diff --git a/snuba/web/rpc/common/common.py b/snuba/web/rpc/common/common.py
index aecbc770330..7ebbe4b8453 100644
--- a/snuba/web/rpc/common/common.py
+++ b/snuba/web/rpc/common/common.py
@@ -232,8 +232,15 @@ def attribute_key_to_expression(attr_key: AttributeKey) -> Expression:
 
     # End of special handling, just send to the appropriate bucket
     if attr_key.type == AttributeKey.Type.TYPE_STRING:
-        return SubscriptableReference(
-            alias=alias, column=column("attr_str"), key=literal(attr_key.name)
+        # return SubscriptableReference(
+        #     alias=alias, column=column("attr_str"), key=literal(attr_key.name)
+        # )
+        return f.CAST(
+            SubscriptableReference(
+                alias=None, column=column("attr_str"), key=literal(attr_key.name)
+            ),
+            "String",
+            alias=alias,
         )
     if attr_key.type == AttributeKey.Type.TYPE_FLOAT:
         return SubscriptableReference(