diff --git a/mrmustard/lab_dev/circuit_components.py b/mrmustard/lab_dev/circuit_components.py
index fba4fb48c..d0e1297df 100644
--- a/mrmustard/lab_dev/circuit_components.py
+++ b/mrmustard/lab_dev/circuit_components.py
@@ -82,10 +82,10 @@ def _serialize(self) -> tuple[dict[str, Any], dict[str, ArrayLike]]:
         serializable = {"class": f"{cls.__module__}.{cls.__qualname__}"}
         params = signature(cls).parameters
         if "name" in params:  # assume abstract type, serialize the representation
-            rep_cls = type(self.ansatz)
+            ansatz_cls = type(self.ansatz)
             serializable["name"] = self.name
             serializable["wires"] = self.wires.sorted_args
-            serializable["rep_class"] = f"{rep_cls.__module__}.{rep_cls.__qualname__}"
+            serializable["ansatz_cls"] = f"{ansatz_cls.__module__}.{ansatz_cls.__qualname__}"
             return serializable, self.ansatz.to_dict()
 
         # handle modes parameter
@@ -110,10 +110,10 @@ def _deserialize(cls, data: dict) -> CircuitComponent:
         r"""
         Deserialization when within a circuit.
         """
-        if "rep_class" in data:
-            rep_class, wires, name = map(data.pop, ["rep_class", "wires", "name"])
-            rep = locate(rep_class).from_dict(data)
-            return cls._from_attributes(Representation(rep, Wires(*map(set, wires))), name=name)
+        if "ansatz_cls" in data:
+            ansatz_cls, wires, name = map(data.pop, ["ansatz_cls", "wires", "name"])
+            ansatz = locate(ansatz_cls).from_dict(data)
+            return cls._from_attributes(Representation(ansatz, Wires(*map(set, wires))), name=name)
 
         return cls(**data)
 
diff --git a/tests/test_lab_dev/test_circuit_components.py b/tests/test_lab_dev/test_circuit_components.py
index 24620c7ad..3abefac46 100644
--- a/tests/test_lab_dev/test_circuit_components.py
+++ b/tests/test_lab_dev/test_circuit_components.py
@@ -566,7 +566,7 @@ def test_serialize_default_behaviour(self):
         assert kwargs == {
             "class": f"{CircuitComponent.__module__}.CircuitComponent",
             "wires": cc.wires.sorted_args,
-            "rep_class": f"{PolyExpAnsatz.__module__}.PolyExpAnsatz",
+            "ansatz_cls": f"{PolyExpAnsatz.__module__}.PolyExpAnsatz",
             "name": name,
         }
         assert arrays == {"A": ansatz.A, "b": ansatz.b, "c": ansatz.c}