diff --git a/doc/guix.texi b/doc/guix.texi
index cc6ad13d6c..caebe3b03c 100644
--- a/doc/guix.texi
+++ b/doc/guix.texi
@@ -41424,8 +41424,9 @@ BUG_REPORT_URL="https://gitlab.alpinelinux.org/alpine/aports/-/issues"
 Available @code{rootless-podman-configuration} fields are:
 
 @table @asis
-@item @code{podman} (default: @code{podman}) (type: package)
+@item @code{podman} (default: @code{podman}) (type: package-or-#f)
 The Podman package that will be installed in the system profile.
+Pass @code{#f} to not install Podman.
 
 @item @code{group-name} (default: @code{"cgroup"}) (type: string)
 The name of the group that will own /sys/fs/cgroup resources.  Users that
diff --git a/gnu/services/containers.scm b/gnu/services/containers.scm
index d8f533f44c..a82fb64db3 100644
--- a/gnu/services/containers.scm
+++ b/gnu/services/containers.scm
@@ -64,10 +64,15 @@ (define list-of-pam-limits-entries?
 (define list-of-subid-ranges?
   (list-of subid-range?))
 
+(define (package-or-#f? val)
+  (or (not val)
+      (package? val)))
+
 (define-configuration/no-serialization rootless-podman-configuration
   (podman
-   (package podman)
-   "The Podman package that will be installed in the system profile.")
+   (package-or-#f podman)
+   "The Podman package that will be installed in the system profile.
+@code{#f} can be passed to suppress the installation.")
   (group-name
    (string "cgroup")
    "The name of the group that will own /sys/fs/cgroup resources.  Users that
@@ -107,8 +112,8 @@ (define-configuration/no-serialization rootless-podman-configuration
 
 (define rootless-podman-service-profile
   (lambda (config)
-    (list
-     (rootless-podman-configuration-podman config))))
+    (or (and=> (rootless-podman-configuration-podman config) list)
+        (list))))
 
 (define rootless-podman-service-etc
   (lambda (config)