diff --git a/docker/Makefile b/docker/Makefile
index 3121317af..02bba0022 100644
--- a/docker/Makefile
+++ b/docker/Makefile
@@ -1,2 +1,13 @@
+HAVE_DOCKER := $(shell which docker 2>/dev/null)
+HAVE_PODMAN := $(shell which podman 2>/dev/null)
+
 build:
-		docker build -t nvim -f Dockerfile.nvim-python3 .
+ifdef HAVE_DOCKER	
+	docker build -t nvim -f Dockerfile.nvim-python3 .
+else
+ifdef HAVE_PODMAN
+	podman build -t nvim -f Dockerfile.nvim-python3 .
+else
+	$(error "No docker or podman in $(PATH). Check if one was installed.")
+endif
+endif