diff --git a/cmd/uncloud/service/exec.go b/cmd/uncloud/service/exec.go
index 0577cd6c..59dcbdf7 100644
--- a/cmd/uncloud/service/exec.go
+++ b/cmd/uncloud/service/exec.go
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ func NewExecCommand() *cobra.Command {
 		Use:   "exec [OPTIONS] SERVICE [COMMAND ARGS...]",
 		Short: "Execute a command in a running service container",
 		Long: `Execute a command (interactive shell by default) in a running container within a service.
-If the service has multiple replicas, the command will be executed in a random container.
+If the service has multiple replicas and no container ID is specified, the command will be executed in a random container.
 	`,
 		Example: `
   # Start an interactive shell ("bash" or "sh" will be tried by default)
@@ -37,8 +37,8 @@ If the service has multiple replicas, the command will be executed in a random c
   # Start an interactive shell with explicit command
   uc exec web-service /bin/zsh
 
-  # List files in the specific container of the service
-  uc exec --container d792ea7347e5 web-service ls -la
+  # List files in the specific container of the service; --container accepts full ID or a (unique) prefix
+  uc exec --container d792e web-service ls -la
 
   # Pipe input to a command inside the service container
   cat backup.sql | uc exec -T db-service psql -U postgres mydb
diff --git a/pkg/client/container.go b/pkg/client/container.go
index 1ac5a02a..7c05c58e 100644
--- a/pkg/client/container.go
+++ b/pkg/client/container.go
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/docker/compose/v2/pkg/progress"
 	"github.com/docker/docker/api/types/container"
 	"github.com/docker/docker/pkg/jsonmessage"
-	"github.com/docker/docker/pkg/stringid"
 	"github.com/psviderski/uncloud/internal/docker"
 	machinedocker "github.com/psviderski/uncloud/internal/machine/docker"
 	"github.com/psviderski/uncloud/internal/secret"
@@ -200,7 +199,7 @@ func toPullProgressEvent(jm jsonmessage.JSONMessage) *progress.Event {
 }
 
 // InspectContainer returns the information about the specified container within the service.
-// containerNameOrID can be name, ID, or truncated ID of the container.
+// containerNameOrID can be name, full ID, or ID prefix of the container.
 func (cli *Client) InspectContainer(
 	ctx context.Context, serviceNameOrID, containerNameOrID string,
 ) (api.MachineServiceContainer, error) {
@@ -209,13 +208,23 @@ func (cli *Client) InspectContainer(
 		return api.MachineServiceContainer{}, fmt.Errorf("inspect service: %w", err)
 	}
 
-	// TODO: support matching by any prefix of the container ID
+	prefixMatchCandidates := []api.MachineServiceContainer{}
 	for _, c := range svc.Containers {
 		if c.Container.ID == containerNameOrID ||
-			c.Container.Name == containerNameOrID ||
-			stringid.TruncateID(c.Container.ID) == containerNameOrID {
+			c.Container.Name == containerNameOrID {
 			return c, nil
 		}
+
+		if strings.HasPrefix(c.Container.ID, containerNameOrID) {
+			prefixMatchCandidates = append(prefixMatchCandidates, c)
+		}
+	}
+
+	if len(prefixMatchCandidates) == 1 {
+		return prefixMatchCandidates[0], nil
+	} else if len(prefixMatchCandidates) > 1 {
+		return api.MachineServiceContainer{}, fmt.Errorf(
+			"multiple containers found with ID prefix '%s'", containerNameOrID)
 	}
 
 	return api.MachineServiceContainer{}, api.ErrNotFound
diff --git a/test/e2e/exec_test.go b/test/e2e/exec_test.go
index c3cc959f..0dbfc846 100644
--- a/test/e2e/exec_test.go
+++ b/test/e2e/exec_test.go
@@ -224,7 +224,8 @@ func TestExecBasicCommands(t *testing.T) {
 
 		var stdout, stderr bytes.Buffer
 
-		containerID := service.Containers[1].Container.ID
+		// Use container prefix
+		containerIDPrefix := service.Containers[1].Container.ID[:3]
 		execOptions := api.ExecOptions{
 			Command:      []string{"hostname"},
 			AttachStdout: true,
@@ -233,7 +234,7 @@ func TestExecBasicCommands(t *testing.T) {
 			Stderr:       &stderr,
 		}
 
-		exitCode, err := cli.ExecContainer(ctx, multiServiceName, containerID, execOptions)
+		exitCode, err := cli.ExecContainer(ctx, multiServiceName, containerIDPrefix, execOptions)
 
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 		assert.Equal(t, 0, exitCode)
diff --git a/website/docs/9-cli-reference/uc_exec.md b/website/docs/9-cli-reference/uc_exec.md
index 924f16df..afdeb611 100644
--- a/website/docs/9-cli-reference/uc_exec.md
+++ b/website/docs/9-cli-reference/uc_exec.md
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ Execute a command in a running service container
 ## Synopsis
 
 Execute a command (interactive shell by default) in a running container within a service.
-If the service has multiple replicas, the command will be executed in a random container.
+If the service has multiple replicas and no container ID is specified, the command will be executed in a random container.
 	
 
 ```
@@ -22,8 +22,8 @@ uc exec [OPTIONS] SERVICE [COMMAND ARGS...] [flags]
   # Start an interactive shell with explicit command
   uc exec web-service /bin/zsh
 
-  # List files in the specific container of the service
-  uc exec --container d792ea7347e5 web-service ls -la
+  # List files in the specific container of the service; --container accepts full ID or a (unique) prefix
+  uc exec --container d792e web-service ls -la
 
   # Pipe input to a command inside the service container
   cat backup.sql | uc exec -T db-service psql -U postgres mydb
diff --git a/website/docs/9-cli-reference/uc_service_exec.md b/website/docs/9-cli-reference/uc_service_exec.md
index 4a57b679..9c8a5616 100644
--- a/website/docs/9-cli-reference/uc_service_exec.md
+++ b/website/docs/9-cli-reference/uc_service_exec.md
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ Execute a command in a running service container
 ## Synopsis
 
 Execute a command (interactive shell by default) in a running container within a service.
-If the service has multiple replicas, the command will be executed in a random container.
+If the service has multiple replicas and no container ID is specified, the command will be executed in a random container.
 	
 
 ```
@@ -22,8 +22,8 @@ uc service exec [OPTIONS] SERVICE [COMMAND ARGS...] [flags]
   # Start an interactive shell with explicit command
   uc exec web-service /bin/zsh
 
-  # List files in the specific container of the service
-  uc exec --container d792ea7347e5 web-service ls -la
+  # List files in the specific container of the service; --container accepts full ID or a (unique) prefix
+  uc exec --container d792e web-service ls -la
 
   # Pipe input to a command inside the service container
   cat backup.sql | uc exec -T db-service psql -U postgres mydb