diff --git a/src/blueapi/client/client.py b/src/blueapi/client/client.py
index 68637594f..034b9f6a9 100644
--- a/src/blueapi/client/client.py
+++ b/src/blueapi/client/client.py
@@ -120,23 +120,23 @@ def __repr__(self) -> str:
         return f"DeviceCache({len(self._cache)} devices)"
 
 
-class DeviceRef(str):
+class DeviceRef:
+    name: str
     model: DeviceModel
     _cache: DeviceCache
 
-    def __new__(cls, name: str, cache: DeviceCache, model: DeviceModel):
-        instance = super().__new__(cls, name)
-        instance.model = model
-        instance._cache = cache
-        return instance
+    def __init__(self, name: str, cache: DeviceCache, model: DeviceModel):
+        self.name = name
+        self.model = model
+        self._cache = cache
 
     def __getattr__(self, name) -> "DeviceRef":
         if name.startswith("_"):
             raise AttributeError(f"No child device named {name}")
-        return self._cache[f"{self}.{name}"]
+        return self._cache[f"{self.name}.{name}"]
 
     def __repr__(self):
-        return f"Device({self})"
+        return f"Device({self.name})"
 
 
 class Plan:
diff --git a/src/blueapi/client/rest.py b/src/blueapi/client/rest.py
index cacbc1656..739c62309 100644
--- a/src/blueapi/client/rest.py
+++ b/src/blueapi/client/rest.py
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 from pydantic import BaseModel, TypeAdapter, ValidationError
 
 from blueapi import __version__
+from blueapi.client import client
 from blueapi.config import RestConfig
 from blueapi.service.authentication import JWTAuth, SessionManager
 from blueapi.service.model import (
@@ -241,7 +242,7 @@ def create_task(self, task: TaskRequest) -> TaskResponse:
             TaskResponse,
             method="POST",
             get_exception=_create_task_exceptions,
-            data=task.model_dump(),
+            data=task.model_dump(fallback=_task_model_fallback),
         )
 
     def clear_task(self, task_id: str) -> TaskResponse:
@@ -363,3 +364,10 @@ def __getattr__(name: str):
 
 class ServiceUnavailableError(Exception):
     pass
+
+
+def _task_model_fallback(obj: Any) -> Any:
+    """Fallback method for serializing TaskRequests"""
+    if isinstance(obj, client.DeviceRef):
+        return obj.name
+    raise ValueError()
diff --git a/tests/unit_tests/client/test_client.py b/tests/unit_tests/client/test_client.py
index 169d727f6..125fc165c 100644
--- a/tests/unit_tests/client/test_client.py
+++ b/tests/unit_tests/client/test_client.py
@@ -202,9 +202,9 @@ def test_get_child_device(mock_rest: Mock, client: BlueapiClient):
         else None
     )
     foo = client.devices.foo
-    assert foo == "foo"
+    assert foo.name == "foo"
     x = client.devices.foo.x
-    assert x == "foo.x"
+    assert x.name == "foo.x"
 
 
 def test_state_property(client: BlueapiClient):