diff --git a/pkg/e2e/cancel_test.go b/pkg/e2e/cancel_test.go
index 8d4469592..d64305a3d 100644
--- a/pkg/e2e/cancel_test.go
+++ b/pkg/e2e/cancel_test.go
@@ -41,7 +41,8 @@ func TestComposeCancel(t *testing.T) {
 
 		// require a separate groupID from the process running tests, in order to simulate ctrl+C from a terminal.
 		// sending kill signal
-		cmd, stdout, stderr, err := StartWithNewGroupID(c.NewDockerCmd("compose", "-f", buildProjectPath, "build", "--progress", "plain"))
+		cmd, stdout, stderr, err := StartWithNewGroupID(c.NewDockerComposeCmd(t, "-f", buildProjectPath, "build",
+			"--progress", "plain"))
 		assert.NilError(t, err)
 
 		c.WaitForCondition(t, func() (bool, string) {
diff --git a/pkg/e2e/cascade_stop_test.go b/pkg/e2e/cascade_stop_test.go
index 64feec678..d5ca08453 100644
--- a/pkg/e2e/cascade_stop_test.go
+++ b/pkg/e2e/cascade_stop_test.go
@@ -28,19 +28,19 @@ func TestCascadeStop(t *testing.T) {
 	const projectName = "e2e-cascade-stop"
 
 	t.Run("abort-on-container-exit", func(t *testing.T) {
-		res := c.RunDockerOrExitError(t, "compose", "-f", "./fixtures/cascade-stop-test/compose.yaml", "--project-name", projectName, "up", "--abort-on-container-exit")
+		res := c.RunDockerComposeCmdNoCheck(t, "-f", "./fixtures/cascade-stop-test/compose.yaml", "--project-name", projectName, "up", "--abort-on-container-exit")
 		res.Assert(t, icmd.Expected{ExitCode: 1, Out: `should_fail-1 exited with code 1`})
 		res.Assert(t, icmd.Expected{ExitCode: 1, Out: `Aborting on container exit...`})
 	})
 
 	t.Run("exit-code-from", func(t *testing.T) {
-		res := c.RunDockerOrExitError(t, "compose", "-f", "./fixtures/cascade-stop-test/compose.yaml", "--project-name", projectName, "up", "--exit-code-from=sleep")
+		res := c.RunDockerComposeCmdNoCheck(t, "-f", "./fixtures/cascade-stop-test/compose.yaml", "--project-name", projectName, "up", "--exit-code-from=sleep")
 		res.Assert(t, icmd.Expected{ExitCode: 137, Out: `should_fail-1 exited with code 1`})
 		res.Assert(t, icmd.Expected{ExitCode: 137, Out: `Aborting on container exit...`})
 	})
 
 	t.Run("exit-code-from unknown", func(t *testing.T) {
-		res := c.RunDockerOrExitError(t, "compose", "-f", "./fixtures/cascade-stop-test/compose.yaml", "--project-name", projectName, "up", "--exit-code-from=unknown")
+		res := c.RunDockerComposeCmdNoCheck(t, "-f", "./fixtures/cascade-stop-test/compose.yaml", "--project-name", projectName, "up", "--exit-code-from=unknown")
 		res.Assert(t, icmd.Expected{ExitCode: 1, Err: `no such service: unknown`})
 	})
 
diff --git a/pkg/e2e/compose_build_test.go b/pkg/e2e/compose_build_test.go
index 68df43f8a..76a27f032 100644
--- a/pkg/e2e/compose_build_test.go
+++ b/pkg/e2e/compose_build_test.go
@@ -57,7 +57,12 @@ func TestLocalComposeBuild(t *testing.T) {
 		c.RunDockerOrExitError(t, "rmi", "build-test_nginx")
 		c.RunDockerOrExitError(t, "rmi", "custom-nginx")
 
