diff --git a/api/compose/api.go b/api/compose/api.go
index c4c3d8c52..63ab12711 100644
--- a/api/compose/api.go
+++ b/api/compose/api.go
@@ -247,22 +247,6 @@ func (e Event) String() string {
 
 }
 
-// EnvironmentMap return RunOptions.Environment as a MappingWithEquals
-func (opts *RunOptions) EnvironmentMap() types.MappingWithEquals {
-	environment := types.MappingWithEquals{}
-	for _, s := range opts.Environment {
-		parts := strings.SplitN(s, "=", 2)
-		key := parts[0]
-		switch {
-		case len(parts) == 1:
-			environment[key] = nil
-		default:
-			environment[key] = &parts[1]
-		}
-	}
-	return environment
-}
-
 // ListOptions group options of the ls API
 type ListOptions struct {
 	All bool
diff --git a/api/compose/api_test.go b/api/compose/api_test.go
index ddbe25d6a..fca9d0fcc 100644
--- a/api/compose/api_test.go
+++ b/api/compose/api_test.go
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ package compose
 import (
 	"testing"
 
+	"github.com/compose-spec/compose-go/types"
 	"gotest.tools/v3/assert"
 )
 
@@ -30,7 +31,7 @@ func TestRunOptionsEnvironmentMap(t *testing.T) {
 			"QIX",
 		},
 	}
-	env := opts.EnvironmentMap()
+	env := types.NewMappingWithEquals(opts.Environment)
 	assert.Equal(t, *env["FOO"], "BAR")
 	assert.Equal(t, *env["ZOT"], "")
 	assert.Check(t, env["QIX"] == nil)
diff --git a/local/compose/run.go b/local/compose/run.go
index aad04d7b4..bc02d9fda 100644
--- a/local/compose/run.go
+++ b/local/compose/run.go
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ func (s *composeService) RunOneOffContainer(ctx context.Context, project *types.
 		return 0, err
 	}
 
-	applyRunOptions(&service, opts)
+	applyRunOptions(project, &service, opts)
 
 	slug := moby.GenerateRandomID()
 	if service.ContainerName == "" {
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ func (s *composeService) RunOneOffContainer(ctx context.Context, project *types.
 
 }
 
-func applyRunOptions(service *types.ServiceConfig, opts compose.RunOptions) {
+func applyRunOptions(project *types.Project, service *types.ServiceConfig, opts compose.RunOptions) {
 	service.Tty = opts.Tty
 	service.ContainerName = opts.Name
 
@@ -124,7 +124,12 @@ func applyRunOptions(service *types.ServiceConfig, opts compose.RunOptions) {
 		service.Entrypoint = opts.Entrypoint
 	}
 	if len(opts.Environment) > 0 {
-		service.Environment.OverrideBy(opts.EnvironmentMap())
+		env := types.NewMappingWithEquals(opts.Environment)
+		projectEnv := env.Resolve(func(s string) (string, bool) {
+			v, ok := project.Environment[s]
+			return v, ok
+		}).RemoveEmpty()
+		service.Environment.OverrideBy(projectEnv)
 	}
 	for k, v := range opts.Labels {
 		service.Labels.Add(k, v)