diff --git a/tests/fulltests/multi-part-motd/docker-compose.yml b/tests/fulltests/multi-part-motd/docker-compose.yml
index 72d24ae1..3e9b514f 100644
--- a/tests/fulltests/multi-part-motd/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/tests/fulltests/multi-part-motd/docker-compose.yml
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 services:
   monitor:
     depends_on:
-      - mc
+      mc:
+        condition: service_started
     image: ${IMAGE_TO_TEST:-itzg/minecraft-server}
     entrypoint: mc-monitor
     command: status --host mc --retry-interval 1s --timeout 1s --retry-limit 60
@@ -14,4 +15,3 @@ services:
       TYPE: PAPER
       # regression tests https://github.com/itzg/docker-minecraft-server/issues/2545
       MOTD: "Foo§rBar"
-
diff --git a/tests/fulltests/vanilla-latest/docker-compose.yml b/tests/fulltests/vanilla-latest/docker-compose.yml
index 1e39bb17..e731ed8f 100644
--- a/tests/fulltests/vanilla-latest/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/tests/fulltests/vanilla-latest/docker-compose.yml
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 services:
   monitor:
     depends_on:
-      - mc
+      mc:
+        condition: service_started
     image: ${IMAGE_TO_TEST:-itzg/minecraft-server}
     entrypoint: mc-monitor
     command: status --host mc --retry-interval 1s --timeout 1s --retry-limit 300