diff --git a/crates/xtask/src/bench/meili_process.rs b/crates/xtask/src/bench/meili_process.rs
index 14c7e2e47..dc3d98647 100644
--- a/crates/xtask/src/bench/meili_process.rs
+++ b/crates/xtask/src/bench/meili_process.rs
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ async fn wait_for_health(
     asset_folder: &str,
 ) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
     for i in 0..100 {
-        let res = run_command(client.clone(), health_command(), assets, asset_folder).await;
+        let res = run_command(client, &health_command(), assets, asset_folder, false).await;
         if res.is_ok() {
             // check that this is actually the current Meilisearch instance that answered us
             if let Some(exit_code) =
diff --git a/crates/xtask/src/bench/mod.rs b/crates/xtask/src/bench/mod.rs
index db31ae255..da8fc4afd 100644
--- a/crates/xtask/src/bench/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/xtask/src/bench/mod.rs
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ mod workload;
 use crate::common::args::CommonArgs;
 use crate::common::logs::setup_logs;
 use crate::common::workload::Workload;
-use std::path::PathBuf;
+use std::{path::PathBuf, sync::Arc};
 
 use anyhow::{bail, Context};
 use clap::Parser;
@@ -89,11 +89,11 @@ pub fn run(args: BenchDeriveArgs) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
         None,
     )?;
 
-    let meili_client = Client::new(
+    let meili_client = Arc::new(Client::new(
         Some("http://127.0.0.1:7700".into()),
         args.common.master_key.as_deref(),
         Some(std::time::Duration::from_secs(args.common.tasks_queue_timeout_secs)),
-    )?;
+    )?);
 
     // enter runtime
 
diff --git a/crates/xtask/src/bench/workload.rs b/crates/xtask/src/bench/workload.rs
index 9b9d3033c..c88b0c4e3 100644
--- a/crates/xtask/src/bench/workload.rs
+++ b/crates/xtask/src/bench/workload.rs
@@ -2,10 +2,11 @@ use std::collections::BTreeMap;
 use std::fs::File;
 use std::io::{Seek as _, Write as _};
 use std::path::Path;
+use std::sync::Arc;
 
 use anyhow::{bail, Context as _};
 use futures_util::TryStreamExt as _;
-use serde::Deserialize;
+use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 use serde_json::json;
 use tokio::task::JoinHandle;
 use uuid::Uuid;
@@ -19,7 +20,7 @@ use crate::common::command::{run_commands, Command};
 
 /// A bench workload.
 /// Not to be confused with [a test workload](crate::test::workload::Workload).
-#[derive(Deserialize)]
+#[derive(Serialize, Deserialize)]
 pub struct BenchWorkload {
     pub name: String,
     pub run_count: u16,
@@ -35,7 +36,7 @@ pub struct BenchWorkload {
 async fn run_workload_commands(
     dashboard_client: &DashboardClient,
     logs_client: &Client,
-    meili_client: &Client,
+    meili_client: &Arc<Client>,
     workload_uuid: Uuid,
     workload: &BenchWorkload,
     args: &BenchDeriveArgs,
@@ -43,9 +44,10 @@ async fn run_workload_commands(
 ) -> anyhow::Result<JoinHandle<anyhow::Result<File>>> {
     let report_folder = &args.report_folder;
     let workload_name = &workload.name;
+    let assets = Arc::new(workload.assets.clone());
+    let asset_folder = args.common.asset_folder.clone().leak();
 
-    run_commands(meili_client, &workload.precommands, &workload.assets, &args.common.asset_folder)
-        .await?;
+    run_commands(meili_client, &workload.precommands, &assets, asset_folder, false).await?;
 
     std::fs::create_dir_all(report_folder)
         .with_context(|| format!("could not create report directory at {report_folder}"))?;
@@ -55,8 +57,7 @@ async fn run_workload_commands(
 
     let report_handle = start_report(logs_client, trace_filename, &workload.target).await?;
 
