diff --git a/tooling/noir_js/src/program.ts b/tooling/noir_js/src/program.ts
index 0c129aa3a72..21b9f0efc66 100644
--- a/tooling/noir_js/src/program.ts
+++ b/tooling/noir_js/src/program.ts
@@ -8,6 +8,10 @@ export class Noir {
     private backend: Backend,
   ) {}
 
+  async init(): Promise<void> {
+    await this.backend.instantiate();
+  }
+
   // Initial inputs to your program
   async generateFinalProof(inputs: any): Promise<Uint8Array> {
     const serializedWitness = await generateWitness(this.circuit, inputs);
diff --git a/tooling/noir_js_types/lib/types.ts b/tooling/noir_js_types/lib/types.ts
index 2b6ea8ad4b0..0904e8f4b3d 100644
--- a/tooling/noir_js_types/lib/types.ts
+++ b/tooling/noir_js_types/lib/types.ts
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@ export interface Backend {
   verifyFinalProof(proof: Uint8Array): Promise<boolean>;
 
   verifyIntermediateProof(proof: Uint8Array): Promise<boolean>;
+
+  instantiate(): Promise<void>;
 }
 
 export type CompiledCircuit = {