diff --git a/edsl/jobs/interviews/InterviewExceptionEntry.py b/edsl/jobs/interviews/InterviewExceptionEntry.py
index 74f7638f..8e3db7d3 100644
--- a/edsl/jobs/interviews/InterviewExceptionEntry.py
+++ b/edsl/jobs/interviews/InterviewExceptionEntry.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import traceback
 import datetime
+from edsl.agents.InvigilatorBase import InvigilatorBase
 
 
 class InterviewExceptionEntry:
@@ -9,7 +10,7 @@ def __init__(
         self,
         *,
         exception: Exception,
-        invigilator: "Invigilator",
+        invigilator: "InvigilatorBase",
         traceback_format="text",
         answers=None,
     ):
@@ -20,6 +21,8 @@ def __init__(
         self.traceback_format = traceback_format
         self.answers = answers
 
+        # breakpoint()
+
     @property
     def question_type(self):
         # return self.failed_question.question.question_type
@@ -163,12 +166,16 @@ def to_dict(self) -> dict:
         >>> entry = InterviewExceptionEntry.example()
         >>> _ = entry.to_dict()
         """
-        return {
+        invigilator = (
+            self.invigilator.to_dict() if self.invigilator is not None else None
+        )
+        d = {
             "exception": self.serialize_exception(self.exception),
             "time": self.time,
             "traceback": self.traceback,
-            "invigilator": self.invigilator.to_dict(),
+            "invigilator": invigilator,
         }
+        return d
 
     @classmethod
     def from_dict(cls, data: dict) -> "InterviewExceptionEntry":
@@ -176,7 +183,10 @@ def from_dict(cls, data: dict) -> "InterviewExceptionEntry":
         from edsl.agents.Invigilator import InvigilatorAI
 
         exception = cls.deserialize_exception(data["exception"])
-        invigilator = InvigilatorAI.from_dict(data["invigilator"])
+        if data["invigilator"] is None:
+            invigilator = None
+        else:
+            invigilator = InvigilatorAI.from_dict(data["invigilator"])
         return cls(exception=exception, invigilator=invigilator)