diff --git a/services/web/server/src/simcore_service_webserver/projects/_create_utils.py b/services/web/server/src/simcore_service_webserver/projects/_create_utils.py
index b775972a916..18488414a91 100644
--- a/services/web/server/src/simcore_service_webserver/projects/_create_utils.py
+++ b/services/web/server/src/simcore_service_webserver/projects/_create_utils.py
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 from models_library.projects import ProjectID
 from models_library.projects_state import ProjectStatus
 from models_library.users import UserID
+from models_library.utils.fastapi_encoders import jsonable_encoder
 from pydantic import parse_obj_as
 from servicelib.aiohttp.long_running_tasks.server import TaskProgress
 from servicelib.json_serialization import json_dumps
@@ -204,8 +205,8 @@ async def create_project(
 
         # 3. save new project in DB
         new_project = await db.insert_project(
-            new_project,
-            user_id,
+            project=jsonable_encoder(new_project),
+            user_id=user_id,
             product_name=product_name,
             force_as_template=as_template,
             hidden=copy_data,
diff --git a/services/web/server/src/simcore_service_webserver/projects/projects_db.py b/services/web/server/src/simcore_service_webserver/projects/projects_db.py
index 595a2ecb1b0..bf215916657 100644
--- a/services/web/server/src/simcore_service_webserver/projects/projects_db.py
+++ b/services/web/server/src/simcore_service_webserver/projects/projects_db.py
@@ -116,6 +116,7 @@ async def insert_project(
         :raises ValidationError
         :return: inserted project
         """
+
         # pylint: disable=no-value-for-parameter
         async with self.engine.acquire() as conn:
             # TODO: check security of this query with args. Hard-code values?
@@ -133,9 +134,9 @@ async def insert_project(
             insert_values = convert_to_db_names(project)
             insert_values.update(
                 {
-                    "type": ProjectType.TEMPLATE
+                    "type": ProjectType.TEMPLATE.value
                     if (force_as_template or user_id is None)
-                    else ProjectType.STANDARD,
+                    else ProjectType.STANDARD.value,
                     "prj_owner": user_id if user_id else None,
                 }
             )
diff --git a/services/web/server/tests/integration/01/test_project_workflow.py b/services/web/server/tests/integration/01/test_project_workflow.py
index 86cb501b4e4..837dc7f8eb7 100644
--- a/services/web/server/tests/integration/01/test_project_workflow.py
+++ b/services/web/server/tests/integration/01/test_project_workflow.py
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ async def _request_get(client, pid) -> dict:
     return project
 
 
-async def _request_update(client, project, pid):
+async def _request_replace(client, project, pid):
     # PUT /v0/projects/{project_id}
     url = client.app.router["replace_project"].url_for(project_id=pid)
     resp = await client.put(url, json=project)
@@ -207,6 +207,7 @@ async def _request_delete(client, pid):
     await assert_status(resp, web.HTTPNoContent)
 
 
+@pytest.mark.testit
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("user_role", [UserRole.USER])
 async def test_workflow(
     postgres_db: sa.engine.Engine,
@@ -272,7 +273,7 @@ async def test_workflow(
     )
     # modify
     pid = modified_project["uuid"]
-    await _request_update(client, modified_project, pid)
+    await _request_replace(client, modified_project, pid)
 
     # list not empty
     projects = await _request_list(client)