diff --git a/src/nix/modules/service/docker-compose-service.nix b/src/nix/modules/service/docker-compose-service.nix
index 061ae8b..c038ac6 100644
--- a/src/nix/modules/service/docker-compose-service.nix
+++ b/src/nix/modules/service/docker-compose-service.nix
@@ -86,7 +86,8 @@ in
       description = serviceRef "environment";
     };
     service.image = mkOption {
-      type = str;
+      type = nullOr str;
+      default = null;
       description = serviceRef "image";
     };
     service.command = mkOption {
@@ -328,8 +329,9 @@ in
       volumes
       environment
       sysctls
-      image
       ;
+  } // lib.optionalAttrs (config.service.image != null) {
+    inherit (config.service) image;
   } // lib.optionalAttrs (config.service.build.context != null) {
     inherit (config.service) build;
   } // lib.optionalAttrs (cap_add != []) {
diff --git a/src/nix/modules/service/image.nix b/src/nix/modules/service/image.nix
index 706a5c1..ae5d214 100644
--- a/src/nix/modules/service/image.nix
+++ b/src/nix/modules/service/image.nix
@@ -163,17 +163,19 @@ in
       '';
     };
   };
-  config = {
-    build.image = builtImage;
-    build.imageName = config.build.image.imageName;
-    build.imageTag =
-                 if config.build.image.imageTag != ""
-                 then config.build.image.imageTag
-                 else lib.head (lib.strings.splitString "-" (baseNameOf config.build.image.outPath));
-
-    service.image = lib.mkDefault "${config.build.imageName}:${config.build.imageTag}";
-    image.rawConfig.Cmd = config.image.command;
-
-    image.nixBuild = lib.mkDefault (priorityIsDefault options.service.image);
-  };
+  config = lib.mkMerge [{
+      build.image = builtImage;
+      build.imageName = config.build.image.imageName;
+      build.imageTag =
+                   if config.build.image.imageTag != ""
+                   then config.build.image.imageTag
+                   else lib.head (lib.strings.splitString "-" (baseNameOf config.build.image.outPath));
+      image.rawConfig.Cmd = config.image.command;
+      image.nixBuild = lib.mkDefault (priorityIsDefault options.service.image);
+    }
+    ( lib.mkIf (config.service.build.context == null)
+    {
+      service.image = lib.mkDefault "${config.build.imageName}:${config.build.imageTag}";
+    })
+  ];
 }
diff --git a/tests/arion-test/default.nix b/tests/arion-test/default.nix
index 75f940d..f8ba4c3 100644
--- a/tests/arion-test/default.nix
+++ b/tests/arion-test/default.nix
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ in
       enable = true;
       dockerSocket.enable = true;
     };
-    
+
     # no caches, because no internet
     nix.settings.substituters = lib.mkForce [];