diff --git a/impl/core/src/main/java/io/serverlessworkflow/impl/WorkflowDefinition.java b/impl/core/src/main/java/io/serverlessworkflow/impl/WorkflowDefinition.java
index 770f41367..a4065024d 100644
--- a/impl/core/src/main/java/io/serverlessworkflow/impl/WorkflowDefinition.java
+++ b/impl/core/src/main/java/io/serverlessworkflow/impl/WorkflowDefinition.java
@@ -129,6 +129,10 @@ public WorkflowInstance instance(Object input) {
     return new WorkflowMutableInstance(this, application().idFactory().get(), inputModel);
   }
 
+  public WorkflowInstance instance() {
+    return instance(null);
+  }
+
   Optional<SchemaValidator> inputSchemaValidator() {
     return inputSchemaValidator;
   }
diff --git a/impl/test/src/test/java/io/serverlessworkflow/impl/test/OpenAPITest.java b/impl/test/src/test/java/io/serverlessworkflow/impl/test/OpenAPITest.java
index b62d2e471..e7e9a3310 100644
--- a/impl/test/src/test/java/io/serverlessworkflow/impl/test/OpenAPITest.java
+++ b/impl/test/src/test/java/io/serverlessworkflow/impl/test/OpenAPITest.java
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ public void testOpenAPIBearerQueryInlinedBodyWithPositiveResponse() throws Excep
             .setResponseCode(201));
 
     Map<String, Object> result =
-        app.workflowDefinition(workflow).instance(Map.of()).start().get().asMap().orElseThrow();
+        app.workflowDefinition(workflow).instance().start().get().asMap().orElseThrow();
 
     RecordedRequest restRequest = restServer.takeRequest();
     assertEquals("POST", restRequest.getMethod());
@@ -194,13 +194,7 @@ public void testOpenAPIBearerQueryInlinedBodyWithNegativeResponse() throws Excep
     Exception exception =
         assertThrows(
             Exception.class,
-            () ->
-                app.workflowDefinition(workflow)
-                    .instance(Map.of())
-                    .start()
-                    .get()
-                    .asMap()
-                    .orElseThrow());
+            () -> app.workflowDefinition(workflow).instance().start().get().asMap().orElseThrow());
     assertInstanceOf(WorkflowException.class, exception.getCause());
     assertTrue(exception.getMessage().contains("status=409"));
 
@@ -244,11 +238,11 @@ public void testOpenAPIGetWithPositiveResponse() throws Exception {
             .setResponseCode(200));
 
     WorkflowDefinition definition = app.workflowDefinition(workflow);
-    assertData(definition.instance(Map.of()).start().get().asMap().orElseThrow());
+    assertData(definition.instance().start().get().asMap().orElseThrow());
     RecordedRequest openAPIRequest = openApiServer.takeRequest();
     assertEquals("GET", openAPIRequest.getMethod());
 
-    assertData(definition.instance(Map.of()).start().get().asMap().orElseThrow());
+    assertData(definition.instance().start().get().asMap().orElseThrow());
     openAPIRequest = openApiServer.takeRequest();
     assertEquals("HEAD", openAPIRequest.getMethod());
   }
diff --git a/impl/test/src/test/java/io/serverlessworkflow/impl/test/SubWorkflowTest.java b/impl/test/src/test/java/io/serverlessworkflow/impl/test/SubWorkflowTest.java
index 3a14ceccf..380fb52dd 100644
--- a/impl/test/src/test/java/io/serverlessworkflow/impl/test/SubWorkflowTest.java
+++ b/impl/test/src/test/java/io/serverlessworkflow/impl/test/SubWorkflowTest.java
@@ -41,12 +41,7 @@ public void setTest() throws Exception {
     try (WorkflowApplication app = WorkflowApplication.builder().build()) {
       app.workflowDefinition(workflowChild);
       Map<String, Object> result =
-          app.workflowDefinition(workflowParent)
-              .instance(Map.of())
-              .start()
-              .join()
-              .asMap()
-              .orElseThrow();
+          app.workflowDefinition(workflowParent).instance().start().join().asMap().orElseThrow();
       assertThat(result.get("counter"), is(equalTo(1)));
       assertThat(result.get("greeting"), is(equalTo("helloWorld")));
     }
@@ -62,12 +57,7 @@ public void setBlankInputTest() throws Exception {
     try (WorkflowApplication app = WorkflowApplication.builder().build()) {
       app.workflowDefinition(workflowChild);
       Map<String, Object> result =
-          app.workflowDefinition(workflowParent)
-              .instance(Map.of())
-              .start()
-              .join()
-              .asMap()
-              .orElseThrow();
+          app.workflowDefinition(workflowParent).instance().start().join().asMap().orElseThrow();
       assertThat(result.get("counter"), is(equalTo(1)));
       assertThat(result.get("greeting"), is(equalTo("helloWorld")));
     }
@@ -153,7 +143,7 @@ public void runSubWorkflowFromDslTest() throws Exception {
     try (WorkflowApplication app = WorkflowApplication.builder().build()) {
       app.workflowDefinition(child);
       Map<String, Object> result =
-          app.workflowDefinition(parent).instance(Map.of()).start().join().asMap().orElseThrow();
+          app.workflowDefinition(parent).instance().start().join().asMap().orElseThrow();
       assertThat(result.get("counter"), is(equalTo(1)));
       assertThat(result.get("greeting"), is(equalTo("helloWorld")));
     }
@@ -181,7 +171,7 @@ public void runSubWorkflowsFromDslTest() throws Exception {
       app.workflowDefinition(child);
       app.workflowDefinition(update);
       Map<String, Object> result =
-          app.workflowDefinition(parent).instance(Map.of()).start().join().asMap().orElseThrow();
+          app.workflowDefinition(parent).instance().start().join().asMap().orElseThrow();
       assertThat(result.get("counter"), is(equalTo(2)));
       assertThat(result.get("greeting"), is(equalTo("helloWorld")));
     }