-		icmd.RunCmd(c.NewDockerCmd("compose", "--project-directory", "fixtures/build-test", "build", "--build-arg", "FOO"),
+		icmd.RunCmd(c.NewDockerComposeCmd(t,
+			"--project-directory",
+			"fixtures/build-test",
+			"build",
+			"--build-arg",
+			"FOO"),
 			func(cmd *icmd.Cmd) {
 				cmd.Env = append(cmd.Env, "FOO=BAR")
 			})
@@ -69,7 +74,7 @@ func TestLocalComposeBuild(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Run("build with multiple build-args ", func(t *testing.T) {
 		// ensure local test run does not reuse previously build image
 		c.RunDockerOrExitError(t, "rmi", "-f", "multi-args_multiargs")
-		cmd := c.NewDockerCmd("compose", "--project-directory", "fixtures/build-test/multi-args", "build")
+		cmd := c.NewDockerComposeCmd(t, "--project-directory", "fixtures/build-test/multi-args", "build")
 
 		icmd.RunCmd(cmd, func(cmd *icmd.Cmd) {
 			cmd.Env = append(cmd.Env, "DOCKER_BUILDKIT=0")
diff --git a/pkg/e2e/compose_down_test.go b/pkg/e2e/compose_down_test.go
index 27ec3f4c6..9819b28aa 100644
--- a/pkg/e2e/compose_down_test.go
+++ b/pkg/e2e/compose_down_test.go
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ func TestDown(t *testing.T) {
 	const projectName = "e2e-down"
 
 	t.Run("no resource to remove", func(t *testing.T) {
-		res := c.RunDockerOrExitError(t, "compose", "--project-name", projectName, "down")
+		res := c.RunDockerComposeCmd(t, "--project-name", projectName, "down")
 		res.Assert(t, icmd.Expected{ExitCode: 0, Err: `No resource found to remove for project "e2e-down"`})
 	})
 }
diff --git a/pkg/e2e/compose_exec_test.go b/pkg/e2e/compose_exec_test.go
index 6309e8c5b..26885f283 100644
--- a/pkg/e2e/compose_exec_test.go
+++ b/pkg/e2e/compose_exec_test.go
@@ -29,21 +29,25 @@ func TestLocalComposeExec(t *testing.T) {
 
 	const projectName = "compose-e2e-exec"
 
-	c.RunDockerComposeCmd(t, "--project-directory", "fixtures/simple-composefile", "--project-name", projectName, "up",
-		"-d")
+	cmdArgs := func(cmd string, args ...string) []string {
+		ret := []string{"--project-directory", "fixtures/simple-composefile", "--project-name", projectName, cmd}
+		ret = append(ret, args...)
+		return ret
+	}
+
+	c.RunDockerComposeCmd(t, cmdArgs("up", "-d")...)
 
 	t.Run("exec true", func(t *testing.T) {
-		res := c.RunDockerOrExitError(t, "exec", "compose-e2e-exec-simple-1", "/bin/true")
-		res.Assert(t, icmd.Expected{ExitCode: 0})
+		c.RunDockerComposeCmd(t, cmdArgs("exec", "simple", "/bin/true")...)
 	})
 
 	t.Run("exec false", func(t *testing.T) {
-		res := c.RunDockerOrExitError(t, "exec", "compose-e2e-exec-simple-1", "/bin/false")
+		res := c.RunDockerComposeCmdNoCheck(t, cmdArgs("exec", "simple", "/bin/false")...)
 		res.Assert(t, icmd.Expected{ExitCode: 1})
 	})
 
