diff --git a/src/main/java/org/opensearch/flowframework/workflow/WorkflowStepFactory.java b/src/main/java/org/opensearch/flowframework/workflow/WorkflowStepFactory.java
index ece942a04..c30bdf87c 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/opensearch/flowframework/workflow/WorkflowStepFactory.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/opensearch/flowframework/workflow/WorkflowStepFactory.java
@@ -63,6 +63,6 @@ public WorkflowStep createStep(String type) {
      * @return the step map
      */
     public Map<String, WorkflowStep> getStepMap() {
-        return this.stepMap;
+        return Map.copyOf(this.stepMap);
     }
 }