diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index d8a870fa2a..ae1b263ad0 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ BUILDTAGS_CROSS ?= containers_image_openpgp containers_image_ostree_stub exclude
 ifneq (,$(findstring varlink,$(BUILDTAGS)))
 	PODMAN_VARLINK_DEPENDENCIES = cmd/podman/varlink/iopodman.go
 endif
-CONTAINER_RUNTIME := $(shell command -v podman 2> /dev/null | echo docker)
+CONTAINER_RUNTIME := $(shell command -v podman 2> /dev/null || echo docker)
 
 HAS_PYTHON3 := $(shell command -v python3 2>/dev/null)