diff --git a/oci/layer/tar_generate.go b/oci/layer/tar_generate.go
index 83d1e28f3..447451ca6 100644
--- a/oci/layer/tar_generate.go
+++ b/oci/layer/tar_generate.go
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ import (
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"strings"
+	"syscall"
 
 	"github.com/apex/log"
 	"github.com/opencontainers/umoci/pkg/fseval"
@@ -217,6 +218,14 @@ func (tg *tarGenerator) AddFile(name, path string) error {
 			// XXX: I'm not sure if we're unprivileged whether Lgetxattr can
 			//      fail with EPERM. If it can, we should ignore it (like when
 			//      we try to clear xattrs).
+
+			// in case of overlayfs, we may not get the xattr data itself,
+			// so ignore if this particular error code
+			if err == syscall.ENODATA {
+				log.Warnf("unable to get xattr: %s", name)
+				continue
+			}
+
 			return errors.Wrapf(err, "get xattr: %s", name)
 		}
 		// https://golang.org/issues/20698 -- We don't just error out here