diff --git a/spring-boot-project/spring-boot-docker-compose/src/main/java/org/springframework/boot/docker/compose/core/DefaultDockerCompose.java b/spring-boot-project/spring-boot-docker-compose/src/main/java/org/springframework/boot/docker/compose/core/DefaultDockerCompose.java
index 0354867450c..c969cf44058 100644
--- a/spring-boot-project/spring-boot-docker-compose/src/main/java/org/springframework/boot/docker/compose/core/DefaultDockerCompose.java
+++ b/spring-boot-project/spring-boot-docker-compose/src/main/java/org/springframework/boot/docker/compose/core/DefaultDockerCompose.java
@@ -69,11 +69,6 @@ class DefaultDockerCompose implements DockerCompose {
 		return !this.cli.run(new DockerCliCommand.ComposeConfig()).services().isEmpty();
 	}
 
-	@Override
-	public boolean hasRunningServices() {
-		return runComposePs().stream().anyMatch(this::isRunning);
-	}
-
 	@Override
 	public List<RunningService> getRunningServices() {
 		List<DockerCliComposePsResponse> runningPsResponses = runComposePs().stream().filter(this::isRunning).toList();
diff --git a/spring-boot-project/spring-boot-docker-compose/src/main/java/org/springframework/boot/docker/compose/core/DockerCompose.java b/spring-boot-project/spring-boot-docker-compose/src/main/java/org/springframework/boot/docker/compose/core/DockerCompose.java
index 32767cccf62..de27b8298c7 100644
--- a/spring-boot-project/spring-boot-docker-compose/src/main/java/org/springframework/boot/docker/compose/core/DockerCompose.java
+++ b/spring-boot-project/spring-boot-docker-compose/src/main/java/org/springframework/boot/docker/compose/core/DockerCompose.java
@@ -73,15 +73,6 @@ public interface DockerCompose {
 	 */
 	boolean hasDefinedServices();
 
-	/**
-	 * Return if services defined in the {@link DockerComposeFile} for the active profile
-	 * are running.
-	 * @return {@code true} if services are running
-	 * @see #hasDefinedServices()
-	 * @see #getRunningServices()
-	 */
-	boolean hasRunningServices();
-
 	/**
 	 * Return the running services for the active profile, or an empty list if no services
 	 * are running.
diff --git a/spring-boot-project/spring-boot-docker-compose/src/main/java/org/springframework/boot/docker/compose/lifecycle/DockerComposeLifecycleManager.java b/spring-boot-project/spring-boot-docker-compose/src/main/java/org/springframework/boot/docker/compose/lifecycle/DockerComposeLifecycleManager.java
index e04ad34e4fe..a5db6838867 100644
--- a/spring-boot-project/spring-boot-docker-compose/src/main/java/org/springframework/boot/docker/compose/lifecycle/DockerComposeLifecycleManager.java
+++ b/spring-boot-project/spring-boot-docker-compose/src/main/java/org/springframework/boot/docker/compose/lifecycle/DockerComposeLifecycleManager.java
@@ -112,19 +112,21 @@ class DockerComposeLifecycleManager {
 		Start start = this.properties.getStart();
 		Stop stop = this.properties.getStop();
 		Wait wait = this.properties.getReadiness().getWait();
-		if (lifecycleManagement.shouldStart() && !dockerCompose.hasRunningServices()) {
+		List<RunningService> runningServices = dockerCompose.getRunningServices();
+		if (lifecycleManagement.shouldStart() && runningServices.isEmpty()) {
 			start.getCommand().applyTo(dockerCompose, start.getLogLevel());
+			runningServices = dockerCompose.getRunningServices();
 			wait = (wait != Wait.ONLY_IF_STARTED) ? wait : Wait.ALWAYS;
 			if (lifecycleManagement.shouldStop()) {
 				this.shutdownHandlers.add(() -> stop.getCommand().applyTo(dockerCompose, stop.getTimeout()));
 			}
 		}
-		List<RunningService> runningServices = new ArrayList<>(dockerCompose.getRunningServices());
-		runningServices.removeIf(this::isIgnored);
+		List<RunningService> relevantServices = new ArrayList<>(runningServices);
+		relevantServices.removeIf(this::isIgnored);
 		if (wait == Wait.ALWAYS || wait == null) {
-			this.serviceReadinessChecks.waitUntilReady(runningServices);
+			this.serviceReadinessChecks.waitUntilReady(relevantServices);
 		}
-		publishEvent(new DockerComposeServicesReadyEvent(this.applicationContext, runningServices));
+		publishEvent(new DockerComposeServicesReadyEvent(this.applicationContext, relevantServices));
 	}
 
 	protected DockerComposeFile getComposeFile() {
diff --git a/spring-boot-project/spring-boot-docker-compose/src/test/java/org/springframework/boot/docker/compose/core/DefaultDockerComposeTests.java b/spring-boot-project/spring-boot-docker-compose/src/test/java/org/springframework/boot/docker/compose/core/DefaultDockerComposeTests.java
index d048eeb962a..c6c297d3a9b 100644
--- a/spring-boot-project/spring-boot-docker-compose/src/test/java/org/springframework/boot/docker/compose/core/DefaultDockerComposeTests.java
+++ b/spring-boot-project/spring-boot-docker-compose/src/test/java/org/springframework/boot/docker/compose/core/DefaultDockerComposeTests.java
@@ -96,26 +96,6 @@ class DefaultDockerComposeTests {
 		assertThat(compose.hasDefinedServices()).isTrue();
 	}
 
-	@Test
-	void hasRunningServicesWhenPsListsRunningServiceReturnsTrue() {
-		willReturn(List.of(new DockerCliComposePsResponse("id", "name", "image", "exited"),
-				new DockerCliComposePsResponse("id", "name", "image", "running")))
-			.given(this.cli)
-			.run(new DockerCliCommand.ComposePs());
-		DefaultDockerCompose compose = new DefaultDockerCompose(this.cli, HOST);
-		assertThat(compose.hasRunningServices()).isTrue();
-	}
-
-	@Test
-	void hasRunningServicesWhenPsListReturnsAllExitedReturnsFalse() {
-		willReturn(List.of(new DockerCliComposePsResponse("id", "name", "image", "exited"),
-				new DockerCliComposePsResponse("id", "name", "image", "running")))
-			.given(this.cli)
-			.run(new DockerCliCommand.ComposePs());
-		DefaultDockerCompose compose = new DefaultDockerCompose(this.cli, HOST);
-		assertThat(compose.hasRunningServices()).isTrue();
-	}
-
 	@Test
 	void getRunningServicesReturnsServices() {
 		String id = "123";
diff --git a/spring-boot-project/spring-boot-docker-compose/src/test/java/org/springframework/boot/docker/compose/lifecycle/DockerComposeLifecycleManagerTests.java b/spring-boot-project/spring-boot-docker-compose/src/test/java/org/springframework/boot/docker/compose/lifecycle/DockerComposeLifecycleManagerTests.java
index 943e172e67d..72d3dcbceda 100644
--- a/spring-boot-project/spring-boot-docker-compose/src/test/java/org/springframework/boot/docker/compose/lifecycle/DockerComposeLifecycleManagerTests.java
+++ b/spring-boot-project/spring-boot-docker-compose/src/test/java/org/springframework/boot/docker/compose/lifecycle/DockerComposeLifecycleManagerTests.java
@@ -351,7 +351,6 @@ class DockerComposeLifecycleManagerTests {
 	@SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
 	private void setUpRunningServices(boolean started, Map<String, String> labels) {
 		given(this.dockerCompose.hasDefinedServices()).willReturn(true);
-		given(this.dockerCompose.hasRunningServices()).willReturn(true);
 		RunningService runningService = mock(RunningService.class);
 		given(runningService.labels()).willReturn(labels);
 		this.runningServices = List.of(runningService);