 	t.Run("exec with env set", func(t *testing.T) {
-		res := icmd.RunCmd(c.NewDockerCmd("exec", "-e", "FOO", "compose-e2e-exec-simple-1", "/usr/bin/env"),
+		res := icmd.RunCmd(c.NewDockerComposeCmd(t, cmdArgs("exec", "-e", "FOO", "simple", "/usr/bin/env")...),
 			func(cmd *icmd.Cmd) {
 				cmd.Env = append(cmd.Env, "FOO=BAR")
 			})
@@ -51,8 +55,7 @@ func TestLocalComposeExec(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 
 	t.Run("exec without env set", func(t *testing.T) {
-		res := c.RunDockerOrExitError(t, "exec", "-e", "FOO", "compose-e2e-exec-simple-1", "/usr/bin/env")
-		res.Assert(t, icmd.Expected{ExitCode: 0})
-		assert.Check(t, !strings.Contains(res.Stdout(), "FOO="))
+		res := c.RunDockerComposeCmd(t, cmdArgs("exec", "-e", "FOO", "simple", "/usr/bin/env")...)
+		assert.Check(t, !strings.Contains(res.Stdout(), "FOO="), res.Combined())
 	})
 }
diff --git a/pkg/e2e/compose_run_test.go b/pkg/e2e/compose_run_test.go
index af46b2dbd..e1abb581e 100644
--- a/pkg/e2e/compose_run_test.go
+++ b/pkg/e2e/compose_run_test.go
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ func TestLocalComposeRun(t *testing.T) {
 		res := c.RunDockerComposeCmd(t, "-f", "./fixtures/run-test/compose.yaml", "run", "back", "echo", "Hello")
 		assert.Assert(t, strings.Contains(res.Combined(), "orphan"))
 
-		cmd := c.NewDockerCmd("compose", "-f", "./fixtures/run-test/compose.yaml", "run", "back", "echo", "Hello")
+		cmd := c.NewDockerComposeCmd(t, "-f", "./fixtures/run-test/compose.yaml", "run", "back", "echo", "Hello")
 		res = icmd.RunCmd(cmd, func(cmd *icmd.Cmd) {
 			cmd.Env = append(cmd.Env, "COMPOSE_IGNORE_ORPHANS=True")
 		})
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ func TestLocalComposeRun(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 
 	t.Run("down", func(t *testing.T) {
-		cmd := c.NewDockerCmd("compose", "-f", "./fixtures/run-test/compose.yaml", "down")
+		cmd := c.NewDockerComposeCmd(t, "-f", "./fixtures/run-test/compose.yaml", "down")
 		icmd.RunCmd(cmd, func(c *icmd.Cmd) {
 			c.Env = append(c.Env, "COMPOSE_REMOVE_ORPHANS=True")
 		})
diff --git a/pkg/e2e/compose_test.go b/pkg/e2e/compose_test.go
index f862e8e83..536befb56 100644
--- a/pkg/e2e/compose_test.go
+++ b/pkg/e2e/compose_test.go
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ func TestLocalComposeUp(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 
 	t.Run("check healthcheck output", func(t *testing.T) {
-		c.WaitForCmdResult(t, c.NewDockerCmd("compose", "-p", projectName, "ps", "--format", "json"),
+		c.WaitForCmdResult(t, c.NewDockerComposeCmd(t, "-p", projectName, "ps", "--format", "json"),
 			StdoutContains(`"Name":"compose-e2e-demo-web-1","Command":"/dispatcher","Project":"compose-e2e-demo","Service":"web","State":"running","Health":"healthy"`),
 			5*time.Second, 1*time.Second)
 
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ func TestLocalComposeUp(t *testing.T) {
 func TestComposePull(t *testing.T) {
 	c := NewParallelCLI(t)
 
-	res := c.RunDockerOrExitError(t, "compose", "--project-directory", "fixtures/simple-composefile", "pull")
+	res := c.RunDockerComposeCmd(t, "--project-directory", "fixtures/simple-composefile", "pull")
 	output := res.Combined()
 
 	assert.Assert(t, strings.Contains(output, "simple Pulled"))
@@ -148,9 +148,9 @@ func TestDownComposefileInParentFolder(t *testing.T) {
 func TestAttachRestart(t *testing.T) {
 	c := NewParallelCLI(t)
 
-	cmd := c.NewDockerCmd("compose", "--ansi=never", "--project-directory", "./fixtures/attach-restart", "up")
+	cmd := c.NewDockerComposeCmd(t, "--ansi=never", "--project-directory", "./fixtures/attach-restart", "up")
 	res := icmd.StartCmd(cmd)
-	defer c.RunDockerOrExitError(t, "compose", "-p", "attach-restart", "down")
+	defer c.RunDockerComposeCmd(t, "-p", "attach-restart", "down")
 
 	c.WaitForCondition(t, func() (bool, string) {
 		debug := res.Combined()
@@ -165,8 +165,8 @@ func TestAttachRestart(t *testing.T) {
 func TestInitContainer(t *testing.T) {
 	c := NewParallelCLI(t)
 
