diff --git a/packages/kn-plugin-workflow/pkg/command/deploy.go b/packages/kn-plugin-workflow/pkg/command/deploy.go
index 4a3098960b4..6db7f23f6ce 100644
--- a/packages/kn-plugin-workflow/pkg/command/deploy.go
+++ b/packages/kn-plugin-workflow/pkg/command/deploy.go
@@ -81,6 +81,11 @@ func NewDeployCommand() *cobra.Command {
 	cmd.Flags().StringP("specs-dir", "p", "", "Specify a custom specs files directory")
 	cmd.Flags().StringP("subflows-dir", "s", "", "Specify a custom subflows files directory")
 	cmd.Flags().StringP("schemas-dir", "t", "", "Specify a custom schemas files directory")
+	cmd.Flags().BoolP("minify", "f", true, "Minify the OpenAPI specs files before deploying")
+
+	if err := viper.BindPFlag("minify", cmd.Flags().Lookup("minify")); err != nil {
+		fmt.Println("❌ ERROR: failed to bind minify flag")
+	}
 
 	cmd.SetHelpFunc(common.DefaultTemplatedHelp)
 
@@ -159,6 +164,7 @@ func runDeployCmdConfig(cmd *cobra.Command) (cfg DeployUndeployCmdConfig, err er
 		SpecsDir:                   viper.GetString("specs-dir"),
 		SchemasDir:                 viper.GetString("schemas-dir"),
 		SubflowsDir:                viper.GetString("subflows-dir"),
+		Minify:                     viper.GetBool("minify"),
 	}
 
 	if len(cfg.SubflowsDir) == 0 {
diff --git a/packages/kn-plugin-workflow/pkg/command/deploy_undeploy_common.go b/packages/kn-plugin-workflow/pkg/command/deploy_undeploy_common.go
index fcb18d21adc..3519c8e99fc 100644
--- a/packages/kn-plugin-workflow/pkg/command/deploy_undeploy_common.go
+++ b/packages/kn-plugin-workflow/pkg/command/deploy_undeploy_common.go
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ type DeployUndeployCmdConfig struct {
 	SpecsFilesPath             map[string]string
 	SubFlowsFilesPath          []string
 	DashboardsPath             []string
+	Minify                     bool
 }
 
 func checkEnvironment(cfg *DeployUndeployCmdConfig) error {
@@ -123,14 +124,26 @@ func generateManifests(cfg *DeployUndeployCmdConfig) error {
 	supportFileExtensions := []string{metadata.JSONExtension, metadata.YAMLExtension, metadata.YMLExtension}
 
 	fmt.Println("🔍 Looking for specs files...")
-	minifiedfiles, err := specs.NewMinifier(&specs.OpenApiMinifierOpts{
-		SpecsDir:    cfg.SpecsDir,
-		SubflowsDir: cfg.SubflowsDir,
-	}).Minify()
-	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("❌ ERROR: failed to minify specs files: %w", err)
+	if cfg.Minify {
+		minifiedfiles, err := specs.NewMinifier(&specs.OpenApiMinifierOpts{
+			SpecsDir:    cfg.SpecsDir,
+			SubflowsDir: cfg.SubflowsDir,
+		}).Minify()
+		if err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("❌ ERROR: failed to minify specs files: %w", err)
+		}
+		cfg.SpecsFilesPath = minifiedfiles
+	} else {
+		files, err = common.FindFilesWithExtensions(cfg.SpecsDir, supportFileExtensions)
+		if err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("❌ ERROR: failed to get supportFiles directory: %w", err)
+		}
+		cfg.SpecsFilesPath = map[string]string{}
+		for _, file := range files {
+			cfg.SpecsFilesPath[file] = file
+			fmt.Printf(" - ✅ Specs file found: %s\n", file)
+		}
 	}
-	cfg.SpecsFilesPath = minifiedfiles
 
 	fmt.Println("🔍 Looking for schema files...")
 	files, err = common.FindFilesWithExtensions(cfg.SchemasDir, supportFileExtensions)