diff --git a/cmd/cmd_controller.js b/cmd/cmd_controller.js
index 6e35d3b2b..f0442c699 100644
--- a/cmd/cmd_controller.js
+++ b/cmd/cmd_controller.js
@@ -204,8 +204,10 @@ class EmbarkController {
           engine.startService("pipeline");
         }
         engine.startService("deployment", {onlyCompile: options.onlyCompile});
-        engine.startService("storage");
-        engine.startService("codeGenerator");
+        if (!options.onlyCompile) {
+          engine.startService("storage");
+          engine.startService("codeGenerator");
+        }
 
         callback();
       },