diff --git a/src/protagonist/DLCS.Repository/Messaging/EngineClient.cs b/src/protagonist/DLCS.Repository/Messaging/EngineClient.cs
index f1333f2d4..a536fc95d 100644
--- a/src/protagonist/DLCS.Repository/Messaging/EngineClient.cs
+++ b/src/protagonist/DLCS.Repository/Messaging/EngineClient.cs
@@ -27,10 +27,7 @@ public class EngineClient : IEngineClient
     private readonly ILogger<EngineClient> logger;
     private readonly DlcsSettings dlcsSettings;
 
-    private static readonly JsonSerializerOptions SerializerOptions = new (JsonSerializerDefaults.Web)
-    {
-        ReferenceHandler = ReferenceHandler.Preserve
-    };
+    private static readonly JsonSerializerOptions SerializerOptions = new (JsonSerializerDefaults.Web);
 
     public EngineClient(
         IQueueLookup queueLookup,