diff --git a/compose.mk b/compose.mk
index 0142d3f..016eb49 100644
--- a/compose.mk
+++ b/compose.mk
@@ -6,6 +6,10 @@ ifndef DOCKER_LOGIN
 DOCKER_LOGIN = 0
 endif
 
+ifndef COMPOSE_CMD
+COMPOSE_CMD = 'docker-compose'
+endif
+
 pull-compose:
 	@echo "\n### pulling image(s)"
 	@$(foreach host,$(DEPLOY_HOSTS), \
@@ -26,7 +30,7 @@ start-compose:
 	@$(foreach host,$(DEPLOY_HOSTS), \
 		set -e; \
 		echo "#host: $(host)"; \
-		ssh $(SSH_USER)@$(host) "cd $(project_dir); docker-compose up -d"; \
+		ssh $(SSH_USER)@$(host) "cd $(project_dir); $(COMPOSE_CMD) up -d"; \
 		sleep $(DEPLOY_START_DELAY); \
 		set +e; \
 	)
@@ -36,7 +40,7 @@ logs-compose:
 	@$(foreach host,$(DEPLOY_HOSTS), \
 		set -e; \
 		echo "#host: $(host)"; \
-		ssh $(SSH_USER)@$(host) "cd $(project_dir); docker-compose logs -f $(service)"; \
+		ssh $(SSH_USER)@$(host) "cd $(project_dir); $(COMPOSE_CMD) logs -f $(service)"; \
 		set +e; \
 	)
 
@@ -45,7 +49,7 @@ restart-compose:
 	@$(foreach host,$(DEPLOY_HOSTS), \
 		set -e; \
 		echo "#host: $(host)"; \
-		ssh $(SSH_USER)@$(host) "cd $(project_dir); docker-compose restart"; \
+		ssh $(SSH_USER)@$(host) "cd $(project_dir); $(COMPOSE_CMD) restart"; \
 		sleep $(DEPLOY_START_DELAY); \
 		set +e; \
 	)