diff --git a/crc/services/workflow_processor.py b/crc/services/workflow_processor.py
index 63113aa7..165d3313 100644
--- a/crc/services/workflow_processor.py
+++ b/crc/services/workflow_processor.py
@@ -33,27 +33,27 @@ class CustomBpmnScriptEngine(BpmnScriptEngine):
 
     def execute(self, task: SpiffTask, script, data):
         """
-        Assume that the script read in from the BPMN file is a fully qualified python class. Instantiate
-        that class, pass in any data available to the current task so that it might act on it.
-        Assume that the class implements the "do_task" method.
-
-        This allows us to reference custom code from the BPMN diagram.
+        Functions in two modes.
+        1. If the command is proceeded by #! then this is assumed to be a python script, and will
+           attempt to load that python module and execute the do_task method on that script.  Scripts
+           must be located in the scripts package and they must extend the script.py class.
+        2. If not proceeded by the #! this will attempt to execute the script directly and assumes it is
+           valid Python.
         """
         # Shlex splits the whole string while respecting double quoted strings within
-        commands = shlex.split(script)
-        failedOnce = False
-        prevError = ''
-        if commands[0] != '#!':
+        if not script.startswith('#!'):
             try:
-                super().execute(task,script,data)
+                super().execute(task, script, data)
             except SyntaxError as e:
-                failedOnce = True
-                prevError = script
-                app.logger.warning('We experienced a syntax error, but we are going to try the old method on '
-                                   '"%s"'%script)
+                raise ApiError.from_task('syntax_error',
+                                         f'If you are running a pre-defined script, please'
+                                         f' proceed the script with "#!", otherwise this is assumed to be'
+                                         f' pure python: {script}, {e.msg}', task=task)
         else:
-            commands = commands[1:]
+            self.run_predefined_script(task, script[2:], data)  # strip off the first two characters.
 
+    def run_predefined_script(self, task: SpiffTask, script, data):
+        commands = shlex.split(script)
         path_and_command = commands[0].rsplit(".", 1)
         if len(path_and_command) == 1:
             module_name = "crc.scripts." + self.camel_to_snake(path_and_command[0])
@@ -83,10 +83,6 @@ class CustomBpmnScriptEngine(BpmnScriptEngine):
             else:
                 klass().do_task(task, study_id, workflow_id, *commands[1:])
         except ModuleNotFoundError:
-            if failedOnce:
-                raise ApiError.from_task("invalid_script",
-                                         "Script had a syntax error: '%s'" % (prevError),
-                                         task=task)
             raise ApiError.from_task("invalid_script",
                  "Unable to locate Script: '%s:%s'" % (module_name, class_name),
                  task=task)
diff --git a/crc/static/bpmn/research_rampup/research_rampup.bpmn b/crc/static/bpmn/research_rampup/research_rampup.bpmn
index 5a4bb1bc..4a04eb6d 100644
--- a/crc/static/bpmn/research_rampup/research_rampup.bpmn
+++ b/crc/static/bpmn/research_rampup/research_rampup.bpmn
@@ -755,7 +755,7 @@ Notify the Area Monitor for
 This step is internal to the system and do not require and user interaction</bpmn:documentation>
       <bpmn:incoming>Flow_0j4rs82</bpmn:incoming>
       <bpmn:outgoing>Flow_07ge8uf</bpmn:outgoing>
-      <bpmn:script>RequestApproval ApprvlApprvr1 ApprvlApprvr2</bpmn:script>
+      <bpmn:script>#!RequestApproval ApprvlApprvr1 ApprvlApprvr2</bpmn:script>
     </bpmn:scriptTask>
     <bpmn:scriptTask id="Activity_1u58hox" name="Update Request">
       <bpmn:documentation>#### Script Task
diff --git a/tests/workflow/test_workflow_spec_validation_api.py b/tests/workflow/test_workflow_spec_validation_api.py
index 597c4aa1..00406f5b 100644
--- a/tests/workflow/test_workflow_spec_validation_api.py
+++ b/tests/workflow/test_workflow_spec_validation_api.py
@@ -66,7 +66,6 @@ class TestWorkflowSpecValidation(BaseTest):
             errors.extend(ApiErrorSchema(many=True).load(json_data))
         self.assertEqual(0, len(errors), json.dumps(errors))
 
-
     def test_invalid_expression(self):
         self.load_example_data()
         errors = self.validate_workflow("invalid_expression")
@@ -103,12 +102,10 @@ class TestWorkflowSpecValidation(BaseTest):
         errors = self.validate_workflow("invalid_script2")
         self.assertEqual(2, len(errors))
         self.assertEqual("error_loading_workflow", errors[0]['code'])
-        self.assertTrue("syntax error" in errors[0]['message'])
         self.assertEqual("Invalid_Script_Task", errors[0]['task_id'])
         self.assertEqual("An Invalid Script Reference", errors[0]['task_name'])
         self.assertEqual("invalid_script2.bpmn", errors[0]['file_name'])
 
-
     def test_repeating_sections_correctly_populated(self):
         self.load_example_data()
         spec_model = self.load_test_spec('repeat_form')