diff --git a/rewrite/internal/cli/create.go b/rewrite/internal/cli/create.go
index c7a5d6a6..16242572 100644
--- a/rewrite/internal/cli/create.go
+++ b/rewrite/internal/cli/create.go
@@ -208,6 +208,8 @@ func createAction(ctx context.Context, cmd *cli.Command) error {
 		DryRun:                  cmd.Bool("dry-run"),
 		GenerateEntry:           !cmd.Bool("no-entry"),
 		Rootful:                 cmd.Bool("root"),
+		ContainerAlwaysPull:     cmd.Bool("pull"),
+		NonInteractive:          cmd.Bool("yes"),
 	}
 
 	progress := ui.NewProgress(os.Stderr)
@@ -220,6 +222,11 @@ func createAction(ctx context.Context, cmd *cli.Command) error {
 		printContainerAlreadyExists(progress, containerAlreadyExistsErr.ContainerName, opts.Rootful)
 	}
 
+	if errors.Is(err, commands.ErrImagePullAbortedByUser) {
+		progress.Finalize("next time, pull the image first")
+		return nil
+	}
+
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("create command failed: %w", err)
 	}
diff --git a/rewrite/pkg/commands/assemble.go b/rewrite/pkg/commands/assemble.go
index 410dc579..a1db1962 100644
--- a/rewrite/pkg/commands/assemble.go
+++ b/rewrite/pkg/commands/assemble.go
@@ -134,11 +134,10 @@ func (ac *AssembleCommand) createItem(ctx context.Context, item manifest.Item, d
 		GenerateEntry:           item.Entry,
 		Rootful:                 item.Root,
 		DryRun:                  dryRun,
+		NonInteractive:          true,
+		ContainerAlwaysPull:     item.AlwaysPull,
 	}
 
-	// TODO: pull image if needed
-	// https://github.com/89luca89/distrobox/blob/main/distrobox-create#L1016
-
 	err := ac.createCmd.Execute(ctx, opts)
 	if err != nil {
 		ac.progress.Fail()
diff --git a/rewrite/pkg/commands/create.go b/rewrite/pkg/commands/create.go
index 0d7894d1..fa63f2e8 100644
--- a/rewrite/pkg/commands/create.go
+++ b/rewrite/pkg/commands/create.go
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ const (
 )
 
 var ErrHostnameTooLong = fmt.Errorf("hostname too long, must be less than %d characters", maxHostnameLength)
+var ErrImagePullAbortedByUser = errors.New("image pull operation aborted by user")
 
 type ContainerAlreadyExistsError struct {
 	ContainerName string
@@ -36,6 +37,7 @@ type CreateCommand struct {
 	containerManager containermanager.ContainerManager
 	generateEntryCmd *GenerateEntryCommand
 	progress         *ui.Progress
+	prompter         *ui.Prompter
 }
 
 type CreateOptions struct {
@@ -77,6 +79,9 @@ type CreateOptions struct {
 
 	GenerateEntry bool
 	Rootful       bool
+
+	ContainerAlwaysPull bool
+	NonInteractive      bool
 }
 
 func NewCreateCommand(cm containermanager.ContainerManager, progress *ui.Progress) *CreateCommand {
@@ -109,8 +114,9 @@ func (c *CreateCommand) Execute(ctx context.Context, opts CreateOptions) error {
 		containerImage = cloneImage
 	}
 
-	// TODO: pull image if needed
-	// https://github.com/89luca89/distrobox/blob/main/distrobox-create#L1016
+	if err := c.askPullImage(ctx, containerImage, opts); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 
 	c.progress.Next("Creating '%s' using image %s", containerName, containerImage)
 
@@ -268,3 +274,23 @@ func (c *CreateCommand) clone(ctx context.Context, containerName string) (string
 
