diff --git a/galaxy.yml b/galaxy.yml
index e297721..1ce91b6 100644
--- a/galaxy.yml
+++ b/galaxy.yml
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 ---
 namespace: stackhpc
 name: openstack
-version: 0.2.2
+version: 0.2.3
 readme: README.md
 authors:
   - StackHPC Ltd
diff --git a/roles/os_images/tasks/images.yml b/roles/os_images/tasks/images.yml
index 58c1ccc..d853ec7 100644
--- a/roles/os_images/tasks/images.yml
+++ b/roles/os_images/tasks/images.yml
@@ -1,34 +1,4 @@
 ---
-- name: Include OS family-specific variables
-  ansible.builtin.include_vars: "{{ ansible_facts.os_family }}.yml"
-- name: Ensure required packages are installed
-  ansible.builtin.package:
-    name: "{{ (os_images_package_dependencies + os_images_package_dependencies_extra) | select | list }}"
-    state: present
-  become: true
-
-# The rpm-distro element executes 'semanage' during its cleanup phase.
-- name: Ensure diskimage-builder SELinux dependencies are installed
-  vars:
-    package_name: python3-policycoreutils
-  ansible.builtin.package:
-    name: "{{ package_name }}"
-    state: present
-  when:
-    - ansible_facts.selinux
-    - ansible_facts.selinux.status != 'disabled'
-    - ansible_facts.os_family == "RedHat"
-  become: true
-
-- name: Ensure download cache dir exists
-  ansible.builtin.file:
-    path: "{{ os_images_cache }}"
-    owner: "{{ ansible_facts.user_uid }}"
-    group: "{{ ansible_facts.user_gid }}"
-    state: directory
-    mode: "0755"
-  become: true
-
 - name: Remove old images for force rebuild
   ansible.builtin.file:
     path: "{{ os_images_cache }}/{{ item.name }}"
diff --git a/roles/os_images/tasks/main.yml b/roles/os_images/tasks/main.yml
index 085bad7..0ed3d60 100644
--- a/roles/os_images/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/roles/os_images/tasks/main.yml
@@ -3,6 +3,12 @@
   ansible.builtin.set_fact:
     old_ansible_python_interpreter: "{{ ansible_python_interpreter | default('/usr/bin/python3') }}"
 
+- name: Run prechecks
+  ansible.builtin.import_tasks: prechecks.yml
+
+- name: Prerequisite tasks
+  ansible.builtin.import_tasks: prereqs.yml
+
 - name: Build or download images
   ansible.builtin.import_tasks: images.yml
   when: os_images_build | bool
diff --git a/roles/os_images/tasks/prechecks.yml b/roles/os_images/tasks/prechecks.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0a9aef5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/roles/os_images/tasks/prechecks.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+---
+# Here a quick check for the presence of Docker (or an alias for Podman)
+# Display a warning if not found
+- name: Check if container engine is installed
+  ansible.builtin.command: which docker
+  changed_when: false
+  ignore_errors: true
+  register: result
+
+- name: Display warning message about the container engine
+  ansible.builtin.assert:
+    that:
+      - result.rc = 0
+    fail_msg: >
+      Container runtime engine could not be found - make sure it is installed.
+      Elements that depend on it will likely fail when building.
diff --git a/roles/os_images/tasks/prereqs.yml b/roles/os_images/tasks/prereqs.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2301614
--- /dev/null
+++ b/roles/os_images/tasks/prereqs.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+---
+- name: Include OS family-specific variables
+  ansible.builtin.include_vars: "{{ ansible_facts.os_family }}.yml"
+
+- name: Ensure required packages are installed
+  ansible.builtin.package:
+    name: "{{ (os_images_package_dependencies + os_images_package_dependencies_extra) | select | list }}"
+    state: present
+  become: true
+
+# The rpm-distro element executes 'semanage' during its cleanup phase.
+- name: Ensure diskimage-builder SELinux dependencies are installed
+  vars:
+    package_name: python3-policycoreutils
+  ansible.builtin.package:
+    name: "{{ package_name }}"
+    state: present
+  when:
+    - ansible_facts.selinux
+    - ansible_facts.selinux.status != 'disabled'
+    - ansible_facts.os_family == "RedHat"
+  become: true
+
+- name: Ensure download cache dir exists
+  ansible.builtin.file:
+    path: "{{ os_images_cache }}"
+    owner: "{{ ansible_facts.user_uid }}"
+    group: "{{ ansible_facts.user_gid }}"
+    state: directory
+    mode: "0755"
+  become: true
diff --git a/roles/os_images/vars/Debian.yml b/roles/os_images/vars/Debian.yml
index 9373439..2948105 100644
--- a/roles/os_images/vars/Debian.yml
+++ b/roles/os_images/vars/Debian.yml
@@ -1,11 +1,13 @@
 ---
 # List of package dependencies.
 os_images_package_dependencies:
+  - debootstrap
   - dosfstools
   - gdisk
   - "{% if os_images_git_elements | length > 0 %}git{% endif %}"
   - kpartx
   - lvm2
+  - python3-venv
   - qemu-utils
   - squashfs-tools
   - xz-utils
diff --git a/roles/os_images/vars/RedHat.yml b/roles/os_images/vars/RedHat.yml
index 9775d3e..f11b3ac 100644
--- a/roles/os_images/vars/RedHat.yml
+++ b/roles/os_images/vars/RedHat.yml
@@ -1,11 +1,13 @@
 ---
 # List of package dependencies.
 os_images_package_dependencies:
+  - debootstrap
   - dosfstools
   - gdisk
   - "{% if os_images_git_elements | length > 0 %}git{% endif %}"
   - kpartx
   - lvm2
+  - python3-devel
   - qemu-img
   - squashfs-tools
   - xz