diff --git a/internal/generator/generator.go b/internal/generator/generator.go
index 2face53..c72a6f3 100644
--- a/internal/generator/generator.go
+++ b/internal/generator/generator.go
@@ -126,16 +126,23 @@ func Generate(project *types.Project) (*HelmChart, error) {
 	// create init containers for all DependsOn
 	for _, s := range project.Services {
 		for _, d := range s.GetDependencies() {
-			if dep, ok := deployments[d]; ok {
-				err := deployments[s.Name].DependsOn(dep, d)
-				if err != nil {
-					logger.Info(fmt.Sprintf("error creating init container for service %[1]s: %[2]s", s.Name, err))
-				}
-			} else {
-				err := fmt.Errorf("service %[1]s depends on %[2]s, but %[2]s is not defined", s.Name, d)
+			// Ensure both the dependent and the current deployment exist before calling DependsOn.
+			dep, depOk := deployments[d]
+			cur, curOk := deployments[s.Name]
+			if !depOk {
+				// Dependency deployment missing – this is a configuration error.
+				err := fmt.Errorf("service %s depends on %s, but %s is not defined", s.Name, d, d)
 				logger.Failure(err.Error())
 				return nil, err
 			}
+			if !curOk {
+				// Current service deployment missing (e.g., ignored or same‑pod). Log and skip.
+				logger.Info(fmt.Sprintf("service %s not found in deployments; skipping DependsOn for %s", s.Name, d))
+				continue
+			}
+			if err := cur.DependsOn(dep, d); err != nil {
+				logger.Info(fmt.Sprintf("error creating init container for service %[1]s: %[2]s", s.Name, err))
+			}
 		}
 	}
 	for _, name := range drops {