-    run_commands(meili_client, &workload.commands, &workload.assets, &args.common.asset_folder)
-        .await?;
+    run_commands(meili_client, &workload.commands, &assets, asset_folder, false).await?;
 
     let processor =
         stop_report(dashboard_client, logs_client, workload_uuid, report_filename, report_handle)
@@ -71,7 +72,7 @@ pub async fn execute(
     assets_client: &Client,
     dashboard_client: &DashboardClient,
     logs_client: &Client,
-    meili_client: &Client,
+    meili_client: &Arc<Client>,
     invocation_uuid: Uuid,
     master_key: Option<&str>,
     workload: BenchWorkload,
@@ -119,7 +120,7 @@ pub async fn execute(
 async fn execute_run(
     dashboard_client: &DashboardClient,
     logs_client: &Client,
-    meili_client: &Client,
+    meili_client: &Arc<Client>,
     workload_uuid: Uuid,
     master_key: Option<&str>,
     workload: &BenchWorkload,
diff --git a/crates/xtask/src/common/assets.rs b/crates/xtask/src/common/assets.rs
index 22c2e0992..31eeb70a9 100644
--- a/crates/xtask/src/common/assets.rs
+++ b/crates/xtask/src/common/assets.rs
@@ -3,21 +3,22 @@ use std::io::{Read as _, Seek as _, Write as _};
 
 use anyhow::{bail, Context};
 use futures_util::TryStreamExt as _;
-use serde::Deserialize;
+use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 use sha2::Digest;
 
 use super::client::Client;
 
-#[derive(Deserialize, Clone)]
+#[derive(Serialize, Deserialize, Clone)]
 pub struct Asset {
     pub local_location: Option<String>,
     pub remote_location: Option<String>,
-    #[serde(default)]
+    #[serde(default, skip_serializing_if = "AssetFormat::is_default")]
     pub format: AssetFormat,
+    #[serde(default, skip_serializing_if = "Option::is_none")]
     pub sha256: Option<String>,
 }
 
-#[derive(Deserialize, Default, Copy, Clone)]
+#[derive(Serialize, Deserialize, Default, Copy, Clone)]
 pub enum AssetFormat {
     #[default]
     Auto,
@@ -27,6 +28,10 @@ pub enum AssetFormat {
 }
 
 impl AssetFormat {
+    fn is_default(&self) -> bool {
+        matches!(self, AssetFormat::Auto)
+    }
+
     pub fn to_content_type(self, filename: &str) -> &'static str {
         match self {
             AssetFormat::Auto => Self::auto_detect(filename).to_content_type(filename),
diff --git a/crates/xtask/src/common/client.rs b/crates/xtask/src/common/client.rs
index 1c2b743af..453da5c31 100644
--- a/crates/xtask/src/common/client.rs
+++ b/crates/xtask/src/common/client.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 use anyhow::Context;
-use serde::Deserialize;
+use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 
 #[derive(Debug, Clone)]
 pub struct Client {
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ impl Client {
     }
 }
 
-#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, Deserialize)]
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 #[serde(rename_all = "SCREAMING_SNAKE_CASE")]
 pub enum Method {
     Get,
diff --git a/crates/xtask/src/common/command.rs b/crates/xtask/src/common/command.rs
index a99f3b75e..f38d89280 100644
--- a/crates/xtask/src/common/command.rs
+++ b/crates/xtask/src/common/command.rs
@@ -1,24 +1,32 @@
 use std::collections::BTreeMap;
 use std::fmt::Display;
 use std::io::Read as _;
+use std::sync::Arc;
 
 use anyhow::{bail, Context as _};
-use serde::Deserialize;
+use reqwest::StatusCode;
+use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
+use serde_json::Value;
 
 use crate::common::assets::{fetch_asset, Asset};
 use crate::common::client::{Client, Method};
 
-#[derive(Clone, Deserialize)]
+#[derive(Serialize, Deserialize, Clone)]
+#[serde(rename_all = "camelCase")]
 pub struct Command {
     pub route: String,
     pub method: Method,
     #[serde(default)]
     pub body: Body,
+    #[serde(default, skip_serializing_if = "Option::is_none")]
+    pub expected_status: Option<u16>,
+    #[serde(default, skip_serializing_if = "Option::is_none")]
+    pub expected_response: Option<serde_json::Value>,
     #[serde(default)]
     synchronous: SyncMode,
 }
 
