diff --git a/docker-compose/Makefile b/docker-compose/Makefile
index 64f51f70a39e443c998c0fb3ffbd3f08de0f9e48..4ef9160b9da01d31a9275fccbdeb7f4de1dff61d 100644
--- a/docker-compose/Makefile
+++ b/docker-compose/Makefile
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ ifneq ($(NETWORK_MODE),host)
 	docker network inspect $(NETWORK_MODE) &> /dev/null || ([ $$? -ne 0 ] && docker network create $(NETWORK_MODE))
 	docker network inspect 9000-$(NETWORK_MODE) &> /dev/null || ([ $$? -ne 0 ] && docker network create 9000-$(NETWORK_MODE) -o com.docker.network.driver.mtu=9000)
 endif
-	$(DOCKER_COMPOSE_ARGS) docker-compose -f tango.yml -f networks.yml up -d
+	$(DOCKER_COMPOSE_ARGS) docker-compose -f tango.yml -f networks.yml up --no-recreate -d
 
 bootstrap: pull build # first start, initialise from scratch
 	$(MAKE) start elk-configure-host # configure host kernel for elk container
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ restart: ## restart a service (usage: make restart <servicename>)
 	make start $(SERVICE)
 
 attach:  ## attach a service to an existing Tango network
-	$(DOCKER_COMPOSE_ARGS) docker-compose $(ATTACH_COMPOSE_FILE_ARGS) up -d $(SERVICE)
+	$(DOCKER_COMPOSE_ARGS) docker-compose $(ATTACH_COMPOSE_FILE_ARGS) up --no-recreate -d $(SERVICE)
 
 status:  ## show the container status
 	$(DOCKER_COMPOSE_ARGS) docker-compose $(COMPOSE_FILE_ARGS) ps