diff --git a/packages/app-express/deno.jsonc b/packages/app-express/deno.jsonc
index 16ccfded..c27dc6aa 100644
--- a/packages/app-express/deno.jsonc
+++ b/packages/app-express/deno.jsonc
@@ -5,13 +5,9 @@
     "harness": "deno run --no-check --no-lock -A --reload ./harness.ts"
   },
   "fmt": {
-    "files": {
-      "include": ["./"]
-    },
-    "options": {
-      "lineWidth": 100,
-      "singleQuote": true,
-      "semiColons": false
-    }
+    "include": ["./"],
+    "lineWidth": 100,
+    "singleQuote": true,
+    "semiColons": false
   }
 }
diff --git a/packages/app-express/main.ts b/packages/app-express/main.ts
index d02c663c..80061b32 100644
--- a/packages/app-express/main.ts
+++ b/packages/app-express/main.ts
@@ -1,9 +1,7 @@
 import { mountServicesWith } from './api/mod.ts'
-import { cors, express, helmet, R } from './deps.ts'
+import { cors, express, helmet } from './deps.ts'
 import type { ErrorRouteHandler, HyperServices, Server } from './types.ts'
 
-const { compose } = R
-
 // All of these args need to be specified, or it won't be invoked on error
 const errorHandler: ErrorRouteHandler = (err, _req, res, _next) => {
   if (err) {
@@ -27,9 +25,12 @@ export function main(services: HyperServices): Server {
   app.use(cors({ credentials: true }))
 
   if (services.middleware?.length) {
-    // deno-lint-ignore ban-ts-comment
-    // @ts-ignore
-    app = compose(...services.middleware)(app, services)
+    app = services.middleware
+      .reverse()
+      .reduce(
+        (app, middleware) => middleware(app, services),
+        app,
+      )
   }
 
   app = mountServices(app)