diff --git a/cmd/compose/run.go b/cmd/compose/run.go
index 33321aaa4..3d89d2737 100644
--- a/cmd/compose/run.go
+++ b/cmd/compose/run.go
@@ -403,10 +403,12 @@ func runRun(ctx context.Context, backend api.Compose, project *types.Project, op
 	return err
 }
 
-// materializeManualJob lets run target a manual-trigger job exactly like a
-// service. A job is a ContainerSpec+WorkloadSpec — the same layers a service
-// is made of — so it materializes as a service for the one-off machinery:
-// its profile is activated and the project narrowed to its dependencies by
+// materializeManualJob lets run target a job exactly like a service: per the
+// spec, any job can be triggered manually regardless of its automated
+// triggers, unless it explicitly opts out with `triggers.manual: false`.
+// A job is a ContainerSpec+WorkloadSpec — the same layers a service is made
+// of — so it materializes as a service for the one-off machinery: its
+// profile is activated and the project narrowed to its dependencies by
 // WithSelectedJob, then the job joins Services under its own name.
 func materializeManualJob(project *types.Project, name string) (*types.Project, error) {
 	// jobs and services share the depends_on namespace but not their own: a
@@ -420,8 +422,8 @@ func materializeManualJob(project *types.Project, name string) (*types.Project,
 	if !ok {
 		return project, nil
 	}
-	if job.Triggers == nil || job.Triggers.Manual == nil || !*job.Triggers.Manual {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("job %q has no manual trigger, it cannot be run", name)
+	if job.Triggers != nil && job.Triggers.Manual != nil && !*job.Triggers.Manual {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("job %q is declared with manual: false, it cannot be run manually", name)
 	}
 	project, err := project.WithSelectedJob(name)
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/cmd/compose/run_test.go b/cmd/compose/run_test.go
index 6fe87abd4..120f95f19 100644
--- a/cmd/compose/run_test.go
+++ b/cmd/compose/run_test.go
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ import (
 )
 
 func TestMaterializeManualJob(t *testing.T) {
-	yes := true
+	yes, no := true, false
 	base := func() *types.Project {
 		return &types.Project{
 			Services: types.Services{
@@ -39,8 +39,13 @@ func TestMaterializeManualJob(t *testing.T) {
 					WorkloadSpec:  types.WorkloadSpec{DependsOn: types.DependsOnConfig{"db": {Condition: types.ServiceConditionStarted, Required: true}}},
 				},
 				"backup": {
-					Name:     "backup",
-					Triggers: &types.TriggerConfig{Schedule: []types.ScheduleConfig{{Cron: "0 3 * * *"}}},
+					Name:          "backup",
+					Triggers:      &types.TriggerConfig{Schedule: []types.ScheduleConfig{{Cron: "0 3 * * *"}}},
+					ContainerSpec: types.ContainerSpec{Image: "backup-tool"},
+				},
+				"rotation": {
+					Name:     "rotation",
+					Triggers: &types.TriggerConfig{Manual: &no, Schedule: []types.ScheduleConfig{{Cron: "0 3 1 * *"}}},
 				},
 				"prep": {
 					Name:          "prep",
@@ -105,9 +110,17 @@ func TestMaterializeManualJob(t *testing.T) {
 		assert.Equal(t, svc.Image, "the-service", "a same-named service must not be shadowed by the job")
 	})
 
-	t.Run("a schedule-only job is rejected", func(t *testing.T) {
-		_, err := materializeManualJob(base(), "backup")
-		assert.Error(t, err, `job "backup" has no manual trigger, it cannot be run`)
+	t.Run("a scheduled job without explicit manual opt-out can be run", func(t *testing.T) {
+		got, err := materializeManualJob(base(), "backup")
+		assert.NilError(t, err)
+		svc, err := got.GetService("backup")
+		assert.NilError(t, err)
+		assert.Equal(t, svc.Image, "backup-tool")
+	})
+
+	t.Run("manual: false explicitly forbids manual execution", func(t *testing.T) {
+		_, err := materializeManualJob(base(), "rotation")
+		assert.Error(t, err, `job "rotation" is declared with manual: false, it cannot be run manually`)
 	})
 }
 
diff --git a/pkg/e2e/jobs_test.go b/pkg/e2e/jobs_test.go
index 1b17264e6..a82e5b5d8 100644
--- a/pkg/e2e/jobs_test.go
+++ b/pkg/e2e/jobs_test.go
@@ -32,18 +32,22 @@ func TestUpRejectsScheduledJobs(t *testing.T) {
 			ServiceNotCreated("web"))
 }
 
-// A manual-trigger job runs through `compose run` exactly like a service
-// would: its declared dependencies start first, its output and exit flow
-// back. A schedule-only job stays out of reach.
+// A job runs through `compose run` exactly like a service would: its
+// declared dependencies start first, its output and exit flow back. Per the
+// spec, manual execution is always available — scheduled jobs included —
+// unless the job explicitly opts out with `triggers.manual: false`.
 func TestRunManualJob(t *testing.T) {
-	NewScenario(t, "run must execute a manual job like a service, starting its depends_on services first").
+	NewScenario(t, "run must execute a job like a service, starting its depends_on services first").
 		Step("run executes the job after starting its dependency",
 			ComposeCmd("run", "--rm", "migrate"),
 			OutputContains("migration done"),
 			ServiceState("db", "running")).
-		Step("a schedule-only job cannot be run",
-			ComposeCmd("run", "--rm", "backup").MayFail(),
-			StderrContains(`job "backup" has no manual trigger`))
+		Step("a scheduled job without explicit opt-out can be run manually",
+			ComposeCmd("run", "--rm", "backup"),
+			OutputContains("backup")).
+		Step("manual: false explicitly forbids manual execution",
+			ComposeCmd("run", "--rm", "rotation").MayFail(),
+			StderrContains(`job "rotation" is declared with manual: false`))
 }
 
 // A job's own env_file resolves exactly like a selected service's would: the
diff --git a/pkg/e2e/testdata/TestRunManualJob/compose.yaml b/pkg/e2e/testdata/TestRunManualJob/compose.yaml
index 675477855..5157e2bd2 100644
--- a/pkg/e2e/testdata/TestRunManualJob/compose.yaml
+++ b/pkg/e2e/testdata/TestRunManualJob/compose.yaml
@@ -18,3 +18,10 @@ jobs:
     triggers:
       schedule:
         - cron: "0 3 * * *"
+  rotation:
+    image: alpine
+    command: echo rotation
+    triggers:
+      manual: false
+      schedule:
+        - cron: "0 3 1 * *"