 	return commitTag, nil
 }
+
+func (c *CreateCommand) askPullImage(ctx context.Context, containerImage string, opts CreateOptions) error {
+	if opts.ContainerAlwaysPull || !c.containerManager.ImageExists(ctx, containerImage) {
+		skipConfirm := opts.NonInteractive || opts.ContainerAlwaysPull
+		if !skipConfirm {
+			msg := fmt.Sprintf("Image '%s' not found.\n. Do you want to pull the image now?", containerImage)
+			answer := c.prompter.Prompt(msg, true)
+			if !answer {
+				return ErrImagePullAbortedByUser
+			}
+		}
+
+		err := c.containerManager.PullImage(ctx, containerImage, opts.ContainerPlatform)
+		if err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("failed to pull image '%s': %w", containerImage, err)
+		}
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
diff --git a/rewrite/pkg/commands/ephemeral.go b/rewrite/pkg/commands/ephemeral.go
index d928e9b5..8bac38e2 100644
--- a/rewrite/pkg/commands/ephemeral.go
+++ b/rewrite/pkg/commands/ephemeral.go
@@ -47,9 +47,7 @@ func (c *EphemeralCommand) Execute(ctx context.Context, opts EphemeralOptions) e
 	// override options not relevant for creating ephemeral containers
 	createOpts.GenerateEntry = false
 	createOpts.DryRun = opts.DryRun
-	// TODO: pull image if needed
-	// The feature is still a todo in the CreateCommand. When implemented,
-	// remember to set it here as well.
+	createOpts.NonInteractive = true
 	if err := c.createCmd.Execute(ctx, createOpts); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to create ephemeral container: %w", err)
 	}
diff --git a/rewrite/pkg/containermanager/containermanager.go b/rewrite/pkg/containermanager/containermanager.go
index 2c573d63..5981e3c8 100644
--- a/rewrite/pkg/containermanager/containermanager.go
+++ b/rewrite/pkg/containermanager/containermanager.go
@@ -82,7 +82,9 @@ type ContainerManager interface {
 	Create(ctx context.Context, opts CreateOptions) error
 	Remove(ctx context.Context, containerName string, opts RmOptions) error
 	Exists(ctx context.Context, containerName string) bool
+	ImageExists(ctx context.Context, imageName string) bool
 	Stop(ctx context.Context, containerNames []string) error
 	InspectContainer(ctx context.Context, containerName string) (*InspectResult, error)
-	Commit(ctx context.Context, containerID string, tag string) error
+	PullImage(ctx context.Context, imageName string, platform string) error
+	Commit(ctx context.Context, containerID string, imageTag string) error
 }
diff --git a/rewrite/pkg/containermanager/providers/docker.go b/rewrite/pkg/containermanager/providers/docker.go
index 9be6405a..3b2fe631 100644
--- a/rewrite/pkg/containermanager/providers/docker.go
+++ b/rewrite/pkg/containermanager/providers/docker.go
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import (
 	"encoding/json"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
+	"io"
 	"os"
 	"os/exec"
 	"path/filepath"
@@ -57,6 +58,7 @@ type dockerContainer struct {
 type runOptions struct {
 	DryRun      bool
 	Interactive bool
+	TailLogs    bool
 }
 
 type inspectOutput struct {
@@ -70,6 +72,11 @@ type inspectOutput struct {
 	} `json:"Config"`
 }
 
+type InspectImageOutput struct {
+	ID           string `json:"ID"`
+	Architecture string `json:"Architecture"`
+}
+
 func (d *Docker) ListContainers(ctx context.Context) ([]containermanager.Container, error) {
 	args := []string{"ps", "-a", "--no-trunc", "--format", "json"}
 	out, err := d.run(ctx, args, runOptions{})
@@ -473,6 +480,11 @@ func (d *Docker) run(ctx context.Context, args []string, opts runOptions) (strin
 	cmd.Stdout = &stdout
 	cmd.Stderr = &stderr
 
+	if opts.TailLogs {
+		cmd.Stdout = io.MultiWriter(&stdout, os.Stdout)
+		cmd.Stderr = io.MultiWriter(&stderr, os.Stderr)
+	}
+
 	err := cmd.Run()
 	if err != nil {
 		captured := strings.TrimSpace(stderr.String())
@@ -683,6 +695,36 @@ func (d *Docker) InspectContainer(ctx context.Context, containerName string) (*c
 	return &config, nil
 }
 
+func (d *Docker) ImageExists(ctx context.Context, imageName string) bool {
+	args := []string{"inspect", "--type", "image", "--format", "json", imageName}
+	output, err := d.run(ctx, args, runOptions{})
+	if err != nil {
+		return false
+	}
+
+	var inspects []inspectOutput
+	if err := json.Unmarshal([]byte(output), &inspects); err != nil {
+		return false
+	}
+
+	if len(inspects) == 0 {
+		return false
+	}
+
+	return true
+}
+
+func (d *Docker) PullImage(ctx context.Context, imageName string, platform string) error {
+	var args []string
+	if platform != "" {
+		args = []string{"pull", "--platform", platform, imageName}
+	} else {
+		args = []string{"pull", imageName}
+	}
+	_, err := d.run(ctx, args, runOptions{TailLogs: true})
+	return err
+}
+
 func buildContainerPath(cleanPath bool, hostPath string, cfg *containermanager.InspectResult) string {
 	standardPaths := []string{"/usr/local/sbin", "/usr/local/bin", "/usr/sbin", "/usr/bin", "/sbin", "/bin"}
 
diff --git a/rewrite/pkg/containermanager/providers/podman.go b/rewrite/pkg/containermanager/providers/podman.go
index b524c24c..e5fce3e2 100644
--- a/rewrite/pkg/containermanager/providers/podman.go
+++ b/rewrite/pkg/containermanager/providers/podman.go
@@ -522,6 +522,36 @@ func (p *Podman) Enter(
 	return nil
 }
 