-#[derive(Default, Clone, Deserialize)]
+#[derive(Default, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 #[serde(untagged)]
 pub enum Body {
     Inline {
@@ -63,7 +71,7 @@ impl Display for Command {
     }
 }
 
-#[derive(Default, Debug, Clone, Copy, Deserialize)]
+#[derive(Default, Debug, Clone, Copy, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 enum SyncMode {
     DontWait,
     #[default]
@@ -72,41 +80,42 @@ enum SyncMode {
 }
 
 async fn run_batch(
-    client: &Client,
-    batch: &[Command],
-    assets: &BTreeMap<String, Asset>,
-    asset_folder: &str,
-) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
-    let [.., last] = batch else { return Ok(()) };
+    client: &Arc<Client>,
+    batch: Vec<Command>,
+    assets: &Arc<BTreeMap<String, Asset>>,
+    asset_folder: &'static str,
+    return_response: bool,
+) -> anyhow::Result<Vec<(Value, StatusCode)>> {
+    let [.., last] = batch.as_slice() else { return Ok(Vec::new()) };
     let sync = last.synchronous;
+    let batch_len = batch.len();
 
-    let mut tasks = tokio::task::JoinSet::new();
-
-    for command in batch {
-        // FIXME: you probably don't want to copy assets everytime here
-        tasks.spawn({
-            let client = client.clone();
-            let command = command.clone();
-            let assets = assets.clone();
-            let asset_folder = asset_folder.to_owned();
-
-            async move { run(client, command, &assets, &asset_folder).await }
-        });
+    let mut tasks = Vec::with_capacity(batch.len());
+    for batch in batch {
+        let client2 = Arc::clone(&client);
+        let assets2 = Arc::clone(&assets);
+        tasks.push(tokio::spawn(async move {
+            run(&client2, &batch, &assets2, asset_folder, return_response).await
+        }));
     }
 
-    while let Some(result) = tasks.join_next().await {
-        result
-            .context("panicked while executing command")?
-            .context("error while executing command")?;
+    let mut outputs = Vec::with_capacity(if return_response { batch_len } else { 0 });
+    for task in tasks {
+        let output = task.await.context("task panicked")??;
+        if let Some(output) = output {
+            if return_response {
+                outputs.push(output);
+            }
+        }
     }
 
     match sync {
         SyncMode::DontWait => {}
         SyncMode::WaitForResponse => {}
-        SyncMode::WaitForTask => wait_for_tasks(client).await?,
+        SyncMode::WaitForTask => wait_for_tasks(&client).await?,
     }
 
-    Ok(())
+    Ok(outputs)
 }
 
 async fn wait_for_tasks(client: &Client) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
@@ -150,13 +159,16 @@ async fn wait_for_tasks(client: &Client) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
 
 #[tracing::instrument(skip(client, command, assets, asset_folder), fields(command = %command))]
 pub async fn run(
-    client: Client,
-    mut command: Command,
+    client: &Client,
+    command: &Command,
     assets: &BTreeMap<String, Asset>,
     asset_folder: &str,
-) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
+    return_value: bool,
+) -> anyhow::Result<Option<(Value, StatusCode)>> {
     // memtake the body here to leave an empty body in its place, so that command is not partially moved-out
-    let body = std::mem::take(&mut command.body)
+    let body = command
+        .body
+        .clone()
         .get(assets, asset_folder)
         .with_context(|| format!("while getting body for command {command}"))?;
 
@@ -172,7 +184,17 @@ pub async fn run(
         request.send().await.with_context(|| format!("error sending command: {}", command))?;
 
     let code = response.status();
-    if code.is_client_error() {
+
+    if let Some(expected_status) = command.expected_status {
+        if code.as_u16() != expected_status {
+            let response = response
+                .text()
+                .await
+                .context("could not read response body as text")
+                .context("reading response body when checking expected status")?;
+            bail!("unexpected status code: got {}, expected {expected_status}, response body: '{response}'", code.as_u16());
+        }
+    } else if code.is_client_error() {
         tracing::error!(%command, %code, "error in workload file");
         let response: serde_json::Value = response
             .json()
@@ -190,22 +212,44 @@ pub async fn run(
         bail!("server error: server responded with error code {code} and '{response}'")
     }
 
