diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 5aed398..00c9b9b 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 # pod-reaper: kills pods dead
 
+### 2.13.0
+- the reaper checks now also the initContainerStatus
+
 ### 2.7.0
 - add `DRY_RUN` mode
 
diff --git a/rules/container_status.go b/rules/container_status.go
index 57fc7e0..64f7e7e 100644
--- a/rules/container_status.go
+++ b/rules/container_status.go
@@ -35,6 +35,16 @@ func (rule *containerStatus) ShouldReap(pod v1.Pod) (bool, string) {
 				return true, fmt.Sprintf("has container status %s", reapStatus)
 			}
 		}
+
+		// Check init containers
+		for _, initContainerStatus := range pod.Status.InitContainerStatuses {
+			state := initContainerStatus.State
+			// Check both waiting and terminated conditions for init containers
+			if (state.Waiting != nil && state.Waiting.Reason == reapStatus) ||
+				(state.Terminated != nil && state.Terminated.Reason == reapStatus) {
+				return true, fmt.Sprintf("has init container status %s", reapStatus)
+			}
+		}
 	}
 	return false, ""
 }