diff --git a/cmd/compose/bridge.go b/cmd/compose/bridge.go
index 64620c9078..f3b14c6c2d 100644
--- a/cmd/compose/bridge.go
+++ b/cmd/compose/bridge.go
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ func bridgeCommand(p *ProjectOptions, dockerCli command.Cli) *cobra.Command {
 		Use:              "bridge CMD [OPTIONS]",
 		Short:            "Convert compose files into another model",
 		TraverseChildren: true,
+		RunE:             rejectUnknownSubcommand,
 	}
 	cmd.AddCommand(
 		convertCommand(p, dockerCli),
@@ -47,6 +48,20 @@ func bridgeCommand(p *ProjectOptions, dockerCli command.Cli) *cobra.Command {
 	return cmd
 }
 
+// rejectUnknownSubcommand is the RunE for a parent command that only groups
+// subcommands: by default (no Run/RunE), cobra shows help for an unknown
+// subcommand but exits 0.
+func rejectUnknownSubcommand(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
+	if len(args) == 0 {
+		return cmd.Help()
+	}
+	_ = cmd.Help()
+	return cli.StatusError{
+		StatusCode: 1,
+		Status:     fmt.Sprintf("unknown docker command: %q", cmd.CommandPath()+" "+args[0]),
+	}
+}
+
 func convertCommand(p *ProjectOptions, dockerCli command.Cli) *cobra.Command {
 	convertOpts := bridge.ConvertOptions{}
 	cmd := &cobra.Command{
@@ -81,6 +96,7 @@ func transformersCommand(dockerCli command.Cli) *cobra.Command {
 	cmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "transformations CMD [OPTIONS]",
 		Short: "Manage transformation images",
+		RunE:  rejectUnknownSubcommand,
 	}
 	cmd.AddCommand(
 		listTransformersCommand(dockerCli),
diff --git a/cmd/compose/bridge_test.go b/cmd/compose/bridge_test.go
index 09a3fdf46c..d7864ff5d7 100644
--- a/cmd/compose/bridge_test.go
+++ b/cmd/compose/bridge_test.go
@@ -55,6 +55,28 @@ func TestBridgeCommandsArgsValidation(t *testing.T) {
 			args:    []string{"extra"},
 			wantErr: "unknown command",
 		},
+		{
+			name:    "bridge rejects an unknown subcommand",
+			cmd:     bridgeCommand(&ProjectOptions{}, nil),
+			args:    []string{"zzz"},
+			wantErr: "unknown docker command",
+		},
+		{
+			name: "bridge with no subcommand shows help",
+			cmd:  bridgeCommand(&ProjectOptions{}, nil),
+			args: []string{},
+		},
+		{
+			name:    "transformations rejects an unknown subcommand",
+			cmd:     bridgeCommand(&ProjectOptions{}, nil),
+			args:    []string{"transformations", "zzz"},
+			wantErr: "unknown docker command",
+		},
+		{
+			name: "transformations with no subcommand shows help",
+			cmd:  transformersCommand(nil),
+			args: []string{},
+		},
 	}
 
 	for _, test := range tests {
@@ -63,7 +85,11 @@ func TestBridgeCommandsArgsValidation(t *testing.T) {
 			test.cmd.SetOut(io.Discard)
 			test.cmd.SetErr(io.Discard)
 			err := test.cmd.Execute()
-			assert.ErrorContains(t, err, test.wantErr)
+			if test.wantErr == "" {
+				assert.NilError(t, err)
+			} else {
+				assert.ErrorContains(t, err, test.wantErr)
+			}
 		})
 	}
 }
diff --git a/docs/reference/docker_compose_bridge.yaml b/docs/reference/docker_compose_bridge.yaml
index 5ef9ebf558..86acb68f9f 100644
--- a/docs/reference/docker_compose_bridge.yaml
+++ b/docs/reference/docker_compose_bridge.yaml
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 command: docker compose bridge
 short: Convert compose files into another model
 long: Convert compose files into another model
+usage: docker compose bridge CMD [OPTIONS]
 pname: docker compose
 plink: docker_compose.yaml
 cname:
diff --git a/docs/reference/docker_compose_bridge_transformations.yaml b/docs/reference/docker_compose_bridge_transformations.yaml
index 2ab5661f0b..fadf1e336c 100644
--- a/docs/reference/docker_compose_bridge_transformations.yaml
+++ b/docs/reference/docker_compose_bridge_transformations.yaml
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 command: docker compose bridge transformations
 short: Manage transformation images
 long: Manage transformation images
+usage: docker compose bridge transformations CMD [OPTIONS]
 pname: docker compose bridge
 plink: docker_compose_bridge.yaml
 cname: