diff --git a/examples/docker-rootful.yaml b/examples/docker-rootful.yaml
index b4a8047d379..8264b9c4d9a 100644
--- a/examples/docker-rootful.yaml
+++ b/examples/docker-rootful.yaml
@@ -54,6 +54,15 @@ provision:
     fi
     export DEBIAN_FRONTEND=noninteractive
     curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com | sh
+- mode: system
+  script: |
+    #!/bin/bash
+    # Increase inotify limits to prevent nested Kubernetes control planes
+    # from crash looping.
+    set -eux -o pipefail
+    echo 'fs.inotify.max_user_watches = 524288' >> /etc/sysctl.conf
+    echo 'fs.inotify.max_user_instances = 512' >> /etc/sysctl.conf
+    sysctl --system
 probes:
 - script: |
     #!/bin/bash
diff --git a/examples/docker.yaml b/examples/docker.yaml
index 5878f489c37..617723e5a4e 100644
--- a/examples/docker.yaml
+++ b/examples/docker.yaml
@@ -56,6 +56,15 @@ provision:
     systemctl --user start dbus
     dockerd-rootless-setuptool.sh install
     docker context use rootless
+- mode: system
+  script: |
+    #!/bin/bash
+    # Increase inotify limits to prevent nested Kubernetes control planes
+    # from crash looping.
+    set -eux -o pipefail
+    echo 'fs.inotify.max_user_watches = 524288' >> /etc/sysctl.conf
+    echo 'fs.inotify.max_user_instances = 512' >> /etc/sysctl.conf
+    sysctl --system
 probes:
 - script: |
     #!/bin/bash
diff --git a/examples/k3s.yaml b/examples/k3s.yaml
index 46b52dda42c..20c0e2a5516 100644
--- a/examples/k3s.yaml
+++ b/examples/k3s.yaml
@@ -41,7 +41,15 @@ provision:
   script: |
     #!/bin/sh
     curl -sfL https://get.k3s.io | sh -
-
+- mode: system
+  script: |
+    #!/bin/bash
+    # Increase inotify limits to prevent nested Kubernetes control planes
+    # from crash looping.
+    set -eux -o pipefail
+    echo 'fs.inotify.max_user_watches = 524288' >> /etc/sysctl.conf
+    echo 'fs.inotify.max_user_instances = 512' >> /etc/sysctl.conf
+    sysctl --system
 probes:
 - script: |
     #!/bin/bash