diff --git a/apt.mk b/apt.mk
index 7afe780..b3099ea 100644
--- a/apt.mk
+++ b/apt.mk
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-MANDATORY-apt = APT_PACKAGES
+MANDATORY-apt = DEPLOY_HOSTS SSH_USER APT_PACKAGES DEPLOY_NAME
 
 pull-apt:
 	# nop
diff --git a/compose-file.mk b/compose-file.mk
index 0d1c7c9..03a194c 100644
--- a/compose-file.mk
+++ b/compose-file.mk
@@ -1,4 +1,8 @@
-MANDATORY-compose-file = DEPLOY_HOSTS DEPLOY_TYPE TAG DEPLOY_COMPOSE_FILE DEPLOY_COMPOSE_PROJECT
+MANDATORY-compose-file = DEPLOY_HOSTS DEPLOY_TYPE SSH_USER DEPLOY_COMPOSE_FILE DEPLOY_COMPOSE_PROJECT
+
+ifndef DOCKER_LOGIN
+DOCKER_LOGIN = 0
+endif
 
 pull-compose-file:
 	@- echo "\n### pulling image(s)"
@@ -9,7 +13,10 @@ pull-compose-file:
 			echo "\n#### perfom docker login with user $(DOCKER_USER) on $(DOCKER_REGISTRY)"; \
 			ssh $(SSH_USER)@$(host) "docker login -u $(DOCKER_USER) -p $(DOCKER_PASS) $(DOCKER_REGISTRY)"; \
 		fi; \
-		ssh $(SSH_USER)@$(host) "docker pull $(DOCKER_IMAGE)"; \
+		if test -n "$(DOCKER_IMAGE)" ; \
+		then \
+			ssh $(SSH_USER)@$(host) "docker pull $(DOCKER_IMAGE)"; \
+		fi; \
 	)
 
 start-compose-file:
diff --git a/compose.mk b/compose.mk
index c9779bf..6de67f8 100644
--- a/compose.mk
+++ b/compose.mk
@@ -1,4 +1,8 @@
-MANDATORY-compose = DEPLOY_HOSTS DEPLOY_TYPE TAG
+MANDATORY-compose = DEPLOY_HOSTS DEPLOY_TYPE SSH_USER DEPLOY_NAME
+
+ifndef DOCKER_LOGIN
+DOCKER_LOGIN = 0
+endif
 
 pull-compose:
 	@- echo "\n### pulling image(s)"
@@ -9,7 +13,10 @@ pull-compose:
 			echo "\n#### perfom docker login with user $(DOCKER_USER) on $(DOCKER_REGISTRY)"; \
 			ssh $(SSH_USER)@$(host) "docker login -u $(DOCKER_USER) -p $(DOCKER_PASS) $(DOCKER_REGISTRY)"; \
 		fi; \
-		ssh $(SSH_USER)@$(host) "docker pull $(DOCKER_IMAGE)"; \
+		if test -n "$(DOCKER_IMAGE)" ; \
+		then \
+			ssh $(SSH_USER)@$(host) "docker pull $(DOCKER_IMAGE)"; \
+		fi; \
 	)
 
 start-compose:
diff --git a/test.sh b/test.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..88d79e1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+set -e
+
+DIR=$(mktemp -d)
+TESTS=$DIR/make-deploy/testing
+
+function prepdir() {
+  mkdir $DIR/make-deploy
+  cp -r * $DIR/make-deploy
+  cd $DIR
+  ln -s make-deploy/Makefile
+  touch secrets.mk
+  echo "::::::::: testing directory root: $DIR"
+}
+
+function cleandir(){
+  rm -fr $DIR
+  echo "::::::::: cleanup done"
+}
+
+function test_with_minimal_vars_apt(){
+  echo "::::::::: $FUNCNAME ::::::::::::"
+  cp $TESTS/apt_config.mk config.mk
+  make deploy
+}
+
+function test_with_minimal_vars_compose(){
+  echo "::::::::: $FUNCNAME ::::::::::::"
+  cp $TESTS/compose_config.mk config.mk
+  cp $TESTS/docker-compose.yml .
+  make deploy
+  rm -f docker-compose.yml
+}
+
+function test_with_minimal_vars_compose_file(){
+  echo "::::::::: $FUNCNAME ::::::::::::"
+  cp $TESTS/compose_file_config.mk config.mk
+  cp $TESTS/docker-compose.yml .
+  make deploy
+  rm -f docker-compose.yml
+}
+
+prepdir
+
+test_with_minimal_vars_apt
+test_with_minimal_vars_compose
+test_with_minimal_vars_compose_file
+
+cleandir
diff --git a/testing/apt_config.mk b/testing/apt_config.mk
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..444165f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/testing/apt_config.mk
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+DEPLOY_NAME = make-deploy-test-apt
+DEPLOY_PATH = /tmp
+DEPLOY_HOSTS = localhost
+DEPLOY_TYPE = apt
+SSH_USER = $(USER)
+APT_PACKAGES = curl
diff --git a/testing/compose_config.mk b/testing/compose_config.mk
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7d81afb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/testing/compose_config.mk
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+DEPLOY_NAME = make-deploy-test-compose
+DEPLOY_PATH = /tmp
+DEPLOY_HOSTS = localhost
+DEPLOY_TYPE = compose
+SSH_USER = $(USER)
diff --git a/testing/compose_file_config.mk b/testing/compose_file_config.mk
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bdd0ab8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/testing/compose_file_config.mk
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+DEPLOY_NAME = make-deploy-test-compose-file
+DEPLOY_PATH = /tmp
+DEPLOY_HOSTS = localhost
+DEPLOY_TYPE = compose-file
+SSH_USER = $(USER)
+DEPLOY_COMPOSE_PROJECT = make-deploy-test-compose-file
+DEPLOY_COMPOSE_FILE = docker-compose.yml
diff --git a/testing/docker-compose.yml b/testing/docker-compose.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d362336
--- /dev/null
+++ b/testing/docker-compose.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+services:
+  curl:
+    image: "alpine/curl"
+    command: -s -o /dev/null https://www.test.de