diff --git a/docs/release/README.md b/docs/release/README.md
index cc7f1b5ad..c377a9e98 100644
--- a/docs/release/README.md
+++ b/docs/release/README.md
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ export PROJECT_CLONE_IMG=quay.io/yourrepo/project-clone:prerelease
 podman build -t "$PROJECT_CLONE_IMG" -f ./project-clone/Dockerfile .
 podman push "$PROJECT_CLONE_IMG"
 # build and push DevWorkspace Operator image
+export DOCKER=podman # optional
 make docker
 # deploy DevWorkspace Operator using these images
 make install