diff --git a/loader/merge.go b/loader/merge.go
index bac9dd70..07ccdb06 100644
--- a/loader/merge.go
+++ b/loader/merge.go
@@ -203,7 +203,18 @@ func toServicePortConfigsSlice(dst reflect.Value, m map[interface{}]interface{})
 	for _, v := range m {
 		s = append(s, v.(types.ServicePortConfig))
 	}
-	sort.Slice(s, func(i, j int) bool { return s[i].Published < s[j].Published })
+	sort.Slice(s, func(i, j int) bool {
+		if s[i].Target != s[j].Target {
+			return s[i].Target < s[j].Target
+		}
+		if s[i].Published != s[j].Published {
+			return s[i].Published < s[j].Published
+		}
+		if s[i].HostIP != s[j].HostIP {
+			return s[i].HostIP < s[j].HostIP
+		}
+		return s[i].Protocol < s[j].Protocol
+	})
 	dst.Set(reflect.ValueOf(s))
 	return nil
 }
diff --git a/loader/validate.go b/loader/validate.go
index 28ecfa70..4493c051 100644
--- a/loader/validate.go
+++ b/loader/validate.go
@@ -45,13 +45,6 @@ func checkConsistency(project *types.Project) error {
 			}
 		}
 
-		if strings.HasPrefix(s.NetworkMode, types.ContainerPrefix) {
-			containerName := s.NetworkMode[len(types.ContainerPrefix):]
-			if _, err := project.GetByContainerName(containerName); err != nil {
-				return fmt.Errorf("service with container_name %q not found for network_mode 'container:%s'", containerName, containerName)
-			}
-		}
-
 		for _, volume := range s.Volumes {
 			switch volume.Type {
 			case types.VolumeTypeVolume:
diff --git a/loader/validate_test.go b/loader/validate_test.go
index 3e9f2959..15a6f340 100644
--- a/loader/validate_test.go
+++ b/loader/validate_test.go
@@ -138,22 +138,4 @@ func TestValidateNetworkMode(t *testing.T) {
 		err := checkConsistency(project)
 		assert.NilError(t, err)
 	})
-
-	t.Run("network_mode container fail", func(t *testing.T) {
-		project := &types.Project{
-			Services: types.Services([]types.ServiceConfig{
-				{
-					Name:  "myservice1",
-					Image: "scratch",
-				},
-				{
-					Name:        "myservice2",
-					Image:       "scratch",
-					NetworkMode: "container:nonexistentcontainer",
-				},
-			}),
-		}
-		err := checkConsistency(project)
-		assert.Error(t, err, `service with container_name "nonexistentcontainer" not found for network_mode 'container:nonexistentcontainer'`)
-	})
 }
diff --git a/types/project.go b/types/project.go
index e8558ecd..155fad0b 100644
--- a/types/project.go
+++ b/types/project.go
@@ -94,24 +94,6 @@ func (p Project) ConfigNames() []string {
 	return names
 }
 
-func (p Project) GetByContainerName(names ...string) (Services, error) {
-	if len(names) == 0 {
-		return p.Services, nil
-	}
-	services := Services{}
-outLoop:
-	for _, name := range names {
-		for _, s := range p.Services {
-			if name == s.ContainerName {
-				services = append(services, s)
-				continue outLoop
-			}
-		}
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("service with container_name %q could not be found", name)
-	}
-	return services, nil
-}
-
 // GetServices retrieve services by names, or return all services if no name specified
 func (p Project) GetServices(names ...string) (Services, error) {
 	if len(names) == 0 {