diff --git a/src/mcp_synology_container/modules/compose.py b/src/mcp_synology_container/modules/compose.py
index 0f67f6d..075ed4a 100644
--- a/src/mcp_synology_container/modules/compose.py
+++ b/src/mcp_synology_container/modules/compose.py
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@ if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from mcp_synology_container.config import AppConfig
     from mcp_synology_container.dsm_client import DsmClient
 
+from mcp_synology_container.modules.projects import _find_project
+
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 # Recognized compose file names (in priority order)
@@ -42,10 +44,15 @@ def register_compose(mcp: FastMCP, config: AppConfig, client: DsmClient) -> None
         """
         path = await _find_compose_path(client, config, project_name)
         if path is None:
+            project = await _find_project(client, project_name)
+            searched = (
+                project.get("path", f"{config.compose_base_path}/{project_name}")
+                if project
+                else f"{config.compose_base_path}/{project_name}"
+            )
             return (
                 f"No compose file found for project '{project_name}'.\n"
-                f"Looked in {config.compose_base_path}/{project_name}/ for: "
-                + ", ".join(_COMPOSE_FILENAMES)
+                f"Looked in {searched}/ for: " + ", ".join(_COMPOSE_FILENAMES)
             )
 
         try:
@@ -295,22 +302,33 @@ async def _find_compose_path(
 ) -> str | None:
     """Find the compose file path for a project.
 
-    Tries each recognized filename under {compose_base_path}/{project_name}/.
+    Resolves the project's real directory via SYNO.Docker.Project list,
+    then probes each recognised filename under that directory.
+    Falls back to {compose_base_path}/{project_name} when the project
+    cannot be found in Container Manager.
 
     Args:
         client: DsmClient instance.
-        config: AppConfig with compose_base_path.
+        config: AppConfig with compose_base_path (used as fallback).
         project_name: Project name.
 
     Returns:
         Full path to the compose file if found, None otherwise.
     """
-    base = f"{config.compose_base_path}/{project_name}"
+    project = await _find_project(client, project_name)
+    if project is not None:
+        base = project.get("path", "").rstrip("/")
+    else:
+        base = f"{config.compose_base_path}/{project_name}"
+        logger.debug(
+            "Project '%s' not found via API, falling back to base path: %s",
+            project_name,
+            base,
+        )
 
     for filename in _COMPOSE_FILENAMES:
         path = f"{base}/{filename}"
         try:
-            # Try to list the file; if it exists, return the path
             await client.request(
                 "SYNO.FileStation.Info",
                 "get",