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+---
+'xstate': major
+---
+
+An error will be thrown if an `initial` state key is not specified for compound state nodes. For example:
+
+```js
+const lightMachine = createMachine({
+  id: 'light',
+  initial: 'green',
+  states: {
+    green: {},
+    yellow: {},
+    red: {
+      // Forgotten initial state:
+      // initial: 'walk',
+      states: {
+        walk: {},
+        wait: {}
+      }
+    }
+  }
+});
+```
+
+You will get the error:
+
+```
+No initial state specified for state node "#light.red". Try adding { initial: "walk" } to the state config.
+```