-	res := c.RunDockerOrExitError(t, "compose", "--ansi=never", "--project-directory", "./fixtures/init-container", "up")
-	defer c.RunDockerOrExitError(t, "compose", "-p", "init-container", "down")
+	res := c.RunDockerComposeCmd(t, "--ansi=never", "--project-directory", "./fixtures/init-container", "up")
+	defer c.RunDockerComposeCmd(t, "-p", "init-container", "down")
 	testify.Regexp(t, "foo-1  | hello(?m:.*)bar-1  | world", res.Stdout())
 }
 
diff --git a/pkg/e2e/framework.go b/pkg/e2e/framework.go
index 502f89989..29a33e432 100644
--- a/pkg/e2e/framework.go
+++ b/pkg/e2e/framework.go
@@ -228,14 +228,19 @@ func (c *CLI) MetricsSocket() string {
 }
 
 // NewDockerCmd creates a docker cmd without running it
-func (c *CLI) NewDockerCmd(args ...string) icmd.Cmd {
+func (c *CLI) NewDockerCmd(t testing.TB, args ...string) icmd.Cmd {
+	for _, arg := range args {
+		if arg == compose.PluginName {
+			t.Fatal("This test called 'RunDockerCmd' for 'compose'. Please prefer 'RunDockerComposeCmd' to be able to test as a plugin and standalone")
+		}
+	}
 	return c.NewCmd(DockerExecutableName, args...)
 }
 
 // RunDockerOrExitError runs a docker command and returns a result
 func (c *CLI) RunDockerOrExitError(t testing.TB, args ...string) *icmd.Result {
 	fmt.Printf("\t[%s] docker %s\n", t.Name(), strings.Join(args, " "))
-	return icmd.RunCmd(c.NewDockerCmd(args...))
+	return icmd.RunCmd(c.NewDockerCmd(t, args...))
 }
 
 // RunCmd runs a command, expects no error and returns a result
@@ -260,9 +265,6 @@ func (c *CLI) RunCmdInDir(t testing.TB, dir string, args ...string) *icmd.Result
 
 // RunDockerCmd runs a docker command, expects no error and returns a result
 func (c *CLI) RunDockerCmd(t testing.TB, args ...string) *icmd.Result {
-	if len(args) > 0 && args[0] == compose.PluginName {
-		t.Fatal("This test called 'RunDockerCmd' for 'compose'. Please prefer 'RunDockerComposeCmd' to be able to test as a plugin and standalone")
-	}
 	res := c.RunDockerOrExitError(t, args...)
 	res.Assert(t, icmd.Success)
 	return res
diff --git a/pkg/e2e/metrics_test.go b/pkg/e2e/metrics_test.go
index 12b762864..adee7da5c 100644
--- a/pkg/e2e/metrics_test.go
+++ b/pkg/e2e/metrics_test.go
@@ -27,29 +27,29 @@ func TestComposeMetrics(t *testing.T) {
 	c := NewParallelCLI(t)
 
