diff --git a/R/class_branch.R b/R/class_branch.R
index 0f4eb72f..f6911ff3 100644
--- a/R/class_branch.R
+++ b/R/class_branch.R
@@ -15,7 +15,8 @@ branch_init <- function(
     deps = deps,
     settings = settings,
     cue = cue,
-    store = store
+    store = store,
+    file = file_init()
   )
 }
 
@@ -26,7 +27,8 @@ branch_new <- function(
   deps = NULL,
   settings = NULL,
   cue = NULL,
-  store = NULL
+  store = NULL,
+  file = NULL
 ) {
   out <- new.env(parent = emptyenv(), hash = FALSE)
   out$name <- name
@@ -36,6 +38,7 @@ branch_new <- function(
   out$settings <- settings
   out$cue <- cue
   out$store <- store
+  out$file <- file
   enclass(out, branch_s3_class)
 }
 
diff --git a/R/class_builder.R b/R/class_builder.R
index f7df26d4..5e6adfac 100644
--- a/R/class_builder.R
+++ b/R/class_builder.R
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ builder_new <- function(
   value = NULL,
   metrics = NULL,
   store = NULL,
+  file = NULL,
   subpipeline = NULL
 ) {
   out <- new.env(parent = emptyenv(), hash = FALSE)
@@ -14,6 +15,7 @@ builder_new <- function(
   out$value <- value
   out$metrics <- metrics
   out$store <- store
+  out$file <- file
   out$subpipeline <- subpipeline
   enclass(out, builder_s3_class)
 }
diff --git a/R/class_stem.R b/R/class_stem.R
index 04bb190c..f448cf17 100644
--- a/R/class_stem.R
+++ b/R/class_stem.R
@@ -1,3 +1,23 @@
+stem_init <- function(
+  name = NULL,
+  command = NULL,
+  seed = NULL,
+  deps = NULL,
+  settings = NULL,
+  cue = NULL
+) {
+  stem_new(
+    name = name,
+    command = command,
+    seed = seed,
+    deps = deps,
+    settings = settings,
+    cue = cue,
+    store = settings_produce_store(settings),
+    file = file_init()
+  )
+}
+
 stem_new <- function(
   name = NULL,
   command = NULL,
@@ -5,7 +25,8 @@ stem_new <- function(
   deps = NULL,
   settings = NULL,
   cue = NULL,
-  store = NULL
+  store = NULL,
+  file = NULL
 ) {
   out <- new.env(parent = emptyenv(), hash = FALSE)
   out$name <- name
@@ -15,6 +36,7 @@ stem_new <- function(
   out$settings <- settings
   out$cue <- cue
   out$store <- store
+  out$file <- file
   enclass(out, stem_s3_class)
 }
 
diff --git a/R/class_target.R b/R/class_target.R
index 5d20d9cc..39d6e5bb 100644
--- a/R/class_target.R
+++ b/R/class_target.R
@@ -54,14 +54,13 @@ target_init <- function(
   deps <- setdiff(deps, name)
   if_any(
     is.null(settings$pattern),
-    stem_new(
+    stem_init(
       name = name,
       command = command,
       seed = seed,
       deps = deps,
       settings = settings,
-      cue = cue,
-      store = settings_produce_store(settings)
+      cue = cue
     ),
     pattern_new(
       name = name,