diff --git a/pkg/client/compose/caddy_test.go b/pkg/client/compose/caddy_test.go
index 196bde44..d67f15ba 100644
--- a/pkg/client/compose/caddy_test.go
+++ b/pkg/client/compose/caddy_test.go
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ services:
 			wantErr: "expected type 'string'",
 		},
 		{
-			name: "x-caddy with x-ports conflict",
+			name: "x-caddy with ingress x-ports conflict",
 			composeYAML: `
 services:
   web:
@@ -153,7 +153,26 @@ services:
     x-ports:
       - example.com:80/http
 `,
-			wantErr: "cannot specify both 'x-caddy' and 'x-ports'",
+			wantErr: "ingress ports in 'x-ports' and 'x-caddy' cannot be specified simultaneously",
+		},
+		{
+			name: "x-caddy with host-only x-ports allowed",
+			composeYAML: `
+services:
+  web:
+    image: nginx
+    x-caddy: |
+      example.com {
+        reverse_proxy web:80
+      }
+    x-ports:
+      - 8080:80@host
+      - 9090:90/tcp@host
+`,
+			wantConfig: `example.com {
+  reverse_proxy web:80
+}`,
+			// Should not error - host ports are allowed with x-caddy
 		},
 	}
 
diff --git a/pkg/client/compose/service.go b/pkg/client/compose/service.go
index 928e511f..bdaf0ecb 100644
--- a/pkg/client/compose/service.go
+++ b/pkg/client/compose/service.go
@@ -252,20 +252,26 @@ func tmpfsVolumeSpecFromCompose(serviceVolume types.ServiceVolumeConfig) api.Vol
 // validateServicesExtensions validates extension combinations across all services in the project.
 func validateServicesExtensions(project *types.Project) error {
 	for _, service := range project.Services {
-		// Check for x-caddy and x-ports conflict.
+		// Check for x-caddy and x-ports conflict, unless all ports are host mode.
 		hasCaddy := false
 		if caddy, ok := service.Extensions[CaddyExtensionKey].(Caddy); ok && caddy.Config != "" {
 			hasCaddy = true
 		}
 
-		hasPorts := false
-		if ports, ok := service.Extensions[PortsExtensionKey].([]api.PortSpec); ok && len(ports) > 0 {
-			hasPorts = true
-		}
-
-		if hasCaddy && hasPorts {
-			return fmt.Errorf("service '%s' cannot specify both 'x-caddy' and 'x-ports': "+
-				"Caddy config is auto-generated from ports, use only one of them", service.Name)
+		if ports, ok := service.Extensions[PortsExtensionKey].([]api.PortSpec); ok && len(ports) > 0 && hasCaddy {
+			// Check if all ports are in host mode.
+			hasIngressPort := false
+			for _, p := range ports {
+				if p.Mode == "" || p.Mode == api.PortModeIngress {
+					hasIngressPort = true
+					break
+				}
+			}
+			if hasIngressPort {
+				return fmt.Errorf("service '%s': ingress ports in 'x-ports' and 'x-caddy' cannot be specified "+
+					"simultaneously: Caddy config is auto-generated from ingress ports, use only one of them. "+
+					"Host mode ports in 'x-caddy' can be used with 'x-caddy'", service.Name)
+			}
 		}
 	}