diff --git a/pkg/compose/model.go b/pkg/compose/model.go
index 9922028e0..68e1d425c 100644
--- a/pkg/compose/model.go
+++ b/pkg/compose/model.go
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ func (s *composeService) ensureModels(ctx context.Context, project *types.Projec
 
 	eg, gctx := errgroup.WithContext(ctx)
 	eg.Go(func() error {
-		return s.setModelEndpointVariable(gctx, dockerModel, project)
+		return s.setModelVariables(gctx, dockerModel, project)
 	})
 
 	for name, config := range project.Models {
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ func (s *composeService) configureModel(ctx context.Context, dockerModel *manage
 	return cmd.Run()
 }
 
-func (s *composeService) setModelEndpointVariable(ctx context.Context, dockerModel *manager.Plugin, project *types.Project) error {
+func (s *composeService) setModelVariables(ctx context.Context, dockerModel *manager.Plugin, project *types.Project) error {
 	cmd := exec.CommandContext(ctx, dockerModel.Path, "status", "--json")
 	s.setupChildProcess(ctx, cmd)
 	statusOut, err := cmd.CombinedOutput()
@@ -179,12 +179,21 @@ func (s *composeService) setModelEndpointVariable(ctx context.Context, dockerMod
 	}
 
 	for _, service := range project.Services {
-		for model, modelConfig := range service.Models {
+		for ref, modelConfig := range service.Models {
+			model := project.Models[ref]
+			varPrefix := strings.ReplaceAll(strings.ToUpper(ref), "-", "_")
 			var variable string
+			if modelConfig != nil && modelConfig.ModelVariable != "" {
+				variable = modelConfig.ModelVariable
+			} else {
+				variable = varPrefix
+			}
+			service.Environment[variable] = &model.Model
+
 			if modelConfig != nil && modelConfig.EndpointVariable != "" {
 				variable = modelConfig.EndpointVariable
 			} else {
-				variable = strings.ToUpper(model) + "_URL"
+				variable = varPrefix + "_URL"
 			}
 			service.Environment[variable] = &status.Endpoint
 		}