diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 19703432c..9c6cb4424 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -26,7 +26,11 @@ export DEV_PORT_HTTPS
 .PHONY: help
 # HELP: print out this help message
 help:
-	@utils/makehelp.pl Makefile
+	@if [ -z "$$(which perl 2>/dev/null)" ] ; then \
+	$(CONTAINER_COMMAND) run -v .:/mnt 'debian:12.5' '/mnt/utils/makehelp.pl' '/mnt/Makefile' ; \
+	else \
+	utils/makehelp.pl Makefile ; \
+	fi
 
 .PHONY: all
 # HELP: unfinished