diff --git a/dwds/CHANGELOG.md b/dwds/CHANGELOG.md
index 0d00e8192..7ff81f47c 100644
--- a/dwds/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/dwds/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 ## 24.3.6-dev
 
 - Bump minimum sdk version to 3.7.0
+- use 'compile js-dev' instead of directly invoking the ddc snapshot.
 
 ## 24.3.5
 - Allow clients to specify the `packageConfigPath` in `LoadStrategy` class and associated providers.
diff --git a/dwds/test/expression_compiler_service_common.dart b/dwds/test/expression_compiler_service_common.dart
index de28b8577..2efe33a9b 100644
--- a/dwds/test/expression_compiler_service_common.dart
+++ b/dwds/test/expression_compiler_service_common.dart
@@ -52,8 +52,6 @@ void testAll({required CompilerOptions compilerOptions}) {
       // generated in the SDK, so we use the current SDK layout and
       // configuration.
       final executable = Platform.resolvedExecutable;
-      final dartdevc =
-          SdkConfiguration.defaultConfiguration.compilerWorkerPath!;
       // redirect logs for testing
       _output = StreamController<String>.broadcast();
       output.stream.listen(printOnFailure);
@@ -110,7 +108,8 @@ void testAll({required CompilerOptions compilerOptions}) {
       ''');
 
       final args = [
-        dartdevc,
+        'compile',
+        'js-dev',
         'try.dart',
         '-o',
         'try.js',
diff --git a/frontend_server_client/example/web_client.dart b/frontend_server_client/example/web_client.dart
index cbbe257d2..94e2b8142 100644
--- a/frontend_server_client/example/web_client.dart
+++ b/frontend_server_client/example/web_client.dart
@@ -22,7 +22,8 @@ void main(List<String> args) async {
 
     _print('compiling the dart sdk');
     final sdkCompileResult = await Process.run(Platform.resolvedExecutable, [
-      p.join(sdkDir, 'bin', 'snapshots', 'dartdevc.dart.snapshot'),
+      'compile',
+      'js-dev',
       '--multi-root-scheme=org-dartlang-sdk',
       '--modules=amd',
       '--module-name=dart_sdk',
diff --git a/test_common/lib/sdk_asset_generator.dart b/test_common/lib/sdk_asset_generator.dart
index e86f0317e..65f4c0ffa 100644
--- a/test_common/lib/sdk_asset_generator.dart
+++ b/test_common/lib/sdk_asset_generator.dart
@@ -112,7 +112,8 @@ class SdkAssetGenerator {
 
       final sdkDirectoryUri = fileSystem.directory(sdkLayout.sdkDirectory).uri;
       final args = <String>[
-        sdkLayout.dartdevcSnapshotPath,
+        'compile',
+        'js-dev',
         '--compile-sdk',
         '--multi-root',
         '$sdkDirectoryUri',
diff --git a/test_common/lib/test_sdk_layout.dart b/test_common/lib/test_sdk_layout.dart
index dca372e80..7218a60e2 100644
--- a/test_common/lib/test_sdk_layout.dart
+++ b/test_common/lib/test_sdk_layout.dart
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ class TestSdkLayout {
           sdkLayout.sdkDirectory,
           'bin',
           'snapshots',
-          'kernel_worker.dart.snapshot',
+          'kernel_worker_aot.dart.snapshot',
         ),
         devToolsDirectory: p.join(
           sdkLayout.sdkDirectory,