diff --git a/ci/release/changelogs/next.md