diff --git a/bin/compose-core b/bin/compose-core
index 2aff096..acc8372 100755
--- a/bin/compose-core
+++ b/bin/compose-core
@@ -1846,7 +1846,8 @@ service_ensure_image_ready() {
 
         if ! src=$(e "$service_def" | shyaml get-value build 2>/dev/null); then
             err "Service $DARKYELLOW$service$NORMAL has no ${WHITE}image${NORMAL} nor ${WHITE}build${NORMAL} parameter."
-            echo "$service_def" >&2
+            echo "  Current service definition:" >&2
+            e "$service_def" | prefix "  ${GRAY}|${NORMAL} " >&2
             return 1
         fi