diff --git a/podman_compose.py b/podman_compose.py
index aefb9ec..d4cc1d4 100755
--- a/podman_compose.py
+++ b/podman_compose.py
@@ -1627,7 +1627,8 @@ def _parse_compose_file(self):
             compose.get("services", {}), set(args.profile)
         )
         compose["services"] = resolved_services
-        compose = normalize_final(compose, self.dirname)
+        if not args.no_normalize:
+            compose = normalize_final(compose, self.dirname)
         self.merged_yaml = yaml.safe_dump(compose)
         merged_json_b = json.dumps(compose, separators=(",", ":")).encode("utf-8")
         self.yaml_hash = hashlib.sha256(merged_json_b).hexdigest()
@@ -3082,6 +3083,9 @@ def compose_build_parse(parser):
 
 @cmd_parse(podman_compose, "config")
 def compose_config_parse(parser):
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--no-normalize", help="Don't normalize compose model.", action="store_true"
+    )
     parser.add_argument(
         "--services", help="Print the service names, one per line.", action="store_true"
     )
diff --git a/pytests/test_can_merge_build.py b/pytests/test_can_merge_build.py
index a020cb5..d08081a 100644
--- a/pytests/test_can_merge_build.py
+++ b/pytests/test_can_merge_build.py
@@ -138,7 +138,9 @@ def test__parse_compose_file_when_multiple_composes() -> None:
         if actual_compose != expected_result:
             print("compose:   ", test_input)
             print("override:  ", test_override)
-            print("result:    ", expected_result)
+            print("expected:  ", expected_result)
+            print("actual:    ", actual_compose)
+
         compose_expected = expected_result
 
         assert compose_expected == actual_compose
@@ -151,6 +153,7 @@ def set_args(podman_compose: PodmanCompose, file_names: list[str]) -> None:
     podman_compose.global_args.env_file = None
     podman_compose.global_args.profile = []
     podman_compose.global_args.in_pod = True
+    podman_compose.global_args.no_normalize = True
 
 
 def dump_yaml(compose: dict, name: str) -> None:
diff --git a/pytests/test_can_merge_cmd_ent.py b/pytests/test_can_merge_cmd_ent.py
index 5175673..2120632 100644
--- a/pytests/test_can_merge_cmd_ent.py
+++ b/pytests/test_can_merge_cmd_ent.py
@@ -107,6 +107,7 @@ def set_args(podman_compose: PodmanCompose, file_names: list[str]) -> None:
     podman_compose.global_args.env_file = None
     podman_compose.global_args.profile = []
     podman_compose.global_args.in_pod = True
+    podman_compose.global_args.no_normalize = None
 
 
 def dump_yaml(compose: dict, name: str) -> None:
diff --git a/pytests/test_normalize_final_build.py b/pytests/test_normalize_final_build.py
index f76cfd2..49ff3cd 100644
--- a/pytests/test_normalize_final_build.py
+++ b/pytests/test_normalize_final_build.py
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ def test__parse_compose_file_when_single_compose() -> None:
         dump_yaml(compose_test, "test-compose.yaml")
 
         podman_compose = PodmanCompose()
-        set_args(podman_compose, ["test-compose.yaml"])
+        set_args(podman_compose, ["test-compose.yaml"], no_normalize=None)
 
         podman_compose._parse_compose_file()
 
@@ -271,7 +271,11 @@ def test__parse_compose_file_when_multiple_composes() -> None:
         dump_yaml(compose_test_2, "test-compose-2.yaml")
 
         podman_compose = PodmanCompose()
-        set_args(podman_compose, ["test-compose-1.yaml", "test-compose-2.yaml"])
+        set_args(
+            podman_compose,
+            ["test-compose-1.yaml", "test-compose-2.yaml"],
+            no_normalize=None,
+        )
 
         podman_compose._parse_compose_file()
 
@@ -288,13 +292,16 @@ def test__parse_compose_file_when_multiple_composes() -> None:
         assert compose_expected == actual_compose
 
 
-def set_args(podman_compose: PodmanCompose, file_names: list[str]) -> None:
+def set_args(
+    podman_compose: PodmanCompose, file_names: list[str], no_normalize: bool
+) -> None:
     podman_compose.global_args = argparse.Namespace()
     podman_compose.global_args.file = file_names
     podman_compose.global_args.project_name = None
     podman_compose.global_args.env_file = None
     podman_compose.global_args.profile = []
     podman_compose.global_args.in_pod = True
+    podman_compose.global_args.no_normalize = no_normalize
 
 
 def dump_yaml(compose: dict, name: str) -> None: