diff --git a/pkg/devfile/image/image.go b/pkg/devfile/image/image.go
index c80e0e94ea6..6a1f9bc8afd 100644
--- a/pkg/devfile/image/image.go
+++ b/pkg/devfile/image/image.go
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ type Backend interface {
 }
 
 var lookPathCmd = exec.LookPath
+var getEnvFunc = os.Getenv
 
 // BuildPushImages build all images defined in the devfile with the detected backend
 // If push is true, also push the images to their registries
@@ -89,7 +90,7 @@ func buildPushImage(backend Backend, image *devfile.ImageComponent, devfilePath
 // or return an error if none are present locally
 func selectBackend() (Backend, error) {
 
-	podmanCmd := os.Getenv("PODMAN_CMD")
+	podmanCmd := getEnvFunc("PODMAN_CMD")
 	if podmanCmd == "" {
 		podmanCmd = "podman"
 	}
@@ -97,7 +98,7 @@ func selectBackend() (Backend, error) {
 		return NewDockerCompatibleBackend(podmanCmd), nil
 	}
 
-	dockerCmd := os.Getenv("DOCKER_CMD")
+	dockerCmd := getEnvFunc("DOCKER_CMD")
 	if dockerCmd == "" {
 		dockerCmd = "docker"
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/devfile/image/image_test.go b/pkg/devfile/image/image_test.go
index cbb93df690c..c1b6487c524 100644
--- a/pkg/devfile/image/image_test.go
+++ b/pkg/devfile/image/image_test.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package image
 
 import (
 	"errors"
+	"os"
 	"os/exec"
 	"testing"
 
@@ -116,6 +117,7 @@ func TestBuildPushImage(t *testing.T) {
 func TestSelectBackend(t *testing.T) {
 	tests := []struct {
 		name        string
+		getEnvFunc  func(string) string
 		lookPathCmd func(string) (string, error)
 		wantType    string
 		wantErr     bool
@@ -157,10 +159,53 @@ func TestSelectBackend(t *testing.T) {
 			wantErr:  false,
 			wantType: "podman",
 		},
+		{
+			name: "value of PODMAN_CMD envvar is returned if it points to a valid command",
+			getEnvFunc: func(name string) string {
+				if name == "PODMAN_CMD" {
+					return "my-alternate-podman-command"
+				}
+				return ""
+			},
+			lookPathCmd: func(name string) (string, error) {
+				if name == "my-alternate-podman-command" {
+					return "my-alternate-podman-command", nil
+				}
+				return "", errors.New("")
+			},
+			wantErr:  false,
+			wantType: "my-alternate-podman-command",
+		},
+		{
+			name: "docker if PODMAN_CMD points to an invalid command",
+			getEnvFunc: func(name string) string {
+				if name == "PODMAN_CMD" {
+					return "no-such-command"
+				}
+				return ""
+			},
+			lookPathCmd: func(name string) (string, error) {
+				if name == "docker" {
+					return "docker", nil
+				}
+				return "", errors.New("")
+			},
+			wantErr:  false,
+			wantType: "docker",
+		},
 	}
 
 	for _, tt := range tests {
 		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			if tt.getEnvFunc != nil {
+				getEnvFunc = tt.getEnvFunc
+			} else {
+				getEnvFunc = func(string) string {
+					//Empty environment
+					return ""
+				}
+			}
+			defer func() { getEnvFunc = os.Getenv }()
 			lookPathCmd = tt.lookPathCmd
 			defer func() { lookPathCmd = exec.LookPath }()
 			backend, err := selectBackend()