diff --git a/pkg/domain/infra/abi/containers.go b/pkg/domain/infra/abi/containers.go
index 47fa65ef00..e7111dc5ba 100644
--- a/pkg/domain/infra/abi/containers.go
+++ b/pkg/domain/infra/abi/containers.go
@@ -958,6 +958,12 @@ func (ic *ContainerEngine) ContainerStart(ctx context.Context, namesOrIds []stri
 	for i := range containers {
 		ctr := containers[i]
 
+		removeContainer := func() {
+			if _, _, err := ic.removeContainer(ctx, ctr.Container, entities.RmOptions{}); err != nil {
+				logrus.Errorf("Removing container %s: %v", ctr.ID(), err)
+			}
+		}
+
 		if options.Attach {
 			err = terminal.StartAttachCtr(ctx, ctr.Container, options.Stdout, options.Stderr, options.Stdin, options.DetachKeys, options.SigProxy, true)
 			if errors.Is(err, define.ErrDetach) {
@@ -991,9 +997,7 @@ func (ic *ContainerEngine) ContainerStart(ctx context.Context, namesOrIds []stri
 					ExitCode: exitCode,
 				})
 				if ctr.AutoRemove() {
-					if _, _, err := ic.removeContainer(ctx, ctr.Container, entities.RmOptions{}); err != nil {
-						logrus.Errorf("Removing container %s: %v", ctr.ID(), err)
-					}
+					removeContainer()
 				}
 				return reports, fmt.Errorf("unable to start container %s: %w", ctr.ID(), err)
 			}
@@ -1002,6 +1006,9 @@ func (ic *ContainerEngine) ContainerStart(ctx context.Context, namesOrIds []stri
 			if err2 != nil {
 				logrus.Errorf("Waiting for container %s: %v", ctr.ID(), err2)
 			}
+			if ctr.AutoRemove() && !ctr.ShouldRestart(ctx) {
+				removeContainer()
+			}
 			reports = append(reports, &entities.ContainerStartReport{
 				Id:       ctr.ID(),
 				RawInput: ctr.rawInput,
@@ -1038,9 +1045,7 @@ func (ic *ContainerEngine) ContainerStart(ctx context.Context, namesOrIds []stri
 			}
 			report.Err = fmt.Errorf("unable to start container %q: %w", ctr.ID(), err)
 			if ctr.AutoRemove() {
-				if _, _, err := ic.removeContainer(ctx, ctr.Container, entities.RmOptions{}); err != nil {
-					logrus.Errorf("Removing container %s: %v", ctr.ID(), err)
-				}
+				removeContainer()
 			}
 			reports = append(reports, report)
 			continue
diff --git a/pkg/domain/infra/tunnel/containers.go b/pkg/domain/infra/tunnel/containers.go
index 99a9c6510a..75b5d405b3 100644
--- a/pkg/domain/infra/tunnel/containers.go
+++ b/pkg/domain/infra/tunnel/containers.go
@@ -806,7 +806,6 @@ func (ic *ContainerEngine) ContainerStart(ctx context.Context, namesOrIds []stri
 						logrus.Errorf("Failed to check if %s should restart: %v", ctr.ID, err)
 						return
 					}
-					logrus.Errorf("Should restart: %v", shouldRestart)
 
 					if !shouldRestart && ctr.AutoRemove {
 						removeContainer(ctr.ID, ctr.CIDFile)
diff --git a/test/system/045-start.bats b/test/system/045-start.bats
index 5774438615..62fd124fb5 100644
--- a/test/system/045-start.bats
+++ b/test/system/045-start.bats
@@ -149,4 +149,18 @@ load helpers
     run_podman rm -t 0 -f $ctrID $cname
 }
 
+# Regression test for https://github.com/containers/podman/issues/25965
+# bats test_tags=ci:parallel
+@test "podman start attach with created --rm container" {
+    local msg=c-$(safename)
+    run_podman create --rm $IMAGE echo "$msg"
+    cid="$output"
+
+    run_podman start -a $cid
+    assert "$output" == "$msg" "attach printed the expected output"
+
+    # container must be removed on its own as it was created with --rm
+    run_podman 1 container exists $cid
+}
+
 # vim: filetype=sh