diff --git a/cmd/compose/create.go b/cmd/compose/create.go
index 266f6fc1..7ce8a185 100644
--- a/cmd/compose/create.go
+++ b/cmd/compose/create.go
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ type createOptions struct {
 	Build         bool
 	noBuild       bool
 	removeOrphans bool
+	ignoreOrphans bool
 	forceRecreate bool
 	noRecreate    bool
 	recreateDeps  bool
@@ -57,6 +58,7 @@ func createCommand(p *projectOptions, backend api.Service) *cobra.Command {
 		RunE: p.WithProject(func(ctx context.Context, project *types.Project) error {
 			return backend.Create(ctx, project, api.CreateOptions{
 				RemoveOrphans:        opts.removeOrphans,
+				IgnoreOrphans:        opts.ignoreOrphans,
 				Recreate:             opts.recreateStrategy(),
 				RecreateDependencies: opts.dependenciesRecreateStrategy(),
 				Inherit:              !opts.noInherit,
diff --git a/cmd/compose/up.go b/cmd/compose/up.go
index 70460d64..cfde2178 100644
--- a/cmd/compose/up.go
+++ b/cmd/compose/up.go
@@ -120,6 +120,11 @@ func upCommand(p *projectOptions, backend api.Service) *cobra.Command {
 			return nil
 		}),
 		RunE: p.WithServices(func(ctx context.Context, project *types.Project, services []string) error {
+			ignore := project.Environment["COMPOSE_IGNORE_ORPHANS"]
+			create.ignoreOrphans = strings.ToLower(ignore) == "true"
+			if create.ignoreOrphans && create.removeOrphans {
+				return fmt.Errorf("COMPOSE_IGNORE_ORPHANS and --remove-orphans cannot be combined")
+			}
 			return runUp(ctx, backend, create, up, project, services)
 		}),
 		ValidArgsFunction: serviceCompletion(p),
@@ -177,6 +182,7 @@ func runUp(ctx context.Context, backend api.Service, createOptions createOptions
 	create := api.CreateOptions{
 		Services:             services,
 		RemoveOrphans:        createOptions.removeOrphans,
+		IgnoreOrphans:        createOptions.ignoreOrphans,
 		Recreate:             createOptions.recreateStrategy(),
 		RecreateDependencies: createOptions.dependenciesRecreateStrategy(),
 		Inherit:              !createOptions.noInherit,
diff --git a/pkg/api/api.go b/pkg/api/api.go
index 992997b8..9efaa270 100644
--- a/pkg/api/api.go
+++ b/pkg/api/api.go
@@ -100,6 +100,8 @@ type CreateOptions struct {
 	Services []string
 	// Remove legacy containers for services that are not defined in the project
 	RemoveOrphans bool
+	// Ignore legacy containers for services that are not defined in the project
+	IgnoreOrphans bool
 	// Recreate define the strategy to apply on existing containers
 	Recreate string
 	// RecreateDependencies define the strategy to apply on dependencies services
diff --git a/pkg/compose/create.go b/pkg/compose/create.go
index 6698ae7c..4facd02d 100644
--- a/pkg/compose/create.go
+++ b/pkg/compose/create.go
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ func (s *composeService) create(ctx context.Context, project *types.Project, opt
 		allServiceNames = append(allServiceNames, service.Name)
 	}
 	orphans := observedState.filter(isNotService(allServiceNames...))
-	if len(orphans) > 0 {
+	if len(orphans) > 0 && !options.IgnoreOrphans {
 		if options.RemoveOrphans {
 			w := progress.ContextWriter(ctx)
 			err := s.removeContainers(ctx, w, orphans, nil, false)