diff --git a/packages/hagrid/hagrid/orchestra.py b/packages/hagrid/hagrid/orchestra.py
index 32af7fb198b..8576b8fef7c 100644
--- a/packages/hagrid/hagrid/orchestra.py
+++ b/packages/hagrid/hagrid/orchestra.py
@@ -259,7 +259,7 @@ def deploy_to_python(
         "processes": processes,
         "dev_mode": dev_mode,
         "tail": tail,
-        "node_type": node_type_enum,
+        "node_type": str(node_type_enum),
         "node_side_type": node_side_type,
         "enable_warnings": enable_warnings,
         # new kwargs
diff --git a/packages/syft/src/syft/abstract_node.py b/packages/syft/src/syft/abstract_node.py
index 69c670ded90..7f860a24332 100644
--- a/packages/syft/src/syft/abstract_node.py
+++ b/packages/syft/src/syft/abstract_node.py
@@ -26,6 +26,9 @@ class NodeSideType(str, Enum):
     LOW_SIDE = "low"
     HIGH_SIDE = "high"
 
+    def __str__(self) -> str:
+        return self.value
+
 
 class AbstractNode:
     id: Optional[UID]
diff --git a/packages/syft/src/syft/node/node.py b/packages/syft/src/syft/node/node.py
index 84f4152bb3b..45f5bbce5ad 100644
--- a/packages/syft/src/syft/node/node.py
+++ b/packages/syft/src/syft/node/node.py
@@ -633,6 +633,9 @@ def named(
                 client_config=blob_client_config
             )
 
+        node_type = NodeType(node_type)
+        node_side_type = NodeSideType(node_side_type)
+
         return cls(
             name=name,
             id=uid,