diff --git a/src/snek/system/docker.py b/src/snek/system/docker.py
index 9362c0a..7cfa8f1 100644
--- a/src/snek/system/docker.py
+++ b/src/snek/system/docker.py
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ class ComposeFileManager:
             with open(self.compose_path) as f:
                 self.compose = yaml.safe_load(f) or {}
         except FileNotFoundError:
-            self.compose = {"version": "3", "services": {}}
+            self.compose = {"services": {}}
 
     def _save(self):
         with open(self.compose_path, "w") as f: