diff --git a/ci/flame-conf.yaml b/ci/flame-conf.yaml
index 9b4f79b..86209a1 100644
--- a/ci/flame-conf.yaml
+++ b/ci/flame-conf.yaml
@@ -8,12 +8,8 @@ applications:
   - name: "pi"
     shim: Stdio
     command: "target/debug/pi-server"
-    working_directory: "/tmp"
   - name: "flmexec"
     shim: Log
-    command: ""
-    working_directory: "/tmp"
   - name: "matrix"
     shim: Wasm
     command: "examples/matrix/server/target/wasm32-wasi/debug/matrix_server.wasm"
-    working_directory: "/tmp"
diff --git a/common/src/apis.rs b/common/src/apis.rs
index e56a49c..8d2c712 100644
--- a/common/src/apis.rs
+++ b/common/src/apis.rs
@@ -117,11 +117,13 @@ pub enum Shim {
 pub struct Application {
     pub name: String,
     pub shim: Shim,
+    #[serde(default)]
     pub command: String,
     #[serde(default)]
     pub arguments: Vec<String>,
     #[serde(default)]
     pub environments: Vec<String>,
+    #[serde(default = "default_work_dir")]
     pub working_directory: String,
 }
 
@@ -436,3 +438,7 @@ impl fmt::Display for TaskGID {
         write!(f, "{}/{}", self.ssn_id, self.task_id)
     }
 }
+
+fn default_work_dir() -> String {
+    String::from("/tmp")
+}
diff --git a/installer/flame-conf.yaml b/installer/flame-conf.yaml
index 195a566..dd84f18 100644
--- a/installer/flame-conf.yaml
+++ b/installer/flame-conf.yaml
@@ -7,13 +7,9 @@ storage: mem
 applications:
   - name: "flmexec"
     shim: Log
-    command: ""
-    working_directory: "/tmp"
   - name: "pi"
     shim: Stdio
     command: "/opt/pi-server"
-    working_directory: "/tmp"
   - name: "matrix"
     shim: Wasm
     command: "/opt/matrix_server.wasm"
-    working_directory: "/tmp"