diff --git a/infra/build-images.sh b/infra/build-images.sh
index 07f820a..f6de6e7 100755
--- a/infra/build-images.sh
+++ b/infra/build-images.sh
@@ -45,7 +45,9 @@ images=(
   "kvitt-backup|infra/backup|infra/backup/Dockerfile"
 )
 
-if docker version 2>/dev/null | grep -qi podman; then engine=podman; else engine=docker; fi
+# Capture first: `grep -q` in a pipe closes it early, `docker version` dies of SIGPIPE and pipefail makes the test fail.
+engine_info="$(docker version 2>/dev/null || true)"
+if [[ "$engine_info" == *[Pp]odman* ]]; then engine=podman; else engine=docker; fi
 echo "Engine: $engine; registry: $registry; tag: $tag (and latest); push: $([[ $push == 1 ]] && echo yes || echo no)"
 
 if [[ $push == 1 && -n "$user" && -n "$token" ]]; then