diff --git a/reflex/vars.py b/reflex/vars.py
index 7a502ed89..7cf4bb9d2 100644
--- a/reflex/vars.py
+++ b/reflex/vars.py
@@ -248,7 +248,7 @@ def _decode_var(value: str) -> tuple[VarData | None, str]:
 
         def json_loads(s):
             try:
-                return VarData.model_validate(s)
+                return VarData.model_validate_json(s).model_dump()
             except pydantic_core.ValidationError as e:
                 raise ValueError(f"Invalid VarData: {s}") from e
                 #  return VarData.model_validate(var_data_config.json_loads(f'"{s}"'))