diff --git a/compose/cli/main.py b/compose/cli/main.py
index 9b2a5d0b0..c0fe3bb43 100644
--- a/compose/cli/main.py
+++ b/compose/cli/main.py
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ from ..service import ConvergenceStrategy
 from ..service import ImageType
 from ..service import NeedsBuildError
 from ..service import OperationFailedError
+from ..utils import filter_attached_for_up
 from .command import get_config_from_options
 from .command import get_project_dir
 from .command import project_from_options
@@ -1071,6 +1072,7 @@ class TopLevelCommand:
                     renew_anonymous_volumes=options.get('--renew-anon-volumes'),
                     silent=options.get('--quiet-pull'),
                     cli=native_builder,
+                    attach_dependencies=attach_dependencies,
                 )
 
             try:
@@ -1401,13 +1403,11 @@ def log_printer_from_project(
 
 
 def filter_attached_containers(containers, service_names, attach_dependencies=False):
-    if attach_dependencies or not service_names:
-        return containers
-
-    return [
-        container
-        for container in containers if container.service in service_names
-    ]
+    return filter_attached_for_up(
+        containers,
+        service_names,
+        attach_dependencies,
+        lambda container: container.service)
 
 
 @contextlib.contextmanager
diff --git a/compose/project.py b/compose/project.py
index 9b21e1cd8..3bc738281 100644
--- a/compose/project.py
+++ b/compose/project.py
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ from .service import Service
 from .service import ServiceIpcMode
 from .service import ServiceNetworkMode
 from .service import ServicePidMode
+from .utils import filter_attached_for_up
 from .utils import microseconds_from_time_nano
 from .utils import truncate_string
 from .volume import ProjectVolumes
@@ -645,6 +646,7 @@ class Project:
            silent=False,
            cli=False,
            one_off=False,
+           attach_dependencies=False,
            override_options=None,
            ):
 
@@ -671,12 +673,17 @@ class Project:
             one_off=service_names if one_off else [],
         )
 
-        def do(service):
+        services_to_attach = filter_attached_for_up(
+            services,
+            service_names,
+            attach_dependencies,
+            lambda service: service.name)
 
+        def do(service):
             return service.execute_convergence_plan(
                 plans[service.name],
                 timeout=timeout,
-                detached=detached,
+                detached=detached or (service not in services_to_attach),
                 scale_override=scale_override.get(service.name),
                 rescale=rescale,
                 start=start,
diff --git a/compose/utils.py b/compose/utils.py
index 060ba50cc..86af8f885 100644
--- a/compose/utils.py
+++ b/compose/utils.py
@@ -174,3 +174,18 @@ def truncate_string(s, max_chars=35):
     if len(s) > max_chars:
         return s[:max_chars - 2] + '...'
     return s
+
+
+def filter_attached_for_up(items, service_names, attach_dependencies=False,
+                           item_to_service_name=lambda x: x):
+    """This function contains the logic of choosing which services to
+    attach when doing docker-compose up. It may be used both with containers
+    and services, and any other entities that map to service names -
+    this mapping is provided by item_to_service_name."""
+    if attach_dependencies or not service_names:
+        return items
+
+    return [
+        item
+        for item in items if item_to_service_name(item) in service_names
+    ]