diff --git a/bin/compose-core b/bin/compose-core
index 97ea689..8b270d4 100755
--- a/bin/compose-core
+++ b/bin/compose-core
@@ -4364,7 +4364,7 @@ if [ "$is_docker_compose_action" -a "${#services_args[@]}" -gt 0 ]; then
     if [ "$action" == "up" ]; then
         declare -A seen
         for service in $(get_ordered_service_dependencies "${services_args[@]}"); do
-            mservice=$(get_master_service_for_service "$service")
+            mservice=$(get_master_service_for_service "$service") || exit 1
             [ "${seen[$mservice]}" ] && continue
             type="$(get_service_type "$mservice")" || exit 1
             ## remove run-once