diff --git a/artiq/compiler/testbench/embedding.py b/artiq/compiler/testbench/embedding.py
index 7df21af21..8817711c0 100644
--- a/artiq/compiler/testbench/embedding.py
+++ b/artiq/compiler/testbench/embedding.py
@@ -6,6 +6,12 @@ from artiq.master.worker_db import DeviceManager
 from artiq.coredevice.core import Core, CompileError
 
 def main():
+    if len(sys.argv) > 1 and sys.argv[1] == "+compile":
+        del sys.argv[1]
+        compile_only = True
+    else:
+        compile_only = False
+
     with open(sys.argv[1]) as f:
         testcase_code = compile(f.read(), f.name, "exec")
         testcase_vars = {'__name__': 'testbench'}
@@ -15,9 +21,12 @@ def main():
 
     try:
         core = Core(dmgr=DeviceManager(FlatFileDB(ddb_path)))
-        core.run(testcase_vars["entrypoint"], (), {})
-        print(core.comm.get_log())
-        core.comm.clear_log()
+        if compile_only:
+            core.compile(testcase_vars["entrypoint"], (), {})
+        else:
+            core.run(testcase_vars["entrypoint"], (), {})
+            print(core.comm.get_log())
+            core.comm.clear_log()
     except CompileError as error:
         print("\n".join(error.__cause__.diagnostic.render(only_line=True)))