diff --git a/Dockerfile.gitlab-operator-build-base b/Dockerfile.gitlab-operator-build-base
index 40c908b..144b53c 100644
--- a/Dockerfile.gitlab-operator-build-base
+++ b/Dockerfile.gitlab-operator-build-base
@@ -34,6 +34,11 @@ ARG OPERATORSDK_VERSION=1.13.0
 ARG OPM_VERSION=1.19.0
 
 RUN apk add --no-cache podman buildah curl make gcc musl-dev git bash coreutils
+
+# make VFS podman's default storage driver to
+# accomodate running podman within docker
+RUN sed -i 's#^driver.*$#driver = "vfs"#g' /etc/containers/storage.conf
+
 RUN go get -u \
         github.com/onsi/ginkgo/ginkgo \
         golang.org/x/lint/golint