diff --git a/core/testcontainers/core/labels.py b/core/testcontainers/core/labels.py
index 0570b22cb..1c45b79cf 100644
--- a/core/testcontainers/core/labels.py
+++ b/core/testcontainers/core/labels.py
@@ -21,12 +21,15 @@ def create_labels(image: str, labels: Optional[dict[str, str]]) -> dict[str, str
             if k.startswith(TESTCONTAINERS_NAMESPACE):
                 raise ValueError("The org.testcontainers namespace is reserved for internal use")
 
-    labels[LABEL_LANG] = "python"
-    labels[LABEL_TESTCONTAINERS] = "true"
-    labels[LABEL_VERSION] = importlib.metadata.version("testcontainers")
+    tc_labels = {
+        **labels,
+        LABEL_LANG: "python",
+        LABEL_TESTCONTAINERS: "true",
+        LABEL_VERSION: importlib.metadata.version("testcontainers"),
+    }
 
     if image == c.ryuk_image:
-        return labels
+        return tc_labels
 
-    labels[LABEL_SESSION_ID] = SESSION_ID
-    return labels
+    tc_labels[LABEL_SESSION_ID] = SESSION_ID
+    return tc_labels
diff --git a/core/tests/test_labels.py b/core/tests/test_labels.py
index 425aee7dd..bbd72409d 100644
--- a/core/tests/test_labels.py
+++ b/core/tests/test_labels.py
@@ -56,3 +56,10 @@ def test_session_are_module_import_scoped():
     assert LABEL_SESSION_ID in first_labels
     assert LABEL_SESSION_ID in second_labels
     assert first_labels[LABEL_SESSION_ID] == second_labels[LABEL_SESSION_ID]
+
+
+def test_create_no_side_effects():
+    input_labels = {"key": "value"}
+    expected_labels = input_labels.copy()
+    create_labels("not-ryuk", {"key": "value"})
+    assert input_labels == expected_labels, input_labels