diff --git a/vscode/src/compile.ts b/vscode/src/compile.ts
index b15df77c..f8c5fc22 100644
--- a/vscode/src/compile.ts
+++ b/vscode/src/compile.ts
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ export class SimplicityHLCompiler {
 
     // Add optional witness file
     if (options.witnessFile) {
+      args.push("-w");
       args.push(options.witnessFile);
     }
     // Add optional flags
diff --git a/vscode/src/tasks.ts b/vscode/src/tasks.ts
index 05f66fa4..958fdc4b 100644
--- a/vscode/src/tasks.ts
+++ b/vscode/src/tasks.ts
@@ -78,6 +78,7 @@ export class SimplicityHLTaskProvider implements vscode.TaskProvider {
       case "compile-with-witness":
         taskName = "Compile with Witness";
         args = [definition.file || "${file}"];
+        args.push("-w");
         if (definition.witnessFile) {
           args.push(definition.witnessFile);
         } else {