-    Ok(())
+    if return_value {
+        let response: serde_json::Value = response
+            .json()
+            .await
+            .context("could not deserialize response as JSON")
+            .context("parsing response when recording expected response")?;
+        return Ok(Some((response, code)));
+    } else if let Some(expected_response) = &command.expected_response {
+        let response: serde_json::Value = response
+            .json()
+            .await
+            .context("could not deserialize response as JSON")
+            .context("parsing response when checking expected response")?;
+        if &response != expected_response {
+            bail!("unexpected response: got '{response}', expected '{expected_response}'");
+        }
+    }
+
+    Ok(None)
 }
 
 pub async fn run_commands(
-    client: &Client,
+    client: &Arc<Client>,
     commands: &[Command],
-    assets: &BTreeMap<String, Asset>,
-    asset_folder: &str,
-) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
+    assets: &Arc<BTreeMap<String, Asset>>,
+    asset_folder: &'static str,
+    return_response: bool,
+) -> anyhow::Result<Vec<(Value, StatusCode)>> {
+    let mut responses = Vec::new();
     for batch in
         commands.split_inclusive(|command| !matches!(command.synchronous, SyncMode::DontWait))
     {
-        run_batch(client, batch, assets, asset_folder).await?;
+        let mut new_responses =
+            run_batch(client, batch.to_vec(), assets, asset_folder, return_response).await?;
+        responses.append(&mut new_responses);
     }
 
-    Ok(())
+    Ok(responses)
 }
 
 pub fn health_command() -> Command {
@@ -214,5 +258,7 @@ pub fn health_command() -> Command {
         method: crate::common::client::Method::Get,
         body: Default::default(),
         synchronous: SyncMode::WaitForResponse,
+        expected_status: None,
+        expected_response: None,
     }
 }
diff --git a/crates/xtask/src/common/workload.rs b/crates/xtask/src/common/workload.rs
index 61fa292c1..94d98ec12 100644
--- a/crates/xtask/src/common/workload.rs
+++ b/crates/xtask/src/common/workload.rs
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
-use serde::Deserialize;
+use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 
 use crate::{bench::BenchWorkload, test::TestWorkload};
 
-#[derive(Deserialize)]
+#[derive(Serialize, Deserialize)]
 #[serde(tag = "type")]
 #[serde(rename_all = "camelCase")]
 pub enum Workload {
diff --git a/crates/xtask/src/test/mod.rs b/crates/xtask/src/test/mod.rs
index c6f009f01..21b2f7d88 100644
--- a/crates/xtask/src/test/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/xtask/src/test/mod.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-use std::time::Duration;
+use std::{sync::Arc, time::Duration};
 
 use crate::common::{args::CommonArgs, client::Client, logs::setup_logs, workload::Workload};
 use anyhow::{bail, Context};
@@ -15,6 +15,14 @@ pub struct TestDeriveArgs {
     /// Common arguments shared with other commands
     #[command(flatten)]
     common: CommonArgs,
+
+    /// Enables workloads to be rewritten in place to update expected responses.
+    #[arg(short, long, default_value_t = false)]
+    pub update_responses: bool,
+
+    /// Enables workloads to be rewritten in place to add missing expected responses.
+    #[arg(short, long, default_value_t = false)]
+    pub add_missing_responses: bool,
 }
 
 pub fn run(args: TestDeriveArgs) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
@@ -30,18 +38,19 @@ async fn run_inner(args: TestDeriveArgs) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
     setup_logs(&args.common.log_filter)?;
 
     // setup clients
-    let assets_client = Client::new(
+    let assets_client = Arc::new(Client::new(
         None,
         args.common.assets_key.as_deref(),
         Some(Duration::from_secs(3600)), // 1h
-    )?;
+    )?);
 