 	t.Run("catch specific failure metrics", func(t *testing.T) {
-		res := c.RunDockerOrExitError(t, "compose", "-f", "fixtures/does-not-exist/compose.yaml", "build")
+		res := c.RunDockerComposeCmdNoCheck(t, "-f", "fixtures/does-not-exist/compose.yaml", "build")
 		expectedErr := "fixtures/does-not-exist/compose.yaml: no such file or directory"
 		if runtime.GOOS == "windows" {
 			expectedErr = "does-not-exist\\compose.yaml: The system cannot find the path specified"
 		}
 		res.Assert(t, icmd.Expected{ExitCode: 14, Err: expectedErr})
-		res = c.RunDockerOrExitError(t, "compose", "-f", "fixtures/wrong-composefile/compose.yaml", "up", "-d")
+		res = c.RunDockerComposeCmdNoCheck(t, "-f", "fixtures/wrong-composefile/compose.yaml", "up", "-d")
 		res.Assert(t, icmd.Expected{ExitCode: 15, Err: "services.simple Additional property wrongField is not allowed"})
-		res = c.RunDockerOrExitError(t, "compose", "up")
+		res = c.RunDockerComposeCmdNoCheck(t, "up")
 		res.Assert(t, icmd.Expected{ExitCode: 14, Err: "no configuration file provided: not found"})
-		res = c.RunDockerOrExitError(t, "compose", "up", "-f", "fixtures/wrong-composefile/compose.yaml")
+		res = c.RunDockerComposeCmdNoCheck(t, "up", "-f", "fixtures/wrong-composefile/compose.yaml")
 		res.Assert(t, icmd.Expected{ExitCode: 16, Err: "unknown shorthand flag: 'f' in -f"})
-		res = c.RunDockerOrExitError(t, "compose", "up", "--file", "fixtures/wrong-composefile/compose.yaml")
+		res = c.RunDockerComposeCmdNoCheck(t, "up", "--file", "fixtures/wrong-composefile/compose.yaml")
 		res.Assert(t, icmd.Expected{ExitCode: 16, Err: "unknown flag: --file"})
-		res = c.RunDockerOrExitError(t, "compose", "donw", "--file", "fixtures/wrong-composefile/compose.yaml")
+		res = c.RunDockerComposeCmdNoCheck(t, "donw", "--file", "fixtures/wrong-composefile/compose.yaml")
 		res.Assert(t, icmd.Expected{ExitCode: 16, Err: `unknown docker command: "compose donw"`})
-		res = c.RunDockerOrExitError(t, "compose", "--file", "fixtures/wrong-composefile/build-error.yml", "build")
+		res = c.RunDockerComposeCmdNoCheck(t, "--file", "fixtures/wrong-composefile/build-error.yml", "build")
 		res.Assert(t, icmd.Expected{ExitCode: 17, Err: `line 17: unknown instruction: WRONG`})
-		res = c.RunDockerOrExitError(t, "compose", "--file", "fixtures/wrong-composefile/build-error.yml", "up")
+		res = c.RunDockerComposeCmdNoCheck(t, "--file", "fixtures/wrong-composefile/build-error.yml", "up")
 		res.Assert(t, icmd.Expected{ExitCode: 17, Err: `line 17: unknown instruction: WRONG`})
-		res = c.RunDockerOrExitError(t, "compose", "--file", "fixtures/wrong-composefile/unknown-image.yml", "pull")
+		res = c.RunDockerComposeCmdNoCheck(t, "--file", "fixtures/wrong-composefile/unknown-image.yml", "pull")
 		res.Assert(t, icmd.Expected{ExitCode: 18, Err: `pull access denied for unknownimage, repository does not exist or may require 'docker login'`})
-		res = c.RunDockerOrExitError(t, "compose", "--file", "fixtures/wrong-composefile/unknown-image.yml", "up")
+		res = c.RunDockerComposeCmdNoCheck(t, "--file", "fixtures/wrong-composefile/unknown-image.yml", "up")
 		res.Assert(t, icmd.Expected{ExitCode: 18, Err: `pull access denied for unknownimage, repository does not exist or may require 'docker login'`})
 	})
 }
diff --git a/pkg/e2e/networks_test.go b/pkg/e2e/networks_test.go
index 384f9c41e..2fa84bd6b 100644
--- a/pkg/e2e/networks_test.go
+++ b/pkg/e2e/networks_test.go
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ func TestNetworkModes(t *testing.T) {
 	const projectName = "network_mode_service_run"
 
 	t.Run("run with service mode dependency", func(t *testing.T) {
-		res := c.RunDockerOrExitError(t, "compose", "-f", "./fixtures/network-test/compose.yaml", "--project-name", projectName, "run", "-T", "mydb", "echo", "success")
+		res := c.RunDockerComposeCmd(t, "-f", "./fixtures/network-test/compose.yaml", "--project-name", projectName, "run", "-T", "mydb", "echo", "success")
 		res.Assert(t, icmd.Expected{Out: "success"})
 
