diff --git a/cmd/compose/compose.go b/cmd/compose/compose.go
index c15241415..cfa5154a1 100644
--- a/cmd/compose/compose.go
+++ b/cmd/compose/compose.go
@@ -142,6 +142,10 @@ func (o *projectOptions) projectOrName() (*types.Project, string, error) {
 	if o.ProjectName == "" {
 		p, err := o.toProject(nil)
 		if err != nil {
+			envProjectName := os.Getenv("COMPOSE_PROJECT_NAME")
+			if envProjectName != "" {
+				return nil, envProjectName, nil
+			}
 			return nil, "", err
 		}
 		project = p
diff --git a/pkg/e2e/fixtures/start-stop/other.yaml b/pkg/e2e/fixtures/start-stop/other.yaml
index c28cbd09b..587827261 100644
--- a/pkg/e2e/fixtures/start-stop/other.yaml
+++ b/pkg/e2e/fixtures/start-stop/other.yaml
@@ -2,4 +2,4 @@ services:
   a-different-one:
     image:  nginx:alpine
   and-another-one:
-    image:  nginx:alpine
\ No newline at end of file
+    image:  nginx:alpine