diff --git a/clr-k8s-examples/README.md b/clr-k8s-examples/README.md
index 0fb5347..335243d 100644
--- a/clr-k8s-examples/README.md
+++ b/clr-k8s-examples/README.md
@@ -34,7 +34,9 @@ This script ensures the following
 * Customizes the system to ensure correct defaults are setup (IP Forwarding, Swap off,...)
 * Ensures all the dependencies are loaded on boot (kernel modules)
 
-> NOTE: This step is done automatically if using vagrant.
+> NOTE: This step is done automatically if using vagrant. The [`setup_system.sh`](setup_system.sh)
+script uses the runtime specified in the `RUNNER` environment variable and defaults to `crio`. To use the
+`containerd` runtime, set the `RUNNER` environment variable to `containerd`.
 
 ### Configuration for high numbers of pods per node
 
diff --git a/clr-k8s-examples/setup_system.sh b/clr-k8s-examples/setup_system.sh
index fcaf2a7..c5b79ff 100755
--- a/clr-k8s-examples/setup_system.sh
+++ b/clr-k8s-examples/setup_system.sh
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ HIGH_POD_COUNT=${HIGH_POD_COUNT:-""}
 # set no proxy
 ADD_NO_PROXY="10.244.0.0/16,10.96.0.0/12"
 ADD_NO_PROXY+=",$(hostname -I | sed 's/[[:space:]]/,/g')"
-: "${RUNNER:=containerd}"
+: "${RUNNER:=crio}"
 
 # update os version
 function upate_os_version() {