diff --git a/hacking/scripts/start_node.sh b/hacking/scripts/start_node.sh
index 63b4586d1..da02be6fd 100755
--- a/hacking/scripts/start_node.sh
+++ b/hacking/scripts/start_node.sh
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ docker compose stop localsecret-1
 
 docker compose logs localsecret-2 --tail 5
 
+echo
 echo "*************************************************************************"
 echo "*                                                                       *"
 echo "*  Secret Network Test Nodes are now setup, and ready for experiments.  *"
@@ -57,4 +58,11 @@ echo "*************************************************************************"
 
 printf "\nNode 2 status info:\n"
 
-docker compose exec localsecret-2 secretd status | jq .ValidatorInfo
+if command -v jq &> /dev/null
+then
+    jq_cmd="jq"
+else
+    jq_cmd="docker run -i --rm ghcr.io/jqlang/jq"
+fi
+
+docker compose exec localsecret-2 secretd status | ${jq_cmd} .ValidatorInfo