the runtime container
-	rc, err := c.Runtime.TailContainer(ctx, ctn)
+	rc, err := c.Runtime.TailContainer(ctx, ctn, runtimeChannel)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
diff --git a/executor/local/service_test.go b/executor/local/service_test.go
index c6bd1ae9..118dc3be 100644
--- a/executor/local/service_test.go
+++ b/executor/local/service_test.go
@@ -277,6 +277,11 @@ func TestLocal_StreamService(t *testing.T) {
 		},
 	}
 
+	// these tests use docker runtime, so simulate docker runtime behavior by
+	// passing a closed channel to let TailContainer start right away
+	runtimeChannel := make(chan struct{})
+	close(runtimeChannel)
+
 	// run tests
 	for _, test := range tests {
 		_engine, err := New(
@@ -290,7 +295,7 @@ func TestLocal_StreamService(t *testing.T) {
 			t.Errorf("unable to create executor engine: %v", err)
 		}
 
-		err = _engine.StreamService(context.Background(), test.container)
+		err = _engine.StreamService(context.Background(), test.container, runtimeChannel)
 
 		if test.failure {
 			if err == nil {
diff --git a/executor/local/step.go b/executor/local/step.go
index 032ccbbf..3ec2788b 100644
--- a/executor/local/step.go
+++ b/executor/local/step.go
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@ import (
 	"github.com/go-vela/types/library"
 	"github.com/go-vela/types/pipeline"
 	"github.com/go-vela/worker/internal/step"
+
+	"golang.org/x/sync/errgroup"
 )
 
 // create a step logging pattern.
@@ -97,20 +99,43 @@ func (c *client) ExecStep(ctx context.Context, ctn *pipeline.Container) error {
 	// https://pkg.go.dev/github.com/go-vela/worker/internal/step#Snapshot
 	defer func() { step.Snapshot(ctn, c.build, nil, nil, nil, _step) }()
 
-	// run the runtime container
-	err = c.Runtime.RunContainer(ctx, ctn, c.pipeline)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
+	// create a channel so Runtime can optionally synchronize RunContainer and TailContainer
+	runtimeChannel := make(chan struct{})
 
-	go func() {
+	// create an error group with the parent context
+	//
+	// https://pkg.go.dev/golang.org/x/sync/errgroup?tab=doc#WithContext
+	run, runCtx := errgroup.WithContext(ctx)
+
+	run.Go(func() error {
+		// run the runtime container
+		err = c.Runtime.RunContainer(runCtx, ctn, c.pipeline, runtimeChannel)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		return nil
+	})
+
+	// create an error group with the parent context
+	//
+	// https://pkg.go.dev/golang.org/x/sync/errgroup?tab=doc#WithContext
+	logs, logCtx := errgroup.WithContext(ctx)
+
+	logs.Go(func() error {
 		// stream logs from container
-		err := c.StreamStep(context.Background(), ctn)
+		err := c.StreamStep(logCtx, ctn, runtimeChannel)
 		if err != nil {
 			// TODO: Should this be changed or removed?
 			fmt.Println(err)
 		}
-	}()
+		return nil
+	})
+
+	// ensure that RunContainer has finished requesting the runtime container
+	err = run.Wait()
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 
 	// do not wait for detached containers
 	if ctn.Detach {
@@ -133,14 +158,14 @@ func (c *client) ExecStep(ctx context.Context, ctn *pipeline.Container) error {
 }
 
 // StreamStep tails the output for a step.
-func (c *client) StreamStep(ctx context.Context, ctn *pipeline.Container) error {
+func (c *client) StreamStep(ctx context.Context, ctn *pipeline.Container, runtimeChannel chan struct{}) error {
 	// TODO: remove hardcoded reference
 	if ctn.Name == "init" {
 		return nil
 	}
 
