diff --git a/src/pkg/cli/cert.go b/src/pkg/cli/cert.go
index b21848582..31bba6417 100644
--- a/src/pkg/cli/cert.go
+++ b/src/pkg/cli/cert.go
@@ -84,6 +84,15 @@ func GenerateLetsEncryptCert(ctx context.Context, project *compose.Project, clie
 		return err
 	}
 
+	// First, check if there are any domain names in the compose file at all
+	hasDomains := false
+	for _, service := range project.Services {
+		if service.DomainName != "" {
+			hasDomains = true
+			break
+		}
+	}
+
 	cnt := 0
 	for _, serviceInfo := range services.Services {
 		if service, ok := project.Services[serviceInfo.Service.Name]; ok && service.DomainName != "" && serviceInfo.ZoneId == "" {
@@ -99,7 +108,8 @@ func GenerateLetsEncryptCert(ctx context.Context, project *compose.Project, clie
 			}
 		}
 	}
-	if cnt == 0 {
+	// Only show the "no domainname found" message if there truly are no domains in the compose file
+	if cnt == 0 && !hasDomains {
 		term.Infof("No `domainname` found in compose file; no HTTPS cert generation needed")
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/pkg/cli/cert_test.go b/src/pkg/cli/cert_test.go
index be22564b6..8ab049c71 100644
--- a/src/pkg/cli/cert_test.go
+++ b/src/pkg/cli/cert_test.go
@@ -311,3 +311,51 @@ func TestGetDomainTargets(t *testing.T) {
 		})
 	}
 }
+
+// Test helper function to check if domains exist in compose project
+func TestHasDomains(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name     string
+		services map[string]compose.ServiceConfig
+		expected bool
+	}{
+		{
+			name:     "no services",
+			services: map[string]compose.ServiceConfig{},
+			expected: false,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "services without domains",
+			services: map[string]compose.ServiceConfig{
+				"web": {Name: "web", DomainName: ""},
+				"api": {Name: "api", DomainName: ""},
+			},
+			expected: false,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "services with domains",
+			services: map[string]compose.ServiceConfig{
+				"web": {Name: "web", DomainName: "example.com"},
+				"api": {Name: "api", DomainName: ""},
+			},
+			expected: true,
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			// Simulate the logic from GenerateLetsEncryptCert
+			hasDomains := false
+			for _, service := range tt.services {
+				if service.DomainName != "" {
+					hasDomains = true
+					break
+				}
+			}
+
+			if hasDomains != tt.expected {
+				t.Errorf("expected hasDomains=%v, got %v", tt.expected, hasDomains)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}