diff --git a/internal/plugins/helm/v1/scaffolds/internal/templates/makefile.go b/internal/plugins/helm/v1/scaffolds/internal/templates/makefile.go
index 9bc0584ee95..a008c398745 100644
--- a/internal/plugins/helm/v1/scaffolds/internal/templates/makefile.go
+++ b/internal/plugins/helm/v1/scaffolds/internal/templates/makefile.go
@@ -96,11 +96,11 @@ run: helm-operator ## Run against the configured Kubernetes cluster in ~/.kube/c
 
 .PHONY: docker-build
 docker-build: ## Build docker image with the manager.
-	docker build -t ${IMG} .
+	$(CONTAINER_TOOL) build -t ${IMG} .
 
 .PHONY: docker-push
 docker-push: ## Push docker image with the manager.
-	docker push ${IMG}
+	$(CONTAINER_TOOL) push ${IMG}
 
 ##@ Deployment
 
diff --git a/internal/plugins/manifests/v2/init.go b/internal/plugins/manifests/v2/init.go
index 772d00e90de..3ed947463d4 100644
--- a/internal/plugins/manifests/v2/init.go
+++ b/internal/plugins/manifests/v2/init.go
@@ -168,6 +168,10 @@ USE_IMAGE_DIGESTS ?= false
 ifeq ($(USE_IMAGE_DIGESTS), true)
 	BUNDLE_GEN_FLAGS += --use-image-digests
 endif
+
+# CONTAINER_TOOL defines the container tool to be used for building images.
+# You can use docker or podman
+CONTAINER_TOOL ?= docker
 `
 
 	makefileBundleFragmentGo = `
@@ -191,7 +195,7 @@ bundle: kustomize ## Generate bundle manifests and metadata, then validate gener
 	makefileBundleBuildPushFragment = `
 .PHONY: bundle-build
 bundle-build: ## Build the bundle image.
-	docker build -f bundle.Dockerfile -t $(BUNDLE_IMG) .
+	$(CONTAINER_TOOL) build -f bundle.Dockerfile -t $(BUNDLE_IMG) .
 
 .PHONY: bundle-push
 bundle-push: ## Push the bundle image.
@@ -253,7 +257,7 @@ endif
 # https://github.com/operator-framework/community-operators/blob/7f1438c/docs/packaging-operator.md#updating-your-existing-operator
 .PHONY: catalog-build
 catalog-build: opm ## Build a catalog image.
-	$(OPM) index add --container-tool docker --mode semver --tag $(CATALOG_IMG) --bundles $(BUNDLE_IMGS) $(FROM_INDEX_OPT)
+	$(OPM) index add --container-tool $(CONTAINER_TOOL) --mode semver --tag $(CATALOG_IMG) --bundles $(BUNDLE_IMGS) $(FROM_INDEX_OPT)
 
 # Push the catalog image.
 .PHONY: catalog-push