 	})
diff --git a/pkg/e2e/restart_test.go b/pkg/e2e/restart_test.go
index 87ffec092..6ce62bdd7 100644
--- a/pkg/e2e/restart_test.go
+++ b/pkg/e2e/restart_test.go
@@ -38,26 +38,27 @@ func TestRestart(t *testing.T) {
 
 	t.Run("Up a project", func(t *testing.T) {
 		// This is just to ensure the containers do NOT exist
-		c.RunDockerOrExitError(t, "compose", "--project-name", projectName, "down")
+		c.RunDockerComposeCmd(t, "--project-name", projectName, "down")
 
-		res := c.RunDockerOrExitError(t, "compose", "-f", "./fixtures/restart-test/compose.yaml", "--project-name", projectName, "up", "-d")
+		res := c.RunDockerComposeCmd(t, "-f", "./fixtures/restart-test/compose.yaml", "--project-name", projectName, "up", "-d")
 		assert.Assert(t, strings.Contains(res.Combined(), "Container e2e-restart-restart-1  Started"), res.Combined())
 
-		c.WaitForCmdResult(t, c.NewDockerCmd("compose", "--project-name", projectName, "ps", "-a", "--format", "json"),
+		c.WaitForCmdResult(t, c.NewDockerComposeCmd(t, "--project-name", projectName, "ps", "-a", "--format",
+			"json"),
 			StdoutContains(`"State":"exited"`), 10*time.Second, 1*time.Second)
 
-		res = c.RunDockerOrExitError(t, "compose", "--project-name", projectName, "ps", "-a")
+		res = c.RunDockerComposeCmd(t, "--project-name", projectName, "ps", "-a")
 		testify.Regexp(t, getServiceRegx("restart", "exited"), res.Stdout())
 
-		_ = c.RunDockerOrExitError(t, "compose", "-f", "./fixtures/restart-test/compose.yaml", "--project-name", projectName, "restart")
+		c.RunDockerComposeCmd(t, "-f", "./fixtures/restart-test/compose.yaml", "--project-name", projectName, "restart")
 
 		// Give the same time but it must NOT exit
 		time.Sleep(time.Second)
 
-		res = c.RunDockerOrExitError(t, "compose", "--project-name", projectName, "ps")
+		res = c.RunDockerComposeCmd(t, "--project-name", projectName, "ps")
 		testify.Regexp(t, getServiceRegx("restart", "running"), res.Stdout())
 
 		// Clean up
-		c.RunDockerOrExitError(t, "compose", "--project-name", projectName, "down")
+		c.RunDockerComposeCmd(t, "--project-name", projectName, "down")
 	})
 }
diff --git a/pkg/e2e/scan_message_test.go b/pkg/e2e/scan_message_test.go
index 05ce73f9b..70dccca43 100644
--- a/pkg/e2e/scan_message_test.go
+++ b/pkg/e2e/scan_message_test.go
@@ -60,14 +60,14 @@ func TestDisplayScanMessageAfterBuild(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Run("display on compose up if image is built", func(t *testing.T) {
 		res := c.RunDockerComposeCmd(t, "-f", "fixtures/simple-build-test/compose.yaml", "-p", "scan-msg-test", "up",
 			"-d")
-		defer c.RunDockerOrExitError(t, "compose", "-f", "fixtures/simple-build-test/compose.yaml", "-p", "scan-msg-test", "down")
+		defer c.RunDockerComposeCmd(t, "-f", "fixtures/simple-build-test/compose.yaml", "-p", "scan-msg-test", "down")
 		res.Assert(t, icmd.Expected{Err: utils.ScanSuggestMsg})
 	})
 