 	// tail the runtime container
-	rc, err := c.Runtime.TailContainer(ctx, ctn)
+	rc, err := c.Runtime.TailContainer(ctx, ctn, runtimeChannel)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
diff --git a/executor/local/step_test.go b/executor/local/step_test.go
index c6dad3b4..2ccda9bf 100644
--- a/executor/local/step_test.go
+++ b/executor/local/step_test.go
@@ -326,6 +326,11 @@ func TestLocal_StreamStep(t *testing.T) {
 		},
 	}
 
+	// these tests use docker runtime, so simulate docker runtime behavior by
+	// passing a closed channel to let TailContainer start right away
+	runtimeChannel := make(chan struct{})
+	close(runtimeChannel)
+
 	// run tests
 	for _, test := range tests {
 		_engine, err := New(
@@ -339,7 +344,7 @@ func TestLocal_StreamStep(t *testing.T) {
 			t.Errorf("unable to create executor engine: %v", err)
 		}
 
-		err = _engine.StreamStep(context.Background(), test.container)
+		err = _engine.StreamStep(context.Background(), test.container, runtimeChannel)
 
 		if test.failure {
 			if err == nil {
diff --git a/runtime/docker/container.go b/runtime/docker/container.go
index 9f5106ec..45f5f657 100644
--- a/runtime/docker/container.go
+++ b/runtime/docker/container.go
@@ -89,9 +89,11 @@ func (c *client) RemoveContainer(ctx context.Context, ctn *pipeline.Container) e
 }
 
 // RunContainer creates and starts the pipeline container.
-func (c *client) RunContainer(ctx context.Context, ctn *pipeline.Container, b *pipeline.Build) error {
+func (c *client) RunContainer(ctx context.Context, ctn *pipeline.Container, b *pipeline.Build, runtimeChannel chan struct{}) error {
 	c.Logger.Tracef("running container %s", ctn.ID)
 
+	defer close(runtimeChannel)
+
 	// allocate new container config from pipeline container
 	containerConf := ctnConfig(ctn)
 	// allocate new host config with volume data
@@ -233,7 +235,10 @@ func (c *client) SetupContainer(ctx context.Context, ctn *pipeline.Container) er
 }
 
 // TailContainer captures the logs for the pipeline container.
-func (c *client) TailContainer(ctx context.Context, ctn *pipeline.Container) (io.ReadCloser, error) {
+func (c *client) TailContainer(ctx context.Context, ctn *pipeline.Container, runtimeChannel chan struct{}) (io.ReadCloser, error) {
+	// wait for RunContainer to finish before continuing
+	<-runtimeChannel
+
 	c.Logger.Tracef("tailing output for container %s", ctn.ID)
 
 	// create options for capturing container logs
diff --git a/runtime/docker/container_test.go b/runtime/docker/container_test.go
index da704f0f..4e966cd4 100644
--- a/runtime/docker/container_test.go
+++ b/runtime/docker/container_test.go
@@ -208,7 +208,9 @@ func TestDocker_RunContainer(t *testing.T) {
 			_engine.config.Volumes = test.volumes
 		}
 
-		err = _engine.RunContainer(context.Background(), test.container, test.pipeline)
+		runtimeChannel := make(chan struct{})
+
+		err = _engine.RunContainer(context.Background(), test.container, test.pipeline, runtimeChannel)
 
 		if test.failure {
 			if err == nil {
@@ -330,9 +332,13 @@ func TestDocker_TailContainer(t *testing.T) {
 		},
 	}
 
