diff --git a/xbstrap/__init__.py b/xbstrap/__init__.py
index ef5c7d4..5169876 100755
--- a/xbstrap/__init__.py
+++ b/xbstrap/__init__.py
@@ -69,6 +69,8 @@ def do_runtool(args):
         for name in tools:
             tool_pkgs.append(cfg.get_tool_pkg(name))
 
+    has_containerless = any(x.containerless for x in tool_pkgs)
+
     xbstrap.base.run_program(
         cfg,
         context,
@@ -77,6 +79,7 @@ def do_runtool(args):
         tool_pkgs=tool_pkgs,
         workdir=workdir,
         for_package=for_package,
+        containerless=has_containerless,
     )
 
 
diff --git a/xbstrap/base.py b/xbstrap/base.py
index b94cba6..573b0ef 100644
--- a/xbstrap/base.py
+++ b/xbstrap/base.py
@@ -553,8 +553,9 @@ def get_target_pkg(self, name):
 
 
 class ScriptStep:
-    def __init__(self, step_yml):
+    def __init__(self, step_yml, containerless=False):
         self._step_yml = step_yml
+        self._containerless = containerless
 
     @property
     def args(self):
@@ -574,7 +575,7 @@ def workdir(self):
 
     @property
     def containerless(self):
-        return self._step_yml.get("containerless", False)
+        return self._step_yml.get("containerless", False) or self._containerless
 
     @property
     def quiet(self):
@@ -999,10 +1000,10 @@ def __init__(self, cfg, pkg, inherited, stage_yml):
 
         if "compile" in self._this_yml:
             for step_yml in self._this_yml["compile"]:
-                self._compile_steps.append(ScriptStep(step_yml))
+                self._compile_steps.append(ScriptStep(step_yml, pkg.containerless))
         if "install" in self._this_yml:
             for step_yml in self._this_yml["install"]:
-                self._install_steps.append(ScriptStep(step_yml))
+                self._install_steps.append(ScriptStep(step_yml, pkg.containerless))
 
     @property
     def pkg(self):
@@ -1022,6 +1023,12 @@ def subject_id(self):
     def subject_type(self):
         return "tool stage"
 
+    @property
+    def containerless(self):
+        if "containerless" not in self._this_yml:
+            return False
+        return self._this_yml["containerless"]
+
     @property
     def compile_steps(self):
         yield from self._compile_steps
@@ -1086,12 +1093,15 @@ def __init__(self, cfg, pkg_yml):
                 stage = HostStage(self._cfg, self, False, stage_yml)
                 self._stages[stage.stage_name] = stage
         else:
-            stage = HostStage(self._cfg, self, True, self._this_yml)
+            step_yml = self._this_yml
+            if self.containerless:
+                step_yml["containerless"] = True
+            stage = HostStage(self._cfg, self, True, step_yml)
             self._stages[stage.stage_name] = stage
 
         if "configure" in self._this_yml:
             for step_yml in self._this_yml["configure"]:
-                self._configure_steps.append(ScriptStep(step_yml))
+                self._configure_steps.append(ScriptStep(step_yml, self.containerless))
 
         if "tasks" in self._this_yml:
             for task_yml in self._this_yml["tasks"]:
@@ -1115,6 +1125,12 @@ def exports_aclocal(self):
             return False
         return self._this_yml["exports_aclocal"]
 
+    @property
+    def containerless(self):
+        if "containerless" not in self._this_yml:
+            return False
+        return self._this_yml["containerless"]
+
     @property
     def source(self):
         if "from_source" in self._this_yml:
@@ -1726,6 +1742,16 @@ def run_program(
 ):
     pkg_queue = []
     pkg_visited = set()
+    tools_all_containerless = (
+        all(x.containerless for x in tool_pkgs) if tool_pkgs else containerless
+    )
+
+    tools_some_containerless = (
+        any(x.containerless for x in tool_pkgs) if tool_pkgs else containerless
+    )
+
+    if tools_some_containerless is not tools_all_containerless:
+        raise GenericError("mixing containerless with non-containerless tools is not supported")
 
     for pkg in tool_pkgs:
         assert pkg.name not in pkg_visited
@@ -1817,6 +1843,12 @@ def run_program(
     if runtime is None:
         use_container = False
 
+    if tools_all_containerless and use_container:
+        raise GenericError("running containerless is not allowed by your configuration")
+
+    if containerless is not tools_all_containerless:
+        raise GenericError("containerless steps can only use containerless tools")
+
     if use_container:
         if runtime == "dummy":
             manifest["source_root"] = cfg.source_root
diff --git a/xbstrap/schema.yml b/xbstrap/schema.yml
index 7b02c6c..0fd1280 100644
--- a/xbstrap/schema.yml
+++ b/xbstrap/schema.yml
@@ -278,6 +278,8 @@ properties:
                     type: boolean
                 'exports_shared_libs':
                     type: boolean
+                'containerless':
+                    type: boolean
                 'architecture': { type: string }
                 'configure': { $ref: '#/definitions/build_steps' }
                 'compile': { $ref: '#/definitions/build_steps' }