diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 175fff542..e4e99ae5b 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1126,6 +1126,18 @@ For example, the following command builds the image on top of [scratch](https://
 ROOT_IMAGE=scratch make package-victoria-metrics
 ```
 
+#### Building VictoriaMetrics with Podman
+
+VictoriaMetrics can be built with Podman in either rootful or rootless mode.
+
+When building via rootlful Podman, simply add `DOCKER=podman` to the relevant `make` commandline.  To build
+via rootless Podman, add `DOCKER=podman DOCKER_RUN="podman run --userns=keep-id"` to the `make`
+commandline.
+
+For example: `make victoria-metrics-pure DOCKER=podman DOCKER_RUN="podman run --userns=keep-id"`
+
+Note that `production` builds are not supported via Podman becuase Podman does not support `buildx`.
+
 ## Start with docker-compose
 
 [Docker-compose](https://github.com/VictoriaMetrics/VictoriaMetrics/blob/master/deployment/docker/docker-compose.yml)
diff --git a/deployment/docker/Makefile b/deployment/docker/Makefile
index 8b79334ae..c7994bce9 100644
--- a/deployment/docker/Makefile
+++ b/deployment/docker/Makefile
@@ -8,9 +8,11 @@ CERTS_IMAGE := alpine:3.18.4
 GO_BUILDER_IMAGE := golang:1.21.3-alpine
 BUILDER_IMAGE := local/builder:2.0.0-$(shell echo $(GO_BUILDER_IMAGE) | tr :/ __)-1
 BASE_IMAGE := local/base:1.1.4-$(shell echo $(ROOT_IMAGE) | tr :/ __)-$(shell echo $(CERTS_IMAGE) | tr :/ __)
-DOCKER_BUILD ?= docker build
-DOCKER_COMPOSE ?= docker compose
-DOCKER_IMAGE_LS ?= docker image ls --format '{{.Repository}}:{{.Tag}}'
+DOCKER ?= docker
+DOCKER_RUN ?= $(DOCKER) run
+DOCKER_BUILD ?= $(DOCKER) build
+DOCKER_COMPOSE ?= $(DOCKER) compose
+DOCKER_IMAGE_LS ?= $(DOCKER) image ls --format '{{.Repository}}:{{.Tag}}'
 
 package-base:
 	($(DOCKER_IMAGE_LS) | grep -q '$(BASE_IMAGE)$$') \
@@ -29,7 +31,7 @@ package-builder:
 
 app-via-docker: package-builder
 	mkdir -p gocache-for-docker
-	docker run --rm \
+	$(DOCKER_RUN) --rm \
 		--user $(shell id -u):$(shell id -g) \
 		--mount type=bind,src="$(shell pwd)",dst=/VictoriaMetrics \
 		-w /VictoriaMetrics \
@@ -44,7 +46,7 @@ app-via-docker: package-builder
 
 app-via-docker-windows: package-builder
 	mkdir -p gocache-for-docker
-	docker run --rm \
+	$(DOCKER_RUN) --rm \
 		--user $(shell id -u):$(shell id -g) \
 		--mount type=bind,src="$(shell pwd)",dst=/VictoriaMetrics \
 		-w /VictoriaMetrics \
@@ -72,7 +74,7 @@ publish-via-docker: \
 	app-via-docker-linux-arm64 \
 	app-via-docker-linux-ppc64le \
 	app-via-docker-linux-386
-	docker buildx build \
+	$(DOCKER) buildx build \
 		--platform=linux/amd64,linux/arm,linux/arm64,linux/ppc64le,linux/386 \
 		--build-arg certs_image=$(CERTS_IMAGE) \
 		--build-arg root_image=$(ROOT_IMAGE) \
@@ -86,7 +88,7 @@ publish-via-docker: \
 		bin
 
 run-via-docker: package-via-docker
-	docker run -it --rm \
+	$(DOCKER_RUN) -it --rm \
 		--user $(shell id -u):$(shell id -g) \
 		--net host \
 		$(DOCKER_OPTS) \