-    let meili_client = Client::new(
+    let meili_client = Arc::new(Client::new(
         Some("http://127.0.0.1:7700".into()),
         args.common.master_key.as_deref(),
         Some(Duration::from_secs(args.common.tasks_queue_timeout_secs)),
-    )?;
+    )?);
 
+    let asset_folder = args.common.asset_folder.clone().leak();
     for workload_file in &args.common.workload_file {
         let workload: Workload = serde_json::from_reader(
             std::fs::File::open(workload_file)
@@ -49,16 +58,18 @@ async fn run_inner(args: TestDeriveArgs) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
         )
         .with_context(|| format!("error parsing {} as JSON", workload_file.display()))?;
 
-        let Workload::Test(mut workload) = workload else {
+        let Workload::Test(workload) = workload else {
             bail!("workload file {} is not a test workload", workload_file.display());
         };
 
-        match workload.run(&args, &assets_client, &meili_client).await {
+        let name = workload.name.clone();
+        match workload.run(&args, &assets_client, &meili_client, asset_folder).await {
             Ok(_) => {
-                println!("✅ Workload {} completed successfully", workload.name,);
+                println!("✅ Workload {name} completed successfully");
             }
             Err(error) => {
-                println!("❌ Workload {} failed: {error}", workload.name,);
+                println!("❌ Workload {name} failed: {error}");
+                println!("Is this intentional? If so, rerun with --update-responses to update the workload files.");
                 return Err(error);
             }
         }
diff --git a/crates/xtask/src/test/workload.rs b/crates/xtask/src/test/workload.rs
index 528ff645f..72cd2ddfd 100644
--- a/crates/xtask/src/test/workload.rs
+++ b/crates/xtask/src/test/workload.rs
@@ -1,12 +1,14 @@
+use anyhow::Context;
 use cargo_metadata::semver::Version;
-use serde::Deserialize;
-use std::collections::BTreeMap;
+use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
+use std::{collections::BTreeMap, sync::Arc};
 
 use crate::{
     common::{
         assets::{fetch_assets, Asset},
         client::Client,
         command::{run_commands, Command},
+        workload::Workload,
     },
     test::{versions::expand_assets_with_versions, TestDeriveArgs},
 };
@@ -33,21 +35,33 @@ impl<'a> Deserialize<'a> for VersionOrLatest {
     }
 }
 
-#[derive(Deserialize)]
+impl Serialize for VersionOrLatest {
+    fn serialize<S>(&self, serializer: S) -> Result<S::Ok, S::Error>
+    where
+        S: serde::Serializer,
+    {
+        match self {
+            VersionOrLatest::Version(v) => serializer.serialize_str(&v.to_string()),
+            VersionOrLatest::Latest => serializer.serialize_str("latest"),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+#[derive(Serialize, Deserialize)]
 #[serde(untagged)]
 pub enum CommandOrUpgrade {
     Command(Command),
     Upgrade { upgrade: VersionOrLatest },
 }
 
-enum CommandOrUpgradeVec {
-    Commands(Vec<Command>),
+enum CommandOrUpgradeVec<'a> {
+    Commands(Vec<&'a mut Command>),
     Upgrade(VersionOrLatest),
 }
 
 /// A test workload.
 /// Not to be confused with [a bench workload](crate::bench::workload::Workload).
-#[derive(Deserialize)]
+#[derive(Serialize, Deserialize)]
 #[serde(rename_all = "camelCase")]
 pub struct TestWorkload {
     pub name: String,
@@ -58,18 +72,19 @@ pub struct TestWorkload {
 
