diff --git a/app/deploy_system.py b/app/deploy_system.py
index 951e3758..e1b25f31 100644
--- a/app/deploy_system.py
+++ b/app/deploy_system.py
@@ -185,8 +185,10 @@ def _make_cluster_context(ctx, include, exclude, cluster):
         stack_config = get_parsed_stack_config(ctx.stack)
         # TODO: syntax check the input here
         pods_in_scope = stack_config['pods']
+        cluster_config = stack_config['config'] if 'config' in stack_config else None
     else:
         pods_in_scope = all_pods
+        cluster_config = None
 
     # Convert all pod definitions to v1.1 format
     pods_in_scope = _convert_to_new_format(pods_in_scope)
@@ -223,8 +225,6 @@ def _make_cluster_context(ctx, include, exclude, cluster):
     if ctx.verbose:
         print(f"files: {compose_files}")
 
-    cluster_config = stack_config['config'] if 'config' in stack_config else None
-
     return cluster_context(cluster, compose_files, pre_start_commands, post_start_commands, cluster_config)
 
 
@@ -276,7 +276,6 @@ def _orchestrate_cluster_config(ctx, cluster_config, docker, container_exec_env)
         destination_container: str
         destination_variable: str
 
-
     if cluster_config is not None:
         for container in cluster_config:
             container_config = cluster_config[container]
diff --git a/tests/smoke-test/run-smoke-test.sh b/tests/smoke-test/run-smoke-test.sh
index b4006f01..777c608e 100755
--- a/tests/smoke-test/run-smoke-test.sh
+++ b/tests/smoke-test/run-smoke-test.sh
@@ -24,4 +24,11 @@ $TEST_TARGET_SO --stack test deploy-system up
 # TODO: test that we can use the deployed container somehow
 # Clean up
 $TEST_TARGET_SO --stack test deploy-system down
+# Run same test but not using the stack definition
+# Test building the a stack container
+$TEST_TARGET_SO build-containers --include cerc/test-container
+# Deploy the test container
+$TEST_TARGET_SO deploy-system --include test up
+# Clean up
+$TEST_TARGET_SO deploy-system --include test down
 echo "Test passed"