diff --git a/cmd/utils.go b/cmd/utils.go
index 60e790a..308eeed 100644
--- a/cmd/utils.go
+++ b/cmd/utils.go
@@ -103,6 +103,10 @@ func Convert(composeFile, appVersion, appName, chartDir string, force bool) {
 		os.Exit(1)
 	}
 
+	// Parse the compose file now
+	p := compose.NewParser(composeFile)
+	p.Parse(appName)
+
 	dirname := filepath.Join(chartDir, appName)
 	if _, err := os.Stat(dirname); err == nil && !force {
 		response := ""
@@ -133,10 +137,6 @@ func Convert(composeFile, appVersion, appName, chartDir string, force bool) {
 		os.Exit(1)
 	}
 
-	// Parse the compose file now
-	p := compose.NewParser(composeFile)
-	p.Parse(appName)
-
 	// start generator
 	generator.Generate(p, Version, appName, appVersion, ComposeFile, dirname)
 
diff --git a/compose/parser.go b/compose/parser.go
index f8bd0d1..9b4da6c 100644
--- a/compose/parser.go
+++ b/compose/parser.go
@@ -94,6 +94,22 @@ func (p *Parser) Parse(appname string) {
 		log.Fatal(strings.Join(missing, "\n"))
 	}
 
+	// check if all "image" properties are set
+	missing = []string{}
+	for name, s := range c.Services {
+		if s.Image == "" {
+			missing = append(missing, fmt.Sprintf(
+				"The service \"%s\" hasn't got "+
+					"an image property - please "+
+					"append an image property in the docker-compose file",
+				name,
+			))
+		}
+	}
+	if len(missing) > 0 {
+		log.Fatal(strings.Join(missing, "\n"))
+	}
+
 	// check the build element
 	for name, s := range c.Services {
 		if s.RawBuild == nil {