diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 56ebd24d2..48aec5d41 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -2,7 +2,8 @@ SHELL=bash
 # MAKE=make -d
 
 export CONTAINER_COMMAND ?= podman
-export CONTAINER_RUN ?= $(CONTAINER_COMMAND) run -dit --network=host
+export CONTAINER_BGRUN ?= $(CONTAINER_COMMAND) run -dit --network=host
+export CONTAINER_FGRUN ?= $(CONTAINER_COMMAND) run -it --network=host
 
 export IN_CONTAINER ?= false
 export IN_CI ?= false
@@ -46,7 +47,7 @@ export LOGSIZE ?= 1024
 # HELP: print out this help message
 help:
 	@if [ -z "$$(which perl 2>/dev/null)" ] ; then \
-	$(CONTAINER_RUN) .:/mnt 'debian:12.5' '/mnt/utils/makehelp.pl' '/mnt/Makefile' ; \
+	  $(CONTAINER_FGRUN) .:/mnt 'debian:12.5' '/mnt/utils/makehelp.pl' '/mnt/Makefile' ; \
 	else \
 	utils/makehelp.pl Makefile ; \
 	fi
@@ -84,7 +85,7 @@ release:
 	MOUNT_DIR=/mnt/fradrive ; \
 	FRADRIVE_SERVICE=$* ; \
 	$(MAKE) -- --image-build FRADRIVE_SERVICE=$${FRADRIVE_SERVICE} ; \
-	$(CONTAINER_RUN) -v $(PWD):$${MOUNT_DIR} --env IN_CONTAINER=true --env CONTAINER_FILE=$(CONTAINER_FILE) --entrypoint $(ENTRYPOINT) --name fradrive.$${FRADRIVE_SERVICE}.interactive.$$(date +'%Y-%m-%dT%H-%M-%S') fradrive/$${FRADRIVE_SERVICE}
+	$(CONTAINER_FGRUN) -v $(PWD):$${MOUNT_DIR} --env IN_CONTAINER=true --env CONTAINER_FILE=$(CONTAINER_FILE) --entrypoint $(ENTRYPOINT) --name fradrive.$${FRADRIVE_SERVICE}.interactive.$$(date +'%Y-%m-%dT%H-%M-%S') fradrive/$${FRADRIVE_SERVICE}
 
 ##### GENERAL TARGETS #####
 ###########################
@@ -237,7 +238,7 @@ serve-database: --containerized-database;
 # port forwarding is disabled in --network=host mode; nevertheless it is stated here for documentation reasons
 --containerized-database: docker/database/initdb.sh docker/database/pg_hba.conf docker/database/postgresql.conf docker/database/schema.sql --image-build
 	if [ "$(IN_CONTAINER)" == "false" ] ; then \
-	  $(CONTAINER_RUN) --name fradrive.$(FRADRIVE_SERVICE).$$(date +'%Y-%m-%dT%H-%M-%S') fradrive/$(FRADRIVE_SERVICE) ; \
+	  $(CONTAINER_BGRUN) --name fradrive.$(FRADRIVE_SERVICE).$$(date +'%Y-%m-%dT%H-%M-%S') fradrive/$(FRADRIVE_SERVICE) ; \
 	fi
 
 ##### DATABASE TARGETS #####
@@ -263,7 +264,7 @@ serve-database: --containerized-database;
 --containerized---start-minio:
 	MINIO_DIR=`mktemp` ; \
 	./utils/watchcontainerrun.sh "$(CONTAINER_COMMAND)" "$(CONTAINER_FILE)" "" "rm -rf $${MINIO_DIR}" & \
-	CONTAINER_ID=`$(CONTAINER_RUN) --name fradrive.minio.$$(date +'%Y-%m-%dT%H-%M-%S') $(MINIO_IMAGE) -- server $${MINIO_DIR}` ; \
+	CONTAINER_ID=`$(CONTAINER_BGRUN) --name fradrive.minio.$$(date +'%Y-%m-%dT%H-%M-%S') $(MINIO_IMAGE) -- server $${MINIO_DIR}` ; \
 	echo "CONTAINER_ID=$${CONTAINER_ID}" >> $(CONTAINER_FILE)
 
 # --containerized-%-memcached: FRADRIVE_SERVICE=memcached