diff --git a/speckle/serialization/base_object_serializer.py b/speckle/serialization/base_object_serializer.py
index 1f5e3da..7c7779e 100644
--- a/speckle/serialization/base_object_serializer.py
+++ b/speckle/serialization/base_object_serializer.py
@@ -232,11 +232,19 @@ class BaseObjectSerializer:
             return
         if isinstance(obj, str):
             obj = json.loads(obj)
-        if obj["speckle_type"] == "reference":
+
+        # TODO: remove check for `speckleType` when server bug is fixed
+        if "speckle_type" in obj and obj["speckle_type"] == "reference":
+            obj = self.get_child(obj=obj)
+        if "speckleType" in obj and obj["speckleType"] == "reference":
             obj = self.get_child(obj=obj)
 
         # initialise the base object using `speckle_type`
-        base = getattr(objects, obj["speckle_type"], Base)()
+        base = getattr(
+            objects,
+            obj["speckle_type"] if "speckle_type" in obj else obj["speckleType"],
+            Base,
+        )()
 
         # get total children count
         if "__closure" in obj: