diff --git a/lib/WebGUI/Workflow/Instance.pm b/lib/WebGUI/Workflow/Instance.pm
index ab9aeaf0b..4f6985968 100644
--- a/lib/WebGUI/Workflow/Instance.pm
+++ b/lib/WebGUI/Workflow/Instance.pm
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ sub create {
 	my ($isSingleton) = $session->db->quickArray("select count(*) from Workflow where workflowId=? and mode='singleton'",$placeHolders);
     my $sql = "select count(*) from WorkflowInstance where workflowId=?";
 	if (exists $properties->{parameters}) {
-        push @{ $placeHolders }, JSON->new->utf8->pretty->encode({parameters => $properties->{parameters}});
+        push @{ $placeHolders }, JSON->new->utf8->canonical->encode({parameters => $properties->{parameters}});
         $sql .= ' and parameters=?';
     }
     else {
@@ -445,16 +445,16 @@ A boolean, that if set to 1 will not inform Spectre of the change in settings.
 
 sub set {
 	my ($self, $properties, $skipNotify) = @_;
+	$self->{_data}{lastUpdate} = time();
 	$self->{_data}{priority} = $properties->{priority} || $self->{_data}{priority} || 2;
 	$self->{_data}{lastStatus} = $properties->{lastStatus} || $self->{_data}{lastStatus};
 	$self->{_data}{workflowId} = $properties->{workflowId} || $self->{_data}{workflowId};
 	$self->{_data}{className} = (exists $properties->{className}) ? $properties->{className} : $self->{_data}{className};
 	$self->{_data}{methodName} = (exists $properties->{methodName}) ? $properties->{methodName} : $self->{_data}{methodName};
 	if (exists $properties->{parameters}) {
-		$self->{_data}{parameters} = JSON->new->utf8->pretty->encode({parameters => $properties->{parameters}});
+		$self->{_data}{parameters} = JSON->new->utf8->canonical->encode({parameters => $properties->{parameters}});
 	}
 	$self->{_data}{currentActivityId} = (exists $properties->{currentActivityId}) ? $properties->{currentActivityId} : $self->{_data}{currentActivityId};
-	$self->{_data}{lastUpdate} = time();
 	$self->session->db->setRow("WorkflowInstance","instanceId",$self->{_data});
     if ($self->{_started} && !$skipNotify) {
 		my $spectre = WebGUI::Workflow::Spectre->new($self->session);