diff --git a/src/mount/core.cljc b/src/mount/core.cljc
index 95549dd..ab2598e 100644
--- a/src/mount/core.cljc
+++ b/src/mount/core.cljc
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
                     [clojure.set :refer [intersection]]
                     [clojure.string :as s])
      :cljs (:require [mount.tools.macro :as macro]
+                     [clojure.set :refer [intersection]]
                      [mount.tools.logger :refer [log]]))
   #?(:cljs (:require-macros [mount.core]
                             [mount.tools.macro :refer [if-clj on-error throw-runtime]])))
@@ -239,8 +240,10 @@
   (remove (comp :sub? @meta-state) (find-all-states)))
 
 (defn start [& states]
-  (let [states (or (seq states) (all-without-subs))]
-    {:started (bring states up <)}))
+  (if (-> states first coll?)
+    (apply start (first states))
+    (let [states (or (seq states) (all-without-subs))]
+      {:started (bring states up <)})))
 
 (defn stop [& states]
   (let [states (or states (find-all-states))
diff --git a/test/core/mount/test/composable_fns.cljc b/test/core/mount/test/composable_fns.cljc
index 326bcab..ab7ff5b 100644
--- a/test/core/mount/test/composable_fns.cljc
+++ b/test/core/mount/test/composable_fns.cljc
@@ -114,3 +114,44 @@
         (is (= 42 (dval test-conn))) ;; test-conn is explicitly started via "t-states"
         (mount/stop)))))
 
+#?(:clj
+  (deftest composing
+
+    (testing "states provided to the top level should narrow down the scope for the whole composition"
+      (let [scope [#'tapp.conf/config
+                   #'tapp.example/nrepl
+                   #'tapp.nyse/conn
+                   #'mount.test.composable-fns/test-nrepl
+                   #'mount.test.composable-fns/test-conn]
+            states (-> (only scope)
+                       (with-args {:a 42})
+                       (except [#'mount.test.composable-fns/test-nrepl
+                                #'mount.test.composable-fns/test-conn])
+                       (swap-states {#'tapp.example/nrepl #'mount.test.composable-fns/test-nrepl})
+                       (swap {#'tapp.conf/config {:datomic {:uri "datomic:mem://composable-mount"}}}))]
+        (is (= #{"#'tapp.nyse/conn" "#'tapp.conf/config" "#'tapp.example/nrepl"} (set states)))
+        (mount/start states)
+        (is (= {:a 42} (mount/args)))
+        (is (= {:datomic {:uri "datomic:mem://composable-mount"}} (dval config)))
+        (is (instance? datomic.peer.LocalConnection (dval conn)))
+        (is (vector? (dval nrepl)))
+        (mount/stop)))
+
+    (testing "should compose and start in a single composition"
+      (let [scope [#'tapp.conf/config
+                   #'tapp.example/nrepl
+                   #'tapp.nyse/conn
+                   #'mount.test.composable-fns/test-nrepl
+                   #'mount.test.composable-fns/test-conn]]
+        (-> (only scope)
+            (with-args {:a 42})
+            (except [#'mount.test.composable-fns/test-nrepl
+                     #'mount.test.composable-fns/test-conn])
+            (swap-states {#'tapp.example/nrepl #'mount.test.composable-fns/test-nrepl})
+            (swap {#'tapp.conf/config {:datomic {:uri "datomic:mem://composable-mount"}}})
+            mount/start)
+        (is (= {:a 42} (mount/args)))
+        (is (= {:datomic {:uri "datomic:mem://composable-mount"}} (dval config)))
+        (is (instance? datomic.peer.LocalConnection (dval conn)))
+        (is (vector? (dval nrepl)))
+        (mount/stop)))))