diff --git a/taskflow/engines/action_engine/engine.py b/taskflow/engines/action_engine/engine.py
index 1ad00a0d..b6e953bd 100644
--- a/taskflow/engines/action_engine/engine.py
+++ b/taskflow/engines/action_engine/engine.py
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@ class ActionEngine(base.EngineBase):
         self._task_executor = None
         self._task_action = None
         self._retry_action = None
+        self._storage_ensured = False
 
     def __str__(self):
         return "%s: %s" % (reflection.get_class_name(self), id(self))
@@ -83,15 +84,7 @@ class ActionEngine(base.EngineBase):
     def run(self):
         """Runs the flow in the engine to completion."""
         self.compile()
-        external_provides = set(self.storage.fetch_all().keys())
-        missing = self._flow.requires - external_provides
-        if missing:
-            raise exc.MissingDependencies(self._flow, sorted(missing))
-
-        if self.storage.get_flow_state() == states.REVERTED:
-            self._root.reset_all()
-            self._change_state(states.PENDING)
-
+        self.prepare()
         self._task_executor.start()
         try:
             self._run()
@@ -145,6 +138,27 @@ class ActionEngine(base.EngineBase):
                 self.storage.ensure_task(node.name, version, node.save_as)
         self._change_state(states.SUSPENDED)  # does nothing in PENDING state
 
+    @lock_utils.locked
+    def prepare(self):
+        if not self._compiled:
+            raise exc.InvalidState("Can not prepare an engine"
+                                   " which has not been compiled")
+        if not self._storage_ensured:
+            self._ensure_storage_for(self.execution_graph)
+            self._storage_ensured = True
+        # At this point we can check to ensure all dependencies are either
+        # flow/task provided or storage provided, if there are still missing
+        # dependencies then this flow will fail at runtime (which we can avoid
+        # by failing at preparation time).
+        external_provides = set(self.storage.fetch_all().keys())
+        missing = self._flow.requires - external_provides
+        if missing:
+            raise exc.MissingDependencies(self._flow, sorted(missing))
+        # Reset everything back to pending (if we were previously reverted).
+        if self.storage.get_flow_state() == states.REVERTED:
+            self._root.reset_all()
+            self._change_state(states.PENDING)
+
     @lock_utils.locked
     def compile(self):
         if self._compiled:
@@ -167,13 +181,8 @@ class ActionEngine(base.EngineBase):
                                             self.storage,
                                             self._task_action,
                                             self._retry_action)
-        # NOTE(harlowja): Perform initial state manipulation and setup.
-        #
-        # TODO(harlowja): This doesn't seem like it should be in a compilation
-        # function since compilation seems like it should not modify any
-        # external state.
-        self._ensure_storage_for(execution_graph)
         self._compiled = True
+        return
 
 
 class SingleThreadedActionEngine(ActionEngine):
diff --git a/taskflow/engines/base.py b/taskflow/engines/base.py
index 3a7c261e..e015798a 100644
--- a/taskflow/engines/base.py
+++ b/taskflow/engines/base.py
@@ -56,6 +56,16 @@ class EngineBase(object):
         indicating why this compilation could not be achieved.
         """
 
+    @abc.abstractmethod
+    def prepare(self):
+        """Performs any pre-run, but post-compilation actions.
+
+        NOTE(harlowja): During preparation it is currently assumed that the
+        underlying storage will be initialized, all final dependencies
+        will be verified, the tasks will be reset and the engine will enter
+        the PENDING state.
+        """
+
     @abc.abstractmethod
     def run(self):
         """Runs the flow in the engine to completion (or die trying)."""
diff --git a/taskflow/tests/unit/test_progress.py b/taskflow/tests/unit/test_progress.py
index 987c237c..f1fa15d3 100644
--- a/taskflow/tests/unit/test_progress.py
+++ b/taskflow/tests/unit/test_progress.py
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ class TestProgress(test.TestCase):
                                   flow_detail=flow_detail,
                                   backend=backend)
         e.compile()
+        e.prepare()
         return e
 
     def tearDown(self):
diff --git a/taskflow/tests/unit/test_retries.py b/taskflow/tests/unit/test_retries.py
index 42f4a5fe..d9c60903 100644
--- a/taskflow/tests/unit/test_retries.py
+++ b/taskflow/tests/unit/test_retries.py
@@ -394,6 +394,7 @@ class RetryTest(utils.EngineTestBase):
         )
         engine = self._make_engine(flow)
         engine.compile()
+        engine.prepare()
         utils.register_notifiers(engine, self.values)
         engine.storage.set_atom_state('r1', st.RETRYING)
         engine.storage.set_atom_state('t1', st.PENDING)
@@ -425,6 +426,7 @@ class RetryTest(utils.EngineTestBase):
         )
         engine = self._make_engine(flow)
         engine.compile()
+        engine.prepare()
         utils.register_notifiers(engine, self.values)
         engine.storage.set_atom_intention('r1', st.RETRY)
         engine.storage.set_atom_state('r1', st.SUCCESS)
@@ -551,6 +553,7 @@ class RetryTest(utils.EngineTestBase):
             utils.SaveOrderTask('task1'))
         engine = self._make_engine(flow)
         engine.compile()
+        engine.prepare()
         # imagine we run engine
         engine.storage.set_flow_state(st.RUNNING)
         engine.storage.set_atom_intention('flow-1_retry', st.EXECUTE)
@@ -662,6 +665,7 @@ class RetryTest(utils.EngineTestBase):
                 utils.FailingTask('c')))
         engine = self._make_engine(flow)
         engine.compile()
+        engine.prepare()
         engine.storage.save('test2_retry', 1)
         engine.storage.save('b', 11)
         engine.storage.save('a', 10)
@@ -687,6 +691,7 @@ class RetryTest(utils.EngineTestBase):
                 utils.SaveOrderTask('c')))
         engine = self._make_engine(flow)
         engine.compile()
+        engine.prepare()
         engine.storage.save('test2_retry', 1)
         engine.storage.save('b', 11)
         # pretend that 'c' failed