diff --git a/posthog/hogql/database/database.py b/posthog/hogql/database/database.py
index 6909211070e59..9ce4a502713dd 100644
--- a/posthog/hogql/database/database.py
+++ b/posthog/hogql/database/database.py
@@ -316,7 +316,7 @@ class _SerializedFieldBase(TypedDict):
 class SerializedField(_SerializedFieldBase, total=False):
     fields: List[str]
     table: str
-    chain: List[str]
+    chain: List[str | int]
 
 
 def serialize_database(context: HogQLContext) -> Dict[str, List[SerializedField]]:
diff --git a/posthog/hogql/database/models.py b/posthog/hogql/database/models.py
index 797e4fcf94b46..46e0ba2129791 100644
--- a/posthog/hogql/database/models.py
+++ b/posthog/hogql/database/models.py
@@ -76,7 +76,8 @@ def has_field(self, name: str | int) -> bool:
         return str(name) in self.fields
 
     def get_field(self, name: str | int) -> FieldOrTable:
-        if self.has_field(str(name)):
+        name = str(name)
+        if self.has_field(name):
             return self.fields[name]
         raise Exception(f'Field "{name}" not found on table {self.__class__.__name__}')