diff --git a/podman_compose.py b/podman_compose.py
index c6e7f41..55c1fff 100755
--- a/podman_compose.py
+++ b/podman_compose.py
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 
 import sys
 import os
+import getpass
 import argparse
 import subprocess
 import time
@@ -1712,6 +1713,7 @@ def compose_systemd(compose, args):
     later you can add a compose stack by running `podman-compose -a register`
     then you can start/stop your stack with `systemctl --user start podman-compose@<PROJ>`
     """
+    script = os.path.realpath(sys.argv[0])
     stacks_dir = ".config/containers/compose/projects"
     if args.action == "register":
         proj_name = compose.project_name
@@ -1723,16 +1725,34 @@ def compose_systemd(compose, args):
                 if k.startswith("COMPOSE_") or k.startswith("PODMAN_"):
                     f.write(f"{k}={v}\n")
         print(f"writing [{fn}]: done.")
-        print(
-            f"""later you can use use enable, start, stop, status, cat
-like this `systemctl --user enable --now podman-compose@{proj_name}`"""
-        )
+        print("\n\ncreating the pod without starting it: ...\n\n")
+        process = subprocess.run([script, "up", "--no-start"])
+        print("\nfinal exit code is ", process.returncode)
+        username = getpass.getuser()
+        print(f"""
+you can use systemd commands like enable, start, stop, status, cat
+all without `sudo` like this:
+
+\t\tsystemctl --user enable --now 'podman-compose@{proj_name}'
+\t\tsystemctl --user status 'podman-compose@{proj_name}'
+\t\tjournalctl --user -xeu 'podman-compose@{proj_name}'
+
+and for that to work outside a session
+you might need to run the following command *once*
+
+\t\tsudo loginctl enable-linger '{username}'
+
+you can use podman commands like:
+
+\t\tpodman pod ps
+\t\tpodman pod stats 'pod_{proj_name}'
+\t\tpodman pod logs --tail=10 -f 'pod_{proj_name}'
+""")
     elif args.action in ("list", "ls"):
         ls = glob.glob(os.path.expanduser(f"~/{stacks_dir}/*.env"))
         for i in ls:
             print(os.path.basename(i[:-4]))
     elif args.action == "create-unit":
-        script = os.path.realpath(sys.argv[0])
         fn = "/usr/lib/systemd/user/podman-compose@.service"
         out = f"""\
 # {fn}