diff --git a/compose/parallel.py b/compose/parallel.py
index b2654dcfd..e495410cf 100644
--- a/compose/parallel.py
+++ b/compose/parallel.py
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@ from six.moves.queue import Empty
 from six.moves.queue import Queue
 
 from compose.cli.signals import ShutdownException
+from compose.errors import HealthCheckFailed
+from compose.errors import NoHealthCheckConfigured
 from compose.errors import OperationFailedError
 from compose.utils import get_output_stream
 
@@ -48,7 +50,7 @@ def parallel_execute(objects, func, get_name, msg, get_deps=None):
         elif isinstance(exception, APIError):
             errors[get_name(obj)] = exception.explanation
             writer.write(get_name(obj), 'error')
-        elif isinstance(exception, OperationFailedError):
+        elif isinstance(exception, (OperationFailedError, HealthCheckFailed, NoHealthCheckConfigured)):
             errors[get_name(obj)] = exception.msg
             writer.write(get_name(obj), 'error')
         elif isinstance(exception, UpstreamError):
@@ -164,21 +166,27 @@ def feed_queue(objects, func, get_deps, results, state):
 
     for obj in pending:
         deps = get_deps(obj)
-
-        if any(dep[0] in state.failed for dep in deps):
-            log.debug('{} has upstream errors - not processing'.format(obj))
-            results.put((obj, None, UpstreamError()))
-            state.failed.add(obj)
-        elif all(
-            dep not in objects or (
-                dep in state.finished and (not ready_check or ready_check(dep))
-            ) for dep, ready_check in deps
-        ):
-            log.debug('Starting producer thread for {}'.format(obj))
-            t = Thread(target=producer, args=(obj, func, results))
-            t.daemon = True
-            t.start()
-            state.started.add(obj)
+        try:
+            if any(dep[0] in state.failed for dep in deps):
+                log.debug('{} has upstream errors - not processing'.format(obj))
+                results.put((obj, None, UpstreamError()))
+                state.failed.add(obj)
+            elif all(
+                dep not in objects or (
+                    dep in state.finished and (not ready_check or ready_check(dep))
+                ) for dep, ready_check in deps
+            ):
+                log.debug('Starting producer thread for {}'.format(obj))
+                t = Thread(target=producer, args=(obj, func, results))
+                t.daemon = True
+                t.start()
+                state.started.add(obj)
+        except (HealthCheckFailed, NoHealthCheckConfigured) as e:
+            log.debug(
+                'Healthcheck for service(s) upstream of {} failed - '
+                'not processing'.format(obj)
+            )
+            results.put((obj, None, e))
 
     if state.is_done():
         results.put(STOP)
diff --git a/tests/integration/project_test.py b/tests/integration/project_test.py
index c5e3cf50f..ee2b7817b 100644
--- a/tests/integration/project_test.py
+++ b/tests/integration/project_test.py
@@ -1443,7 +1443,7 @@ class ProjectTest(DockerClientTestCase):
         project = Project.from_config(
             name='composetest', config_data=config_data, client=self.client
         )
-        with pytest.raises(HealthCheckFailed):
+        with pytest.raises(ProjectError):
             project.up()
         containers = project.containers()
         assert len(containers) == 1
@@ -1479,7 +1479,7 @@ class ProjectTest(DockerClientTestCase):
         project = Project.from_config(
             name='composetest', config_data=config_data, client=self.client
         )
-        with pytest.raises(NoHealthCheckConfigured):
+        with pytest.raises(ProjectError):
             project.up()
         containers = project.containers()
         assert len(containers) == 1