diff --git a/pkg/domain/infra/abi/play.go b/pkg/domain/infra/abi/play.go
index ce602b5e74..8fb628ee16 100644
--- a/pkg/domain/infra/abi/play.go
+++ b/pkg/domain/infra/abi/play.go
@@ -727,6 +727,16 @@ func (ic *ContainerEngine) playKubePod(ctx context.Context, podName string, podY
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, nil, err
 		}
+
+		// ensure the environment is setup for initContainers as well: https://github.com/containers/podman/issues/18384
+		warn, err := generate.CompleteSpec(ctx, ic.Libpod, specGen)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, nil, err
+		}
+		for _, w := range warn {
+			logrus.Warn(w)
+		}
+
 		specGen.SdNotifyMode = define.SdNotifyModeIgnore
 		rtSpec, spec, opts, err := generate.MakeContainer(ctx, ic.Libpod, specGen, false, nil)
 		if err != nil {
@@ -792,7 +802,7 @@ func (ic *ContainerEngine) playKubePod(ctx context.Context, podName string, podY
 			return nil, nil, err
 		}
 		for _, w := range warn {
-			fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "%s\n", w)
+			logrus.Warn(w)
 		}
 
 		specGen.RawImageName = container.Image
diff --git a/test/e2e/play_kube_test.go b/test/e2e/play_kube_test.go
index d55b705be6..2d82899ee9 100644
--- a/test/e2e/play_kube_test.go
+++ b/test/e2e/play_kube_test.go
@@ -2210,7 +2210,7 @@ var _ = Describe("Podman play kube", func() {
 	// With annotation set to always
 	It("podman play kube test with init containers and annotation set", func() {
 		// With the init container type annotation set to always
-		pod := getPod(withAnnotation("io.podman.annotations.init.container.type", "always"), withPodInitCtr(getCtr(withImage(ALPINE), withCmd([]string{"echo", "hello"}), withInitCtr(), withName("init-test"))), withCtr(getCtr(withImage(ALPINE), withCmd([]string{"top"}))))
+		pod := getPod(withAnnotation("io.podman.annotations.init.container.type", "always"), withPodInitCtr(getCtr(withImage(ALPINE), withCmd([]string{"printenv", "container"}), withInitCtr(), withName("init-test"))), withCtr(getCtr(withImage(ALPINE), withCmd([]string{"top"}))))
 		err := generateKubeYaml("pod", pod, kubeYaml)
 		Expect(err).ToNot(HaveOccurred())
 
@@ -2233,6 +2233,12 @@ var _ = Describe("Podman play kube", func() {
 		inspect.WaitWithDefaultTimeout()
 		Expect(inspect).Should(Exit(0))
 		Expect(inspect.OutputToString()).To(ContainSubstring("running"))
+
+		// Init containers need environment too! #18384
+		logs := podmanTest.Podman([]string{"logs", "testPod-init-test"})
+		logs.WaitWithDefaultTimeout()
+		Expect(logs).Should(Exit(0))
+		Expect(logs.OutputToString()).To(Equal("podman"))
 	})
 
 	// If you have an init container in the pod yaml, podman should create and run the init container with play kube