diff --git a/reaper.go b/reaper.go
index b618ad3854..1d269ce899 100644
--- a/reaper.go
+++ b/reaper.go
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/docker/docker/api/types"
 	"github.com/docker/docker/api/types/container"
 	"github.com/docker/docker/api/types/filters"
+	"github.com/docker/docker/errdefs"
 	"github.com/docker/go-connections/nat"
 
 	"github.com/testcontainers/testcontainers-go/internal/config"
@@ -141,13 +142,14 @@ func reuseOrCreateReaper(ctx context.Context, sessionID string, provider ReaperP
 		// Can't use Container.IsRunning because the bool is not updated when Reaper is terminated
 		state, err := reaperInstance.container.State(ctx)
 		if err != nil {
-			return nil, err
-		}
-
-		if state.Running {
+			if !errdefs.IsNotFound(err) {
+				return nil, err
+			}
+		} else if state.Running {
 			return reaperInstance, nil
 		}
 		// else: the reaper instance has been terminated, so we need to create a new one
+		reaperOnce = sync.Once{}
 	}
 
 	// 2. because the reaper instance has not been created yet, look for it in the Docker daemon, which
diff --git a/reaper_test.go b/reaper_test.go
index d6b9cfe8f9..6ad153092b 100644
--- a/reaper_test.go
+++ b/reaper_test.go
@@ -491,6 +491,42 @@ func Test_ReaperReusedIfHealthy(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func Test_RecreateReaperIfTerminated(t *testing.T) {
+	config.Reset() // reset the config using the internal method to avoid the sync.Once
+	tcConfig := config.Read()
+	if tcConfig.RyukDisabled {
+		t.Skip("Ryuk is disabled, skipping test")
+	}
+
+	mockProvider := newMockReaperProvider(t)
+	t.Cleanup(mockProvider.RestoreReaperState)
+
+	SkipIfProviderIsNotHealthy(&testing.T{})
+
+	provider, _ := ProviderDocker.GetProvider()
+	ctx := context.Background()
+	reaper, err := reuseOrCreateReaper(context.WithValue(ctx, core.DockerHostContextKey, provider.(*DockerProvider).host), testSessionID, provider)
+	assert.NoError(t, err, "creating the Reaper should not error")
+
+	terminate, err := reaper.Connect()
+	assert.NoError(t, err, "connecting to Reaper should be successful")
+	terminate <- true
+
+	// Wait for ryuk's default timeout (10s) + 1s to allow for a graceful shutdown/cleanup of the container.
+	time.Sleep(11 * time.Second)
+
+	recreatedReaper, err := reuseOrCreateReaper(context.WithValue(ctx, core.DockerHostContextKey, provider.(*DockerProvider).host), testSessionID, provider)
+	assert.NoError(t, err, "creating the Reaper should not error")
+	assert.NotEqual(t, reaper.container.GetContainerID(), recreatedReaper.container.GetContainerID(), "expected different container ID")
+
+	terminate, err = recreatedReaper.Connect()
+	defer func(term chan bool) {
+		term <- true
+	}(terminate)
+	assert.NoError(t, err, "connecting to Reaper should be successful")
+	terminateContainerOnEnd(t, ctx, recreatedReaper.container)
+}
+
 func TestReaper_reuseItFromOtherTestProgramUsingDocker(t *testing.T) {
 	config.Reset() // reset the config using the internal method to avoid the sync.Once
 	tcConfig := config.Read()