 	t.Run("do not display on compose up if no image built", func(t *testing.T) { // re-run the same Compose aproject
 		res := c.RunDockerComposeCmd(t, "-f", "fixtures/simple-build-test/compose.yaml", "-p", "scan-msg-test", "up",
 			"-d")
-		defer c.RunDockerOrExitError(t, "compose", "-f", "fixtures/simple-build-test/compose.yaml", "-p", "scan-msg-test", "down", "--rmi", "all")
+		defer c.RunDockerComposeCmd(t, "-f", "fixtures/simple-build-test/compose.yaml", "-p", "scan-msg-test", "down", "--rmi", "all")
 		assert.Assert(t, !strings.Contains(res.Combined(), "docker scan"), res.Combined())
 	})
 
diff --git a/pkg/e2e/secrets_test.go b/pkg/e2e/secrets_test.go
index 176ee2e25..72b47b751 100644
--- a/pkg/e2e/secrets_test.go
+++ b/pkg/e2e/secrets_test.go
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ func TestSecretFromEnv(t *testing.T) {
 	c := NewParallelCLI(t)
 
 	t.Run("compose run", func(t *testing.T) {
-		res := icmd.RunCmd(c.NewDockerCmd("compose", "-f", "./fixtures/env-secret/compose.yaml", "run", "foo"),
+		res := icmd.RunCmd(c.NewDockerComposeCmd(t, "-f", "./fixtures/env-secret/compose.yaml", "run", "foo"),
 			func(cmd *icmd.Cmd) {
 				cmd.Env = append(cmd.Env, "SECRET=BAR")
 			})
diff --git a/pkg/e2e/start_fail_test.go b/pkg/e2e/start_fail_test.go
index 4bba65ce1..a009c4986 100644
--- a/pkg/e2e/start_fail_test.go
+++ b/pkg/e2e/start_fail_test.go
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ func TestStartFail(t *testing.T) {
 	c := NewParallelCLI(t)
 	const projectName = "e2e-start-fail"
 
-	res := c.RunDockerOrExitError(t, "compose", "-f", "fixtures/start-fail/compose.yaml", "--project-name", projectName, "up", "-d")
+	res := c.RunDockerComposeCmdNoCheck(t, "-f", "fixtures/start-fail/compose.yaml", "--project-name", projectName, "up", "-d")
 	res.Assert(t, icmd.Expected{ExitCode: 1, Err: `container for service "fail" is unhealthy`})
 
 	c.RunDockerComposeCmd(t, "--project-name", projectName, "down")
diff --git a/pkg/e2e/volumes_test.go b/pkg/e2e/volumes_test.go
index 9b4dbe664..ecce19e13 100644
--- a/pkg/e2e/volumes_test.go
+++ b/pkg/e2e/volumes_test.go
@@ -75,13 +75,13 @@ func TestLocalComposeVolume(t *testing.T) {
 
 	t.Run("should inherit anonymous volumes", func(t *testing.T) {
 		c.RunDockerOrExitError(t, "exec", "compose-e2e-volume-nginx2-1", "touch", "/usr/src/app/node_modules/test")
-		c.RunDockerOrExitError(t, "compose", "--project-directory", "fixtures/volume-test", "--project-name", projectName, "up", "--force-recreate", "-d")
+		c.RunDockerComposeCmd(t, "--project-directory", "fixtures/volume-test", "--project-name", projectName, "up", "--force-recreate", "-d")
 		c.RunDockerOrExitError(t, "exec", "compose-e2e-volume-nginx2-1", "ls", "/usr/src/app/node_modules/test")
 	})
 
 	t.Run("should renew anonymous volumes", func(t *testing.T) {
 		c.RunDockerOrExitError(t, "exec", "compose-e2e-volume-nginx2-1", "touch", "/usr/src/app/node_modules/test")
-		c.RunDockerOrExitError(t, "compose", "--project-directory", "fixtures/volume-test", "--project-name", projectName, "up", "--force-recreate", "--renew-anon-volumes", "-d")
+		c.RunDockerComposeCmd(t, "--project-directory", "fixtures/volume-test", "--project-name", projectName, "up", "--force-recreate", "--renew-anon-volumes", "-d")
 		c.RunDockerOrExitError(t, "exec", "compose-e2e-volume-nginx2-1", "ls", "/usr/src/app/node_modules/test")
 	})