diff --git a/internal/components/setup/compose.go b/internal/components/setup/compose.go
index 52acd98..f43d2fd 100644
--- a/internal/components/setup/compose.go
+++ b/internal/components/setup/compose.go
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ import (
 	"gopkg.in/yaml.v2"
 
 	"github.com/apache/skywalking-infra-e2e/internal/config"
+	"github.com/apache/skywalking-infra-e2e/internal/constant"
 	"github.com/apache/skywalking-infra-e2e/internal/logger"
 	"github.com/apache/skywalking-infra-e2e/internal/util"
 )
@@ -55,6 +56,13 @@ func ComposeSetup(e2eConfig *config.E2EConfig) error {
 		util.ExportEnvVars(profilePath)
 	}
 
+	// Disable Ryuk reaper when cleanup.on is "never" so containers survive process exit.
+	if e2eConfig.Cleanup.On == constant.CleanUpNever {
+		if err := os.Setenv("TESTCONTAINERS_RYUK_DISABLED", "true"); err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("failed to disable Ryuk reaper: %v", err)
+		}
+	}
+
 	// create compose stack
 	identifier := util.GetIdentity()
 	stack, err := compose.NewDockerComposeWith(