diff --git a/pkg/compose/build.go b/pkg/compose/build.go
index 16390169b3..8a8b04d2c4 100644
--- a/pkg/compose/build.go
+++ b/pkg/compose/build.go
@@ -129,6 +129,9 @@ func (s *composeService) build(ctx context.Context, project *types.Project, opti
 		if options.Quiet {
 			options.Progress = progress.ModeQuiet
 		}
+		if options.Progress == "" {
+			options.Progress = os.Getenv("BUILDKIT_PROGRESS")
+		}
 		w, err = xprogress.NewPrinter(progressCtx, os.Stdout, progressui.DisplayMode(options.Progress),
 			xprogress.WithDesc(
 				fmt.Sprintf("building with %q instance using %s driver", b.Name, b.Driver),