diff --git a/pkg/compose/publish.go b/pkg/compose/publish.go
index 2e820cf8a5c..3bffb79984f 100644
--- a/pkg/compose/publish.go
+++ b/pkg/compose/publish.go
@@ -255,6 +255,15 @@ func processFile(ctx context.Context, file string, project *types.Project, extFi
 	}
 	for name, service := range base.Services {
 		for i, envFile := range service.EnvFiles {
+			if _, statErr := os.Stat(envFile.Path); statErr != nil {
+				if !os.IsNotExist(statErr) {
+					return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to access env file %s: %w", envFile.Path, statErr)
+				}
+				if envFile.Required {
+					return nil, fmt.Errorf("env file %s not found", envFile.Path)
+				}
+				continue
+			}
 			hash := fmt.Sprintf("%x.env", sha256.Sum256([]byte(envFile.Path)))
 			envFiles[envFile.Path] = hash
 			f, err = transform.ReplaceEnvFile(f, name, i, hash)
@@ -690,6 +699,15 @@ func (s *composeService) checkForSensitiveData(ctx context.Context, project *typ
 	for _, service := range project.Services {
 		// Check env files
 		for _, envFile := range service.EnvFiles {
+			if _, statErr := os.Stat(envFile.Path); statErr != nil {
+				if !os.IsNotExist(statErr) {
+					return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to access env file %s: %w", envFile.Path, statErr)
+				}
+				if envFile.Required {
+					return nil, fmt.Errorf("env file %s not found", envFile.Path)
+				}
+				continue
+			}
 			findings, err := scan.ScanFile(envFile.Path)
 			if err != nil {
 				return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to scan env file %s: %w", envFile.Path, err)
diff --git a/pkg/compose/publish_test.go b/pkg/compose/publish_test.go
index 21cdfa1bed3..ca424367725 100644
--- a/pkg/compose/publish_test.go
+++ b/pkg/compose/publish_test.go
@@ -136,6 +136,155 @@ func Test_preChecks_sensitive_data_detected_decline(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Equal(t, accept, false)
 }
 
+func Test_processFile_optional_env_file_missing(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	composePath := filepath.Join(dir, "compose.yaml")
+	composeContent := `name: test
+services:
+  web:
+    image: nginx
+    env_file:
+      - path: missing.env
+        required: false
+`
+	assert.NilError(t, os.WriteFile(composePath, []byte(composeContent), 0o600))
+
+	project, err := loader.LoadWithContext(t.Context(), types.ConfigDetails{
+		WorkingDir:  dir,
+		Environment: types.Mapping{},
+		ConfigFiles: []types.ConfigFile{{Filename: composePath}},
+	})
+	assert.NilError(t, err)
+
+	extFiles := map[string]string{}
+	envFiles := map[string]string{}
+	_, err = processFile(t.Context(), composePath, project, extFiles, envFiles)
+	assert.NilError(t, err, "optional missing env file should not cause error")
+	assert.Equal(t, len(envFiles), 0, "missing optional env file should not be added")
+}
+
+func Test_processFile_optional_env_file_present(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	envPath := filepath.Join(dir, "app.env")
+	assert.NilError(t, os.WriteFile(envPath, []byte("FOO=bar\n"), 0o600))
+
+	composePath := filepath.Join(dir, "compose.yaml")
+	composeContent := `name: test
+services:
+  web:
+    image: nginx
+    env_file:
+      - path: app.env
+        required: false
+`
+	assert.NilError(t, os.WriteFile(composePath, []byte(composeContent), 0o600))
+
+	project, err := loader.LoadWithContext(t.Context(), types.ConfigDetails{
+		WorkingDir:  dir,
+		Environment: types.Mapping{},
+		ConfigFiles: []types.ConfigFile{{Filename: composePath}},
+	})
+	assert.NilError(t, err)
+
+	extFiles := map[string]string{}
+	envFiles := map[string]string{}
+	_, err = processFile(t.Context(), composePath, project, extFiles, envFiles)
+	assert.NilError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, len(envFiles), 1, "present optional env file should be added")
+}
+
+func Test_processFile_required_env_file_missing(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	composePath := filepath.Join(dir, "compose.yaml")
+	composeContent := `name: test
+services:
+  web:
+    image: nginx
+    env_file:
+      - path: missing.env
+        required: true
+`
+	assert.NilError(t, os.WriteFile(composePath, []byte(composeContent), 0o600))
+
+	// SkipResolveEnvironment: the loader itself errors on missing required env
+	// files; skip that so we can test processFile's own check.
+	project, err := loader.LoadWithContext(t.Context(), types.ConfigDetails{
+		WorkingDir:  dir,
+		Environment: types.Mapping{},
+		ConfigFiles: []types.ConfigFile{{Filename: composePath}},
+	}, func(options *loader.Options) {
+		options.SkipResolveEnvironment = true
+	})
+	assert.NilError(t, err)
+
+	extFiles := map[string]string{}
+	envFiles := map[string]string{}
+	_, err = processFile(t.Context(), composePath, project, extFiles, envFiles)
+	assert.ErrorContains(t, err, "not found", "required missing env file should fail")
+}
+
+func Test_checkForSensitiveData_optional_env_file_missing(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	project := &types.Project{
+		Services: types.Services{
+			"web": {
+				Name:  "web",
+				Image: "nginx",
+				EnvFiles: []types.EnvFile{
+					{Path: filepath.Join(dir, "missing.env"), Required: false},
+				},
+			},
+		},
+	}
+
+	svc := &composeService{}
+	findings, err := svc.checkForSensitiveData(t.Context(), project)
+	assert.NilError(t, err, "optional missing env file should not cause error during scan")
+	assert.Equal(t, len(findings), 0)
+}
+
+func Test_checkForSensitiveData_optional_env_file_present(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	envPath := filepath.Join(dir, "secrets.env")
+	assert.NilError(t, os.WriteFile(envPath, []byte(`AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY="wJalrXUtnFEMI/K7MDENG/bPxRfiCYEXAMPLEKEY"`), 0o600))
+
+	project := &types.Project{
+		Services: types.Services{
+			"web": {
+				Name:  "web",
+				Image: "nginx",
+				EnvFiles: []types.EnvFile{
+					{Path: envPath, Required: false},
+				},
+			},
+		},
+	}
+
+	svc := &composeService{}
+	findings, err := svc.checkForSensitiveData(t.Context(), project)
+	assert.NilError(t, err)
+	assert.Assert(t, len(findings) > 0, "present optional env file should still be scanned for secrets")
+}
+
+func Test_checkForSensitiveData_required_env_file_missing(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	project := &types.Project{
+		Services: types.Services{
+			"web": {
+				Name:  "web",
+				Image: "nginx",
+				EnvFiles: []types.EnvFile{
+					{Path: filepath.Join(dir, "missing.env"), Required: true},
+				},
+			},
+		},
+	}
+
+	svc := &composeService{}
+	_, err := svc.checkForSensitiveData(t.Context(), project)
+	assert.ErrorContains(t, err, "not found", "required missing env file should fail")
+}
+
 // --- collectEnvCheckFindings: pure detection logic ---
 
 func loadProjectForTest(t *testing.T, files map[string]string) *types.Project {