diff --git a/client/container_create.go b/client/container_create.go
index 288769c881..c5079ee539 100644
--- a/client/container_create.go
+++ b/client/container_create.go
@@ -4,8 +4,8 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"encoding/json"
 	"net/url"
+	"path"
 
-	"github.com/containerd/containerd/platforms"
 	"github.com/docker/docker/api/types/container"
 	"github.com/docker/docker/api/types/network"
 	"github.com/docker/docker/api/types/versions"
@@ -37,8 +37,8 @@ func (cli *Client) ContainerCreate(ctx context.Context, config *container.Config
 	}
 
 	query := url.Values{}
-	if platform != nil {
-		query.Set("platform", platforms.Format(*platform))
+	if p := formatPlatform(platform); p != "" {
+		query.Set("platform", p)
 	}
 
 	if containerName != "" {
@@ -60,3 +60,15 @@ func (cli *Client) ContainerCreate(ctx context.Context, config *container.Config
 	err = json.NewDecoder(serverResp.body).Decode(&response)
 	return response, err
 }
+
+// formatPlatform returns a formatted string representing platform (e.g. linux/arm/v7).
+//
+// Similar to containerd's platforms.Format(), but does allow components to be
+// omitted (e.g. pass "architecture" only, without "os":
+// https://github.com/containerd/containerd/blob/v1.5.2/platforms/platforms.go#L243-L263
+func formatPlatform(platform *specs.Platform) string {
+	if platform == nil {
+		return ""
+	}
+	return path.Join(platform.OS, platform.Architecture, platform.Variant)
+}