+func (p *Podman) ImageExists(ctx context.Context, imageName string) bool {
+	args := []string{"inspect", "--type", "image", "--format", "json", imageName}
+	output, err := p.run(ctx, args, runOptions{})
+	if err != nil {
+		return false
+	}
+
+	var inspects []inspectOutput
+	if err := json.Unmarshal([]byte(output), &inspects); err != nil {
+		return false
+	}
+
+	if len(inspects) == 0 {
+		return false
+	}
+
+	return true
+}
+
+func (p *Podman) PullImage(ctx context.Context, imageName string, platform string) error {
+	var args []string
+	if platform != "" {
+		args = []string{"pull", "--platform", platform, imageName}
+	} else {
+		args = []string{"pull", imageName}
+	}
+	_, err := p.run(ctx, args, runOptions{TailLogs: true})
+	return err
+}
+
 func (p *Podman) Remove(
 	ctx context.Context,
 	containerName string,
diff --git a/rewrite/pkg/manifest/parse.go b/rewrite/pkg/manifest/parse.go
index 5afe7c6c..91bae2d4 100644
--- a/rewrite/pkg/manifest/parse.go
+++ b/rewrite/pkg/manifest/parse.go
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ type Item struct {
 	Nvidia             bool
 	InitHooks          []string
 	PreInitHooks       []string
-	Pull               bool
+	AlwaysPull         bool
 	Root               bool
 	StartNow           bool
 	UnshareGroups      bool
@@ -163,7 +163,7 @@ func sectionToItem(section *ini.Section) Item { //nolint:funlen // Function leng
 		case "entry":
 			item.Entry = parseBool(last)
 		case "pull":
-			item.Pull = parseBool(last)
+			item.AlwaysPull = parseBool(last)
 		case "root":
 			item.Root = parseBool(last)
 		case "start_now":
diff --git a/rewrite/pkg/manifest/parse_test.go b/rewrite/pkg/manifest/parse_test.go
index 5db8cc80..0846d961 100644
--- a/rewrite/pkg/manifest/parse_test.go
+++ b/rewrite/pkg/manifest/parse_test.go
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ start_now=true
 
 	assert.Equal(t, "distrodev", parsed[0].Name)
 	assert.Equal(t, "ubuntu:24.04", parsed[0].Image)
-	assert.True(t, parsed[0].Pull)
+	assert.True(t, parsed[0].AlwaysPull)
 	assert.False(t, parsed[0].Init)
 	assert.True(t, parsed[0].StartNow)
 }
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ nvidia=true
 	distrodev := parsed[0]
 	assert.Equal(t, "distrodev", distrodev.Name)
 	assert.Equal(t, "ubuntu:24.04", distrodev.Image)
-	assert.True(t, distrodev.Pull)
+	assert.True(t, distrodev.AlwaysPull)
 	assert.False(t, distrodev.Init)
 	assert.True(t, distrodev.StartNow)
 
@@ -203,14 +203,14 @@ image=ubuntu:22.04 # this will override the included image
 	ubuntu22 := parsed[0]
 	assert.Equal(t, "ubuntu22", ubuntu22.Name)
 	assert.Equal(t, "ubuntu:22.04", ubuntu22.Image)
-	assert.True(t, ubuntu22.Pull)
+	assert.True(t, ubuntu22.AlwaysPull)
 	assert.True(t, ubuntu22.Root)
 
 	// Check ubuntu24
 	ubuntu24 := parsed[1]
 	assert.Equal(t, "ubuntu24", ubuntu24.Name)
 	assert.Equal(t, "ubuntu:22.04", ubuntu24.Image)
-	assert.True(t, ubuntu24.Pull)
+	assert.True(t, ubuntu24.AlwaysPull)
 	assert.True(t, ubuntu24.Root)
 }
 
@@ -240,7 +240,7 @@ start_now=true
 
 	assert.Equal(t, "distrodev", parsed[0].Name)
 	assert.Equal(t, "ubuntu:24.04", parsed[0].Image)
-	assert.True(t, parsed[0].Pull)
+	assert.True(t, parsed[0].AlwaysPull)
 	assert.False(t, parsed[0].Init)
 	assert.True(t, parsed[0].StartNow)
 }