diff --git a/pkg/compose/publish.go b/pkg/compose/publish.go
index 2e820cf8a5c..89b8cd4d1ab 100644
--- a/pkg/compose/publish.go
+++ b/pkg/compose/publish.go
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/opencontainers/image-spec/specs-go"
 	v1 "github.com/opencontainers/image-spec/specs-go/v1"
 	"github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
+	"go.yaml.in/yaml/v4"
 
 	"github.com/docker/compose/v5/internal/desktop"
 	"github.com/docker/compose/v5/internal/oci"
@@ -724,11 +725,24 @@ func (s *composeService) checkForSensitiveData(ctx context.Context, project *typ
 }
 
 func composeFileAsByteReader(ctx context.Context, filePath string, project *types.Project) (io.Reader, error) {
-	base, err := loadUnresolvedFile(ctx, project, filePath)
+	model, err := loader.LoadModelWithContext(ctx, types.ConfigDetails{
+		WorkingDir:  project.WorkingDir,
+		Environment: project.Environment,
+		ConfigFiles: []types.ConfigFile{{Filename: filePath}},
+	}, func(options *loader.Options) {
+		options.SkipValidation = true
+		options.SkipExtends = true
+		options.SkipConsistencyCheck = true
+		options.ResolvePaths = true
+		options.SkipInclude = true
+		options.SkipInterpolation = true
+		options.SkipResolveEnvironment = true
+		options.Profiles = project.Profiles
+	})
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to load compose file %s: %w", filePath, err)
 	}
-	in, err := base.MarshalYAML()
+	in, err := yaml.Marshal(model)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/compose/publish_test.go b/pkg/compose/publish_test.go
index 21cdfa1bed3..b076325ddd6 100644
--- a/pkg/compose/publish_test.go
+++ b/pkg/compose/publish_test.go
@@ -593,3 +593,104 @@ func Test_publish_decline_returns_ErrCanceled(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Assert(t, errors.Is(err, api.ErrCanceled),
 		"expected api.ErrCanceled when user declines, got: %v", err)
 }
+
+func Test_composeFileAsByteReader_shortFormPorts(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	composePath := filepath.Join(dir, "compose.yaml")
+	err := os.WriteFile(composePath, []byte(`name: test
+services:
+  whoami:
+    image: docker.io/traefik/whoami:v1.11
+    ports:
+      - ${DASHBOARD_PORT:-3000}:3000
+`), 0o600)
+	assert.NilError(t, err)
+
+	project, err := loader.LoadWithContext(t.Context(), types.ConfigDetails{
+		WorkingDir:  dir,
+		Environment: types.Mapping{"DASHBOARD_PORT": ""},
+		ConfigFiles: []types.ConfigFile{{Filename: composePath}},
+	})
+	assert.NilError(t, err)
+	project.ComposeFiles = []string{composePath}
+
+	reader, err := composeFileAsByteReader(t.Context(), composePath, project)
+	assert.NilError(t, err)
+	assert.Assert(t, reader != nil)
+}
+
+func Test_composeFileAsByteReader_shortFormPortsBasic(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	composePath := filepath.Join(dir, "compose.yaml")
+	err := os.WriteFile(composePath, []byte(`name: test
+services:
+  whoami:
+    image: docker.io/traefik/whoami:v1.11
+    ports:
+      - "8080:80"
+`), 0o600)
+	assert.NilError(t, err)
+
+	project, err := loader.LoadWithContext(t.Context(), types.ConfigDetails{
+		WorkingDir:  dir,
+		Environment: types.Mapping{},
+		ConfigFiles: []types.ConfigFile{{Filename: composePath}},
+	})
+	assert.NilError(t, err)
+	project.ComposeFiles = []string{composePath}
+
+	reader, err := composeFileAsByteReader(t.Context(), composePath, project)
+	assert.NilError(t, err)
+	assert.Assert(t, reader != nil)
+}
+
+func Test_composeFileAsByteReader_shortFormPortsIPBound(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	composePath := filepath.Join(dir, "compose.yaml")
+	err := os.WriteFile(composePath, []byte(`name: test
+services:
+  whoami:
+    image: docker.io/traefik/whoami:v1.11
+    ports:
+      - "127.0.0.1:8080:80"
+`), 0o600)
+	assert.NilError(t, err)
+
+	project, err := loader.LoadWithContext(t.Context(), types.ConfigDetails{
+		WorkingDir:  dir,
+		Environment: types.Mapping{},
+		ConfigFiles: []types.ConfigFile{{Filename: composePath}},
+	})
+	assert.NilError(t, err)
+	project.ComposeFiles = []string{composePath}
+
+	reader, err := composeFileAsByteReader(t.Context(), composePath, project)
+	assert.NilError(t, err)
+	assert.Assert(t, reader != nil)
+}
+
+func Test_composeFileAsByteReader_longFormPorts(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	composePath := filepath.Join(dir, "compose.yaml")
+	err := os.WriteFile(composePath, []byte(`name: test
+services:
+  whoami:
+    image: docker.io/traefik/whoami:v1.11
+    ports:
+      - target: 3000
+        published: "3000"
+`), 0o600)
+	assert.NilError(t, err)
+
+	project, err := loader.LoadWithContext(t.Context(), types.ConfigDetails{
+		WorkingDir:  dir,
+		Environment: types.Mapping{},
+		ConfigFiles: []types.ConfigFile{{Filename: composePath}},
+	})
+	assert.NilError(t, err)
+	project.ComposeFiles = []string{composePath}
+
+	reader, err := composeFileAsByteReader(t.Context(), composePath, project)
+	assert.NilError(t, err)
+	assert.Assert(t, reader != nil)
+}