diff --git a/docs/features/compose.md b/docs/features/compose.md
index 9fbc066fe..9ffa9860a 100644
--- a/docs/features/compose.md
+++ b/docs/features/compose.md
@@ -41,6 +41,17 @@ const environment = await new DockerComposeEnvironment(composeFilePath, composeF
   .up();
 ```
 
+### With a default wait strategy
+
+By default Testcontainers uses the "listening ports" wait strategy for all containers. If you'd like to override
+the default wait strategy for all services, you can do so:
+
+```javascript
+const environment = await new DockerComposeEnvironment(composeFilePath, composeFile)
+  .withDefaultWaitStrategy(Wait.forHealthCheck())
+  .up();
+```
+
 ### With a pull policy
 
 Testcontainers will automatically pull an image if it doesn't exist. This is configurable:
diff --git a/packages/testcontainers/src/docker-compose-environment/docker-compose-environment.test.ts b/packages/testcontainers/src/docker-compose-environment/docker-compose-environment.test.ts
index e59c8dfd3..d97c604db 100644
--- a/packages/testcontainers/src/docker-compose-environment/docker-compose-environment.test.ts
+++ b/packages/testcontainers/src/docker-compose-environment/docker-compose-environment.test.ts
@@ -98,6 +98,16 @@ describe("DockerComposeEnvironment", { timeout: 180_000 }, () => {
     await startedEnvironment.down();
   });
 
+  it("should support default wait strategy", async () => {
+    const startedEnvironment = await new DockerComposeEnvironment(fixtures, "docker-compose-with-healthcheck.yml")
+      .withDefaultWaitStrategy(Wait.forHealthCheck())
+      .up();
+
+    await checkEnvironmentContainerIsHealthy(startedEnvironment, await composeContainerName("container"));
+
+    await startedEnvironment.down();
+  });
+
   it("should support log message wait strategy", async () => {
     const startedEnvironment = await new DockerComposeEnvironment(fixtures, "docker-compose.yml")
       .withWaitStrategy(await composeContainerName("container"), Wait.forLogMessage("Listening on port 8080"))
diff --git a/packages/testcontainers/src/docker-compose-environment/docker-compose-environment.ts b/packages/testcontainers/src/docker-compose-environment/docker-compose-environment.ts
index 83dd0a2cb..f63f32640 100644
--- a/packages/testcontainers/src/docker-compose-environment/docker-compose-environment.ts
+++ b/packages/testcontainers/src/docker-compose-environment/docker-compose-environment.ts
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ export class DockerComposeEnvironment {
   private profiles: string[] = [];
   private environment: Environment = {};
   private pullPolicy: ImagePullPolicy = PullPolicy.defaultPolicy();
+  private defaultWaitStrategy: WaitStrategy = Wait.forListeningPorts();
   private waitStrategy: { [containerName: string]: WaitStrategy } = {};
   private startupTimeout?: number;
 
@@ -63,6 +64,11 @@ export class DockerComposeEnvironment {
     return this;
   }
 
+  public withDefaultWaitStrategy(waitStrategy: WaitStrategy): this {
+    this.defaultWaitStrategy = waitStrategy;
+    return this;
+  }
+
   public withWaitStrategy(containerName: string, waitStrategy: WaitStrategy): this {
     this.waitStrategy[containerName] = waitStrategy;
     return this;
@@ -140,7 +146,7 @@ export class DockerComposeEnvironment {
           const boundPorts = BoundPorts.fromInspectResult(client.info.containerRuntime.hostIps, mappedInspectResult);
           const waitStrategy = this.waitStrategy[containerName]
             ? this.waitStrategy[containerName]
-            : Wait.forListeningPorts();
+            : this.defaultWaitStrategy;
           if (this.startupTimeout !== undefined) {
             waitStrategy.withStartupTimeout(this.startupTimeout);
           }