diff --git a/ietf/ietfworkflows/utils.py b/ietf/ietfworkflows/utils.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..0cb5d3737
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ietf/ietfworkflows/utils.py
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+from workflows.utils import get_workflow_for_object, set_workflow_for_object
+
+from ietf.ietfworkflows.models import WGWorkflow
+
+
+def get_workflow_for_wg(wg):
+    workflow = get_workflow_for_object(wg)
+    if not workflow:
+        try:
+            workflow = WGWorkflow.objects.get(name='Default WG Workflow')
+            set_workflow_for_object(wg, workflow)
+        except WGWorkflow.DoesNotExist:
+            return None
+    return workflow
+