diff --git a/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/Makefile b/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/Makefile
index 9ce429449..c19546dad 100644
--- a/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/Makefile
+++ b/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/Makefile
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ build-client:
 	docker compose build client
 
 build-server:
-	docker-compose build server
+	docker compose build server
 
 run:
 	docker compose up
diff --git a/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/compose/client/start b/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/compose/client/start
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..917128006
--- /dev/null
+++ b/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/compose/client/start
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+set -e
+
+# Check if node_modules directory is empty
+if [ ! "$(ls -A /app/node_modules)" ]; then
+   echo "node_modules directory is empty. Installing dependencies..."
+   npm install
+fi
+
+# Start your application
+exec "$@"