diff --git a/lib/galaxy/jobs/metrics/instrumenters/cgroup.py b/lib/galaxy/jobs/metrics/instrumenters/cgroup.py
index 454b90f1310..936d1d36ef1 100644
--- a/lib/galaxy/jobs/metrics/instrumenters/cgroup.py
+++ b/lib/galaxy/jobs/metrics/instrumenters/cgroup.py
@@ -63,13 +63,13 @@ class CgroupPlugin(InstrumentPlugin):
         return metrics
 
     def __record_cgroup_cpu_usage(self, job_directory):
-        return """cat /proc/$$/cgroup | awk -F':' '$2=="cpuacct,cpu"{print $2":"$3}' | xargs -I{} cgget -g {} > %s""" % self.__cgroup_metrics_file(job_directory)
+        return """if [ -x /proc/$$/cgroup ]; then cat /proc/$$/cgroup | awk -F':' '$2=="cpuacct,cpu"{print $2":"$3}' | xargs -I{} cgget -g {} > %(metrics)s ; else echo "" > %(metrics)s; fi""" % {"metrics": self.__cgroup_metrics_file(job_directory)}
 
     def __record_cgroup_memory_usage(self, job_directory):
-        return """cat /proc/$$/cgroup | awk -F':' '$2=="memory"{print $2":"$3}' | xargs -I{} cgget -g {} >> %s""" % self.__cgroup_metrics_file(job_directory)
+        return """if [ -x /proc/$$/cgroup ]; then cat /proc/$$/cgroup | awk -F':' '$2=="memory"{print $2":"$3}' | xargs -I{} cgget -g {} >> %(metrics)s ; else echo "" > %(metrics)s; fi""" % {"metrics": self.__cgroup_metrics_file(job_directory)}
 
     def __cgroup_metrics_file(self, job_directory):
-        return self._instrument_file_path(job_directory, "cgroup_metrics")
+        return self._instrument_file_path(job_directory, "_metrics")
 
     def __read_metrics(self, path):
         metrics = {}