diff --git a/core/services/workflows/syncer/workflow.wasm b/core/services/workflows/syncer/workflow.wasm
index bb1c8c2a8ae..8c972b4c3ce 100755
Binary files a/core/services/workflows/syncer/workflow.wasm and b/core/services/workflows/syncer/workflow.wasm differ
diff --git a/core/services/workflows/syncer/workflow_registry.go b/core/services/workflows/syncer/workflow_registry.go
index 8f99896a6e3..a0b4174d974 100644
--- a/core/services/workflows/syncer/workflow_registry.go
+++ b/core/services/workflows/syncer/workflow_registry.go
@@ -43,10 +43,18 @@ func (w *WorkflowRegistry) Start(ctx context.Context) error {
 	go func() {
 		w.Logger.Info("starting hardcoded workflow...")
 
+		// HACK: don't load the workflow if we aren't a workflow node.
+		_, err := w.Registry.Get(ctx, "offchain_reporting@1.0.0")
+		if err != nil {
+			w.Logger.Info("not a workflow node, skipping hardcoded workflow")
+			return
+		}
+
 		moduleConfig := &host.ModuleConfig{Logger: logger.NullLogger, IsUncompressed: true}
 		spec, err := host.GetWorkflowSpec(ctx, moduleConfig, workflow, config)
 		if err != nil {
 			w.Logger.Errorf("failed to get workflow spec", err)
+			return
 		}
 
 		cfg := workflows.Config{
@@ -64,10 +72,12 @@ func (w *WorkflowRegistry) Start(ctx context.Context) error {
 		engine, err := workflows.NewEngine(ctx, cfg)
 		if err != nil {
 			w.Logger.Errorf("failed to create engine: %w", err)
+			return
 		}
 		err = engine.Start(ctx)
 		if err != nil {
 			w.Logger.Errorf("failed to start hardcoded workflow: %w", err)
+			return
 		}
 		w.subServices = []job.ServiceCtx{engine}
 	}()
diff --git a/go.mod b/go.mod
index 12fec143130..dae9e6c97dd 100644
--- a/go.mod
+++ b/go.mod
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ require (
 	github.com/smartcontractkit/chain-selectors v1.0.27
 	github.com/smartcontractkit/chainlink-automation v0.8.1
 	github.com/smartcontractkit/chainlink-ccip v0.0.0-20241104130643-4b7e196370c4
-	github.com/smartcontractkit/chainlink-common v0.3.1-0.20241104162859-eed4b097bcca
+	github.com/smartcontractkit/chainlink-common v0.3.1-0.20241106142605-0d6b1bc3e0e4
 	github.com/smartcontractkit/chainlink-cosmos v0.5.2-0.20241017133723-5277829bd53f
 	github.com/smartcontractkit/chainlink-data-streams v0.1.1-0.20241018134907-a00ba3729b5e
 	github.com/smartcontractkit/chainlink-feeds v0.1.1
diff --git a/go.sum b/go.sum
index 70ac7cbbcc9..628aef0519e 100644
--- a/go.sum
+++ b/go.sum
@@ -1079,6 +1079,8 @@ github.com/smartcontractkit/chainlink-ccip v0.0.0-20241104130643-4b7e196370c4 h1
 github.com/smartcontractkit/chainlink-ccip v0.0.0-20241104130643-4b7e196370c4/go.mod h1:4adKaHNaxFsRvV/lYfqtbsWyyvIPUMLR0FdOJN/ljis=
 github.com/smartcontractkit/chainlink-common v0.3.1-0.20241104162859-eed4b097bcca h1:VxyQPUhCzq4AtUA873dX9dbpZJ2TTogJmVL7lP1w6og=
 github.com/smartcontractkit/chainlink-common v0.3.1-0.20241104162859-eed4b097bcca/go.mod h1:TQ9/KKXZ9vr8QAlUquqGpSvDCpR+DtABKPXZY4CiRns=
+github.com/smartcontractkit/chainlink-common v0.3.1-0.20241106142605-0d6b1bc3e0e4 h1:Kpek0Rl1t9rx7x7VRFjae+UWntvri2yH1hX6HlHQEps=
+github.com/smartcontractkit/chainlink-common v0.3.1-0.20241106142605-0d6b1bc3e0e4/go.mod h1:TQ9/KKXZ9vr8QAlUquqGpSvDCpR+DtABKPXZY4CiRns=
 github.com/smartcontractkit/chainlink-cosmos v0.5.2-0.20241017133723-5277829bd53f h1:BwrIaQIx5Iy6eT+DfLhFfK2XqjxRm74mVdlX8gbu4dw=
 github.com/smartcontractkit/chainlink-cosmos v0.5.2-0.20241017133723-5277829bd53f/go.mod h1:wHtwSR3F1CQSJJZDQKuqaqFYnvkT+kMyget7dl8Clvo=
 github.com/smartcontractkit/chainlink-data-streams v0.1.1-0.20241018134907-a00ba3729b5e h1:JiETqdNM0bktAUGMc62COwXIaw3rR3M77Me6bBLG0Fg=