 impl TestWorkload {
     pub async fn run(
-        &mut self,
+        mut self,
         args: &TestDeriveArgs,
         assets_client: &Client,
-        meili_client: &Client,
+        meili_client: &Arc<Client>,
+        asset_folder: &'static str,
     ) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
         // Group commands between upgrades
         let mut commands_or_upgrade = Vec::new();
         let mut current_commands = Vec::new();
         let mut all_versions = vec![self.initial_version.clone()];
-        for command_or_upgrade in &self.commands {
+        for command_or_upgrade in &mut self.commands {
             match command_or_upgrade {
-                CommandOrUpgrade::Command(command) => current_commands.push(command.clone()),
+                CommandOrUpgrade::Command(command) => current_commands.push(command),
                 CommandOrUpgrade::Upgrade { upgrade } => {
                     if !current_commands.is_empty() {
                         commands_or_upgrade.push(CommandOrUpgradeVec::Commands(current_commands));
@@ -82,16 +97,40 @@ impl TestWorkload {
                 }
             }
         }
+        if !current_commands.is_empty() {
+            commands_or_upgrade.push(CommandOrUpgradeVec::Commands(current_commands));
+        }
 
         // Fetch assets
         expand_assets_with_versions(&mut self.assets, &all_versions).await?;
         fetch_assets(assets_client, &self.assets, &args.common.asset_folder).await?;
 
+        let assets = Arc::new(self.assets.clone());
+        let return_responses = dbg!(args.add_missing_responses || args.update_responses);
         for command_or_upgrade in commands_or_upgrade {
             match command_or_upgrade {
                 CommandOrUpgradeVec::Commands(commands) => {
-                    run_commands(meili_client, &commands, &self.assets, &args.common.asset_folder)
-                        .await?;
+                    let cloned: Vec<_> = commands.iter().map(|c| (*c).clone()).collect();
+                    let responses = run_commands(
+                        meili_client,
+                        &cloned,
+                        &assets,
+                        asset_folder,
+                        return_responses,
+                    )
+                    .await?;
+                    if return_responses {
+                        assert_eq!(responses.len(), cloned.len());
+                        for (command, (response, status)) in commands.into_iter().zip(responses) {
+                            if args.update_responses
+                                || (dbg!(args.add_missing_responses)
+                                    && dbg!(command.expected_response.is_none()))
+                            {
+                                command.expected_response = Some(response);
+                                command.expected_status = Some(status.as_u16());
+                            }
+                        }
+                    }
                 }
                 CommandOrUpgradeVec::Upgrade(version) => {
                     todo!()
@@ -99,6 +138,23 @@ impl TestWorkload {
             }
         }
 
+        // Write back the workload if needed
+        if return_responses {
+            // Filter out the assets we added for the versions
+            self.assets.retain(|_, asset| {
+                asset.local_location.as_ref().is_none_or(|a| !a.starts_with("meilisearch-"))
+            });
+
+            let workload = Workload::Test(self);
+            let file = std::fs::File::create(&args.common.workload_file[0]).with_context(|| {
+                format!("could not open {}", args.common.workload_file[0].display())
+            })?;
+            serde_json::to_writer_pretty(file, &workload).with_context(|| {
+                format!("could not write to {}", args.common.workload_file[0].display())
+            })?;
+            tracing::info!("Updated workload file {}", args.common.workload_file[0].display());
+        }
+
         Ok(())
     }
 }
diff --git a/workloads/tests/movies.json b/workloads/tests/movies.json
index f437f7bd5..90e10fa1d 100644
--- a/workloads/tests/movies.json
+++ b/workloads/tests/movies.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
-  "name": "movies",
   "type": "test",
+  "name": "movies",
   "initialVersion": "1.12.0",
   "assets": {
     "movies.json": {
@@ -9,5 +9,34 @@
       "sha256": "5b6e4cb660bc20327776e8a33ea197b43d9ec84856710ead1cc87ab24df77de1"
     }
   },
-  "commands": []
-}
+  "commands": [
+    {
+      "route": "indexes/movies/settings",
+      "method": "PATCH",
+      "body": {
+        "inline": {
+          "filterableAttributes": [
+            "genres",
+            "release_date"
+          ],
+          "searchableAttributes": [
+            "title",
+            "overview"
+          ],
+          "sortableAttributes": [
+            "release_date"
+          ]
+        }
+      },
+      "synchronous": "DontWait"
+    },
+    {
+      "route": "indexes/movies/documents",
+      "method": "POST",
+      "body": {
+        "asset": "movies.json"
+      },
+      "synchronous": "WaitForTask"
+    }
+  ]
+}
\ No newline at end of file