diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index fae5bac4..927c6b11 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ TARGETS=darwin linux windows
 TERRAFORM_PLUGIN_EXTENSION=
 VERSION=0.78.0# x-release-please-version
 
-GOLANGCI_LINT_VERSION=v2.1.6# renovate: depName=golangci/golangci-lint datasource=github-releases
+GOLANGCI_LINT_VERSION=2.1.6# renovate: depName=golangci/golangci-lint datasource=github-releases
 
 # check if opentofu is installed and use it if it is,
 # otherwise use terraform
@@ -110,11 +110,19 @@ testacc:
 	@TF_ACC=1 env $$(cat testacc.env | xargs) go test --timeout=30m --tags=acceptance -count=1 -v github.com/bpg/terraform-provider-proxmox/fwprovider/...
 
 .PHONY: lint
-lint:
+lint: ensure-golangci-lint
 	# NOTE: This target is for local runs only. For linting in CI see .github/workflows/golangci-lint.yml
 	golangci-lint fmt
 	golangci-lint run --fix
 
+.PHONY: ensure-golangci-lint
+ensure-golangci-lint:
+	@CURRENT_VERSION=$$(golangci-lint version --short 2>/dev/null || echo "not installed"); \
+	if [ "$$CURRENT_VERSION" != "$(GOLANGCI_LINT_VERSION)" ]; then \
+		echo "Installing golangci-lint $(GOLANGCI_LINT_VERSION) (current: $$CURRENT_VERSION)"; \
+		curl -sSfL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/golangci/golangci-lint/master/install.sh | sh -s -- -b $$(go env GOPATH)/bin $(GOLANGCI_LINT_VERSION); \
+	fi
+
 .PHONY: release-build
 release-build:
 	goreleaser build --clean --skip=validate