diff --git a/compose-files/c2d.yml b/compose-files/c2d.yml
index c15898d..1cebf65 100644
--- a/compose-files/c2d.yml
+++ b/compose-files/c2d.yml
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ services:
       OPERATOR_ENGINE_IMAGE: oceanprotocol/operator-engine:${OPERATOR_ENGINE_VERSION}
       POD_CONFIGURATION_IMAGE: oceanprotocol/pod-configuration:${POD_CONFIGURATION_VERSION}
       POD_PUBLISHING_IMAGE: oceanprotocol/pod-publishing:${POD_PUBLISHING_VERSION}
+      WAIT_FOR_C2DIMAGES: ${WAIT_FOR_C2DIMAGES}
     networks:
       backend:
         ipv4_address: 172.15.0.12
diff --git a/start_ocean.sh b/start_ocean.sh
index 6fcf722..028c3ff 100755
--- a/start_ocean.sh
+++ b/start_ocean.sh
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ export OPERATOR_SERVICE_VERSION=${OPERATOR_SERVICE_VERSION:-v4main}
 export OPERATOR_ENGINE_VERSION=${OPERATOR_ENGINE_VERSION:-v4main}
 export POD_CONFIGURATION_VERSION=${POD_CONFIGURATION_VERSION:-v4main}
 export POD_PUBLISHING_VERSION=${POD_PUBLISHING_VERSION:-v4main}
+export WAIT_FOR_C2DIMAGES=${WAIT_FOR_C2DIMAGES:-false}
 
 export PROJECT_NAME="ocean"
 export FORCEPULL="false"