diff --git a/source/java/org/alfresco/rest/workflow/api/impl/RestVariableHelper.java b/source/java/org/alfresco/rest/workflow/api/impl/RestVariableHelper.java
index c25917b35d..65455950c5 100644
--- a/source/java/org/alfresco/rest/workflow/api/impl/RestVariableHelper.java
+++ b/source/java/org/alfresco/rest/workflow/api/impl/RestVariableHelper.java
@@ -289,6 +289,10 @@ public class RestVariableHelper
         {
             ref = ((ScriptNode) value).getNodeRef();
         }
+        else if (value instanceof String)
+        {
+            return (String) value;
+        }
         
         if(ref != null)
         {