diff --git a/deployment/ansible/playbooks/install-composer-dependencies.yml b/deployment/ansible/playbooks/install-composer-dependencies.yml
index ac06f151..57ccf0e1 100644
--- a/deployment/ansible/playbooks/install-composer-dependencies.yml
+++ b/deployment/ansible/playbooks/install-composer-dependencies.yml
@@ -47,13 +47,21 @@
       debug:
         msg: "Container status: {{ container_status.stdout }}"
 
-    - name: Start container if not running
-      shell: |
-        cd {{ application_code_dest }}
-        docker compose -f docker-compose.base.yml -f docker-compose.{{ application_compose_suffix }} up -d {{ php_service_name }}
+    - name: Fail if container is not running
+      fail:
+        msg: |
+          Container '{{ php_service_name }}' is not running!
+          
+          The container must be started before installing composer dependencies.
+          This is typically done by the 'deploy-image.yml' playbook which should run before this.
+          
+          To start the container manually:
+          cd {{ application_code_dest }}
+          docker compose -f docker-compose.base.yml -f docker-compose.{{ application_compose_suffix }} up -d {{ php_service_name }}
+          
+          Note: The container requires environment variables (DB_USERNAME, DB_PASSWORD, etc.)
+          which should be set in a .env file or via docker-compose environment configuration.
       when: container_status.rc != 0 or '"State":"running"' not in container_status.stdout
-      register: container_start
-      changed_when: container_start.rc == 0
 
     - name: Install composer dependencies in PHP container
       shell: |