diff --git a/Dockerfile.dapper b/Dockerfile.dapper
index e12008cc0..d2e8c932b 100644
--- a/Dockerfile.dapper
+++ b/Dockerfile.dapper
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ ARG BASE_BRANCH
 FROM quay.io/submariner/shipyard-dapper-base:${BASE_BRANCH}
 
 ARG PROJECT
-ENV DAPPER_ENV="QUAY_USERNAME QUAY_PASSWORD CLUSTERS_ARGS DEPLOY_ARGS CLEANUP_ARGS E2E_ARGS RELEASE_ARGS MAKEFLAGS FOCUS SKIP PLUGIN E2E_TESTDIR" \
+ENV DAPPER_ENV="QUAY_USERNAME QUAY_PASSWORD CLUSTERS_ARGS DEPLOY_ARGS CLEANUP_ARGS E2E_ARGS RELEASE_ARGS MAKEFLAGS FOCUS SKIP PLUGIN E2E_TESTDIR GITHUB_USER GITHUB_TOKEN" \
     DAPPER_SOURCE=/go/src/github.com/submariner-io/${PROJECT} DAPPER_DOCKER_SOCKET=true
 ENV DAPPER_OUTPUT=${DAPPER_SOURCE}/output
 
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index b42765780..15bc6a277 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -70,10 +70,7 @@ prune-images:
 	    fi \
 	done
 
-backport:
-	scripts/shared/backport.sh $(release) $(pr)
-
-NON_DAPPER_GOALS += prune-images backport
+NON_DAPPER_GOALS += prune-images
 .PHONY: prune-images
 
 include Makefile.dapper
diff --git a/Makefile.inc b/Makefile.inc
index e14d8a25f..e14c8c4e4 100644
--- a/Makefile.inc
+++ b/Makefile.inc
@@ -192,6 +192,11 @@ vendor/modules.txt: go.mod
 CODEOWNERS: CODEOWNERS.in
 	$(SCRIPTS_DIR)/gen-codeowners
 
+# [backport] creates a PR to backport the PR identified by pr= to the release identified by release=
+# This needs gh, and a GITHUB_TOKEN with repo and read:org
+backport:
+	$(SCRIPTS_DIR)/backport.sh $(release) $(pr)
+
 # [prune-images] removes all Submariner-provided images and all untagged images
 # Use this to ensure you use current images
 # Copied from Makefile to provide this everywhere (until we can share
diff --git a/package/Dockerfile.shipyard-dapper-base b/package/Dockerfile.shipyard-dapper-base
index 575c73455..afb6e1426 100644
--- a/package/Dockerfile.shipyard-dapper-base
+++ b/package/Dockerfile.shipyard-dapper-base
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ ENV HOST_ARCH=${DAPPER_HOST_ARCH} ARCH=${DAPPER_HOST_ARCH} PATH=/go/bin:/usr/loc
 # curl             | download other tools
 # findutils        | make unit (find unit test dirs)
 # gcc              | needed by `go test -race` (https://github.com/golang/go/issues/27089)
+# gh               | backport, releases
 # ginkgo           | tests
 # git              | find the workspace root
 # gitlint          | Commit message linting
@@ -53,7 +54,8 @@ RUN dnf -y install --nodocs --setopt=install_weak_deps=False \
 ENV LINT_VERSION=v1.42.1 \
     HELM_VERSION=v3.4.1 \
     KIND_VERSION=v0.11.1 \
-    BUILDX_VERSION=v0.5.1
+    BUILDX_VERSION=v0.5.1 \
+    GH_VERSION=2.2.0
 
 # This layer's versioning is determined by us, and thus could be rebuilt more frequently to test different versions
 RUN curl -sSfL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/golangci/golangci-lint/master/install.sh | sh -s -- -b $(go env GOPATH)/bin -d ${LINT_VERSION} && \
@@ -64,6 +66,9 @@ RUN curl -sSfL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/golangci/golangci-lint/master/i
     mkdir -p ~/.docker/cli-plugins && \
     curl -L "https://github.com/docker/buildx/releases/download/${BUILDX_VERSION}/buildx-${BUILDX_VERSION}.linux-${ARCH}" -o ~/.docker/cli-plugins/docker-buildx && \
     chmod 755 ~/.docker/cli-plugins/docker-buildx && \
+    curl -L https://github.com/cli/cli/releases/download/v${GH_VERSION}/gh_${GH_VERSION}_linux_${ARCH}.tar.gz | tar xzf - && \
+    mv gh_${GH_VERSION}_linux_${ARCH}/bin/gh /go/bin/ && \
+    rm -rf gh_${GH_VERSION}_linux_${ARCH} && \
     find /go/bin ~/.docker/cli-plugins -type f -executable -newercc /proc -exec strip {} + && \
     find /go/bin ~/.docker/cli-plugins -type f -executable -newercc /proc \( -execdir upx ${UPX_LEVEL} {} \; -o -true \)