diff --git a/podman_compose.py b/podman_compose.py
index 1f9b48e..548315e 100755
--- a/podman_compose.py
+++ b/podman_compose.py
@@ -1420,6 +1420,15 @@ def normalize_service(service, sub_dir=""):
         if is_str(extends):
             extends = {"service": extends}
             service["extends"] = extends
+    if "depends_on" in service:
+        deps = service["depends_on"]
+        if is_str(deps):
+            deps = [deps]
+        if is_list(deps):
+            deps_dict = {}
+            for d in deps:
+                deps_dict[d] = {'condition': 'service_started'}
+            service["depends_on"] = deps_dict
     return service
 
 
diff --git a/pytests/test_normalize_depends_on.py b/pytests/test_normalize_depends_on.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..de773e6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pytests/test_normalize_depends_on.py
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+import copy
+
+from podman_compose import normalize_service
+
+test_cases_simple = [
+    (
+        {"depends_on": "my_service"},
+        {"depends_on": {"my_service": {"condition": "service_started"}}},
+    ),
+    (
+        {"depends_on": ["my_service"]},
+        {"depends_on": {"my_service": {"condition": "service_started"}}},
+    ),
+    (
+        {"depends_on": ["my_service1", "my_service2"]},
+        {
+            "depends_on": {
+                "my_service1": {"condition": "service_started"},
+                "my_service2": {"condition": "service_started"},
+            },
+        },
+    ),
+    (
+        {"depends_on": {"my_service": {"condition": "service_started"}}},
+        {"depends_on": {"my_service": {"condition": "service_started"}}},
+    ),
+    (
+        {"depends_on": {"my_service": {"condition": "service_healthy"}}},
+        {"depends_on": {"my_service": {"condition": "service_healthy"}}},
+    ),
+]
+
+
+def test_normalize_service_simple():
+    for test_case, expected in copy.deepcopy(test_cases_simple):
+        test_original = copy.deepcopy(test_case)
+        test_case = normalize_service(test_case)
+        test_result = expected == test_case
+        if not test_result:
+            print("test:     ", test_original)
+            print("expected: ", expected)
+            print("actual:   ", test_case)
+        assert test_result