diff --git a/.changeset/frank-terms-count.md b/.changeset/frank-terms-count.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c30a1b7d8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/frank-terms-count.md
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+---
+'@openfn/engine-multi': patch
+'@openfn/ws-worker': patch
+---
+
+When reporting compilation errors, prefer the step name to the id
diff --git a/packages/engine-multi/src/worker/thread/compile.ts b/packages/engine-multi/src/worker/thread/compile.ts
index 497d07ca2..b8bef0344 100644
--- a/packages/engine-multi/src/worker/thread/compile.ts
+++ b/packages/engine-multi/src/worker/thread/compile.ts
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ export default async (
           job.sourceMap = result.map;
           job.expression = result.code;
         } catch (e) {
-          throw new CompileError(e, job.id!);
+          throw new CompileError(e, job.name ?? job.id!);
         }
       }
     }
diff --git a/packages/engine-multi/test/errors.test.ts b/packages/engine-multi/test/errors.test.ts
index 15781753f..b904939f7 100644
--- a/packages/engine-multi/test/errors.test.ts
+++ b/packages/engine-multi/test/errors.test.ts
@@ -27,6 +27,29 @@ test.before(async () => {
   engine = await createEngine(options);
 });
 
+test.serial('reporting: prefer step name to step id', (t) => {
+  return new Promise((done) => {
+    const plan = {
+      id: 'a',
+      workflow: {
+        steps: [
+          {
+            id: 'x',
+            name: 'My Step',
+            expression: 'a a a',
+          },
+        ],
+      },
+      options: {},
+    };
+
+    engine.execute(plan, {}).on(WORKFLOW_ERROR, (evt) => {
+      t.is(evt.message, 'My Step: Unexpected token (1:2)');
+      done();
+    });
+  });
+});
+
 // This should exit gracefully with a compile error
 test.serial('syntax error: missing bracket', (t) => {
   return new Promise((done) => {