diff --git a/src/commands/workflow/compile.ts b/src/commands/workflow/compile.ts
index a237ed6..eb834d0 100644
--- a/src/commands/workflow/compile.ts
+++ b/src/commands/workflow/compile.ts
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import {readFileSync} from 'fs'
 
 import Command from '../../root-command'
 import * as compile from '../../utils/compiler'
+import ServiceStart from '../service/start';
 
 export default class WorkflowCompile extends Command {
   static description = 'Compile a workflow'
@@ -17,9 +18,36 @@ export default class WorkflowCompile extends Command {
 
   async run(): Promise<any> {
     const {args} = this.parse(WorkflowCompile)
-    const definition = await compile.workflow(readFileSync(args.WORKFLOW_FILE))
+    const definition = await compile.workflow(readFileSync(args.WORKFLOW_FILE), async (instanceObject: any) => {
+      if (instanceObject.instanceHash) {
+        return instanceObject.instanceHash
+      }
+      if (instanceObject.service) {
+        return this.serviceToInstance(instanceObject.service)
+      }
+      throw new Error('at least one of the following parameter should be set: "instanceHash" or "service"')
+    })
     this.styledJSON(definition)
     this.spinner.stop()
     return definition
   }
+
+  async serviceToInstance(key: string): Promise<string> {
+    const {services} = await this.api.service.list({})
+    if (!services) throw new Error('no services deployed, please deploy your service first')
+    const match = services.filter(x => x.hash === key || x.sid === key)
+    if (!match || match.length === 0) throw new Error(`cannot find any service with the following: ${key}`)
+    if (match.length > 1) throw new Error(`multiple services match the following sid: ${key}, provide a service's hash instead`)
+    const service = match[0]
+    if (!service.hash) throw new Error('invalid service')
+    const {instances} = await this.api.instance.list({serviceHash: service.hash})
+    if (!instances || instances.length === 0) {
+      const instance = await ServiceStart.run([service.hash, '--silent'])
+      return instance.hash
+    }
+    if (instances.length > 1) throw new Error('multiple instances match the service, use parameter "instanceHash" instead of "service"')
+    const instance = instances[0]
+    if (!instance.hash) throw new Error('invalid instance')
+    return instance.hash
+  }
 }
diff --git a/src/utils/compiler.ts b/src/utils/compiler.ts
index 71ee0e0..cca6d54 100644
--- a/src/utils/compiler.ts
+++ b/src/utils/compiler.ts
@@ -15,10 +15,6 @@ const parseParams = (params: any): any => mapToArray(params).map(x => ({
   object: parseParams(x.object),
 }))
 
-const prepareInstanceHash = async (object: any): Promise<string> => {
-  return object.instanceHash
-}
-
 export const service = async (content: Buffer): Promise<Service> => {
   const definition = decode(content)
   return {
@@ -36,17 +32,17 @@ export const service = async (content: Buffer): Promise<Service> => {
   }
 }
 
-export const workflow = async (content: Buffer): Promise<Workflow> => {
+export const workflow = async (content: Buffer, instanceResolver: (object: any) => Promise<string>): Promise<Workflow> => {
   const definition = decode(content)
   const createNode = async (def: any, index: number): Promise<WorkflowType.types.Workflow.INode> => ({
     key: def.key || `node-${index}`,
     taskKey: def.taskKey,
-    instanceHash: await prepareInstanceHash(def)
+    instanceHash: await instanceResolver(def)
   })
   const orderedNodes = await Promise.all(definition.tasks.map(createNode)) as WorkflowType.types.Workflow.INode[]
 
   const trigger = {
-    instanceHash: await prepareInstanceHash(definition.trigger),
+    instanceHash: await instanceResolver(definition.trigger),
     taskKey: definition.trigger.taskKey,
     eventKey: definition.trigger.eventKey,
     nodeKey: orderedNodes[0].key