diff --git a/install/install_nomad.sh b/install/install_nomad.sh
index 4a15d76..62e79bc 100644
--- a/install/install_nomad.sh
+++ b/install/install_nomad.sh
@@ -199,6 +199,16 @@ ensure_docker_installed() {
   fi
 }
 
+check_docker_compose() {
+  # Check if 'docker compose' (v2 plugin) is available
+  if ! docker compose version &>/dev/null; then
+    echo -e "${RED}#${RESET} Docker Compose v2 is not installed or not available as a Docker plugin."
+    echo -e "${YELLOW}#${RESET} This script requires 'docker compose' (v2), not 'docker-compose' (v1)."
+    echo -e "${YELLOW}#${RESET} Please read the Docker documentation at https://docs.docker.com/compose/install/ for instructions on how to install Docker Compose v2."
+    exit 1
+  fi
+}
+
 setup_nvidia_container_toolkit() {
   # This function attempts to set up NVIDIA GPU support but is non-blocking
   # Any failures will result in warnings but will NOT stop the installation process
@@ -550,6 +560,7 @@ check_is_debug_mode
 get_install_confirmation
 accept_terms
 ensure_docker_installed
+check_docker_compose
 setup_nvidia_container_toolkit
 get_local_ip
 create_nomad_directory
diff --git a/install/uninstall_nomad.sh b/install/uninstall_nomad.sh
index 1ddf106..be48931 100644
--- a/install/uninstall_nomad.sh
+++ b/install/uninstall_nomad.sh
@@ -75,6 +75,16 @@ ensure_docker_installed() {
     fi
 }
 
+check_docker_compose() {
+  # Check if 'docker compose' (v2 plugin) is available
+  if ! docker compose version &>/dev/null; then
+    echo -e "${RED}#${RESET} Docker Compose v2 is not installed or not available as a Docker plugin."
+    echo -e "${YELLOW}#${RESET} This script requires 'docker compose' (v2), not 'docker-compose' (v1)."
+    echo -e "${YELLOW}#${RESET} Please read the Docker documentation at https://docs.docker.com/compose/install/ for instructions on how to install Docker Compose v2."
+    exit 1
+  fi
+}
+
 storage_cleanup() {
   read -p "Do you want to delete the Project N.O.M.A.D. storage directory (${NOMAD_DIR})? This is best if you want to start a completely fresh install. This will PERMANENTLY DELETE all stored Nomad data and can't be undone! (y/N): " delete_dir_choice
   case "$delete_dir_choice" in
@@ -130,5 +140,6 @@ check_has_sudo
 check_current_directory
 ensure_management_compose_file_exists
 ensure_docker_installed
+check_docker_compose
 get_uninstall_confirmation
 uninstall_nomad
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/install/update_nomad.sh b/install/update_nomad.sh
index d7be2d5..4e35528 100644
--- a/install/update_nomad.sh
+++ b/install/update_nomad.sh
@@ -94,6 +94,16 @@ ensure_docker_installed_and_running() {
   fi
 }
 
+check_docker_compose() {
+  # Check if 'docker compose' (v2 plugin) is available
+  if ! docker compose version &>/dev/null; then
+    echo -e "${RED}#${RESET} Docker Compose v2 is not installed or not available as a Docker plugin."
+    echo -e "${YELLOW}#${RESET} This script requires 'docker compose' (v2), not 'docker-compose' (v1)."
+    echo -e "${YELLOW}#${RESET} Please read the Docker documentation at https://docs.docker.com/compose/install/ for instructions on how to install Docker Compose v2."
+    exit 1
+  fi
+}
+
 ensure_docker_compose_file_exists() {
   if [ ! -f "/opt/project-nomad/compose.yml" ]; then
     echo -e "${RED}#${RESET} compose.yml file not found. Please ensure it exists at /opt/project-nomad/compose.yml."
@@ -145,6 +155,7 @@ check_has_sudo
 # Main update
 get_update_confirmation
 ensure_docker_installed_and_running
+check_docker_compose
 ensure_docker_compose_file_exists
 force_recreate
 get_local_ip