+	// pass a closed channel to let TailContainer start right away
+	runtimeChannel := make(chan struct{})
+	close(runtimeChannel)
+
 	// run tests
 	for _, test := range tests {
-		_, err = _engine.TailContainer(context.Background(), test.container)
+		_, err = _engine.TailContainer(context.Background(), test.container, runtimeChannel)
 
 		if test.failure {
 			if err == nil {
diff --git a/runtime/engine.go b/runtime/engine.go
index 918f55c1..4d001f68 100644
--- a/runtime/engine.go
+++ b/runtime/engine.go
@@ -46,13 +46,13 @@ type Engine interface {
 	RemoveContainer(context.Context, *pipeline.Container) error
 	// RunContainer defines a function that creates
 	// and starts the pipeline container.
-	RunContainer(context.Context, *pipeline.Container, *pipeline.Build) error
+	RunContainer(context.Context, *pipeline.Container, *pipeline.Build, chan struct{}) error
 	// SetupContainer defines a function that prepares
 	// the image for the pipeline container.
 	SetupContainer(context.Context, *pipeline.Container) error
 	// TailContainer defines a function that captures
 	// the logs on the pipeline container.
-	TailContainer(context.Context, *pipeline.Container) (io.ReadCloser, error)
+	TailContainer(context.Context, *pipeline.Container, chan struct{}) (io.ReadCloser, error)
 	// WaitContainer defines a function that blocks
 	// until the pipeline container completes.
 	WaitContainer(context.Context, *pipeline.Container) error
diff --git a/runtime/kubernetes/container.go b/runtime/kubernetes/container.go
index d40c1a9c..8b3ba158 100644
--- a/runtime/kubernetes/container.go
+++ b/runtime/kubernetes/container.go
@@ -72,7 +72,9 @@ func (c *client) RemoveContainer(ctx context.Context, ctn *pipeline.Container) e
 }
 
 // RunContainer creates and starts the pipeline container.
-func (c *client) RunContainer(ctx context.Context, ctn *pipeline.Container, b *pipeline.Build) error {
+func (c *client) RunContainer(ctx context.Context, ctn *pipeline.Container, b *pipeline.Build, runtimeChannel chan struct{}) error {
+	// wait for TailContainer to establish logs stream before continuing
+	<-runtimeChannel
 	c.Logger.Tracef("running container %s", ctn.ID)
 	// parse image from step
 	_image, err := image.ParseWithError(ctn.Image)
@@ -222,9 +224,11 @@ func (c *client) setupContainerEnvironment(ctn *pipeline.Container) error {
 }
 
 // TailContainer captures the logs for the pipeline container.
-func (c *client) TailContainer(ctx context.Context, ctn *pipeline.Container) (io.ReadCloser, error) {
+func (c *client) TailContainer(ctx context.Context, ctn *pipeline.Container, runtimeChannel chan struct{}) (io.ReadCloser, error) {
 	c.Logger.Tracef("tailing output for container %s", ctn.ID)
 
+	defer close(runtimeChannel)
+
 	// create object to store container logs
 	var logs io.ReadCloser
 
@@ -243,7 +247,7 @@ func (c *client) TailContainer(ctx context.Context, ctn *pipeline.Container) (io
 			// Pods get deleted after job completion, and names for
 			// pod+container don't get reused. So, previous
 			// should only retrieve logs for the current build step.
-			Previous:   true,
+			//Previous:   true,
 			Timestamps: false,
 		}
 
diff --git a/runtime/kubernetes/container_test.go b/runtime/kubernetes/container_test.go
index 46a53950..80da847f 100644
--- a/runtime/kubernetes/container_test.go
+++ b/runtime/kubernetes/container_test.go
@@ -115,6 +115,10 @@ func TestKubernetes_RunContainer(t *testing.T) {
 		},
 	}
 
+	// pass a closed channel to let RunContainer start right away
+	runtimeChannel := make(chan struct{})
+	close(runtimeChannel)
+
 	// run tests
 	for _, test := range tests {
 		_engine, err := NewMock(test.pod)
@@ -126,7 +130,7 @@ func TestKubernetes_RunContainer(t *testing.T) {
 			_engine.config.Volumes = test.volumes
 		}
 
-		err = _engine.RunContainer(context.Background(), test.container, test.pipeline)
+		err = _engine.RunContainer(context.Background(), test.container, test.pipeline, runtimeChannel)
 
 		if test.failure {
 			if err == nil {