diff --git a/fig/cli/main.py b/fig/cli/main.py
index 127760051..594a20aee 100644
--- a/fig/cli/main.py
+++ b/fig/cli/main.py
@@ -220,10 +220,10 @@ class TopLevelCommand(Command):
         service = self.project.get_service(options['SERVICE'])
 
         if not options['--no-links']:
-            self.up({
-                '-d': True,
-                'SERVICE': self._get_linked_service_names(service)
-            })
+            self.project.up(
+                service_names=service.get_linked_names(),
+                start_links=True
+            )
 
         tty = True
         if options['-d'] or options['-T'] or not sys.stdin.isatty():
@@ -306,12 +306,16 @@ class TopLevelCommand(Command):
         Usage: up [options] [SERVICE...]
 
         Options:
-            -d    Detached mode: Run containers in the background, print new
-                  container names
+            -d          Detached mode: Run containers in the background, print
+                        new container names.
+            --no-links  Don't start linked services.
         """
         detached = options['-d']
 
-        to_attach = self.project.up(service_names=options['SERVICE'])
+        start_links = not options['--no-links']
+        service_names = options['SERVICE']
+
+        to_attach = self.project.up(service_names=service_names, start_links=start_links)
 
         if not detached:
             print("Attaching to", list_containers(to_attach))
@@ -321,12 +325,12 @@ class TopLevelCommand(Command):
                 log_printer.run()
             finally:
                 def handler(signal, frame):
-                    self.project.kill(service_names=options['SERVICE'])
+                    self.project.kill(service_names=service_names)
                     sys.exit(0)
                 signal.signal(signal.SIGINT, handler)
 
                 print("Gracefully stopping... (press Ctrl+C again to force)")
-                self.project.stop(service_names=options['SERVICE'])
+                self.project.stop(service_names=service_names)
 
     def _attach_to_container(self, container_id, raw=False):
         socket_in = self.client.attach_socket(container_id, params={'stdin': 1, 'stream': 1})
diff --git a/fig/project.py b/fig/project.py
index 605e4c077..5152c5d7d 100644
--- a/fig/project.py
+++ b/fig/project.py
@@ -125,10 +125,18 @@ class Project(object):
             else:
                 log.info('%s uses an image, skipping' % service.name)
 
-    def up(self, service_names=None):
+    def up(self, service_names=None, start_links=True):
         new_containers = []
 
         for service in self.get_services(service_names):
+            linked_services = service.get_linked_names()
+
+            if start_links and len(linked_services) > 0:
+                new_containers.extend(self.up(
+                    service_names=linked_services,
+                    start_links=True
+                ))
+
             for (_, new) in service.recreate_containers():
                 new_containers.append(new)
 
diff --git a/fig/service.py b/fig/service.py
index 7df3c46b9..748b13e02 100644
--- a/fig/service.py
+++ b/fig/service.py
@@ -242,6 +242,9 @@ class Service(object):
         )
         return container
 
+    def get_linked_names(self):
+        return [s.name for (s, _) in self.links]
+
     def next_container_name(self, one_off=False):
         bits = [self.project, self.name]
         if one_off: