diff --git a/app/Models/SimBrief.php b/app/Models/SimBrief.php
index f08c57cd..2e35d8bc 100644
--- a/app/Models/SimBrief.php
+++ b/app/Models/SimBrief.php
@@ -41,6 +41,10 @@ class SimBrief extends Model
         'updated_at',
     ];
 
+    protected $casts = [
+        'user_id' => 'integer',
+    ];
+
     /** @var \App\Models\SimBriefXML Store a cached version of the XML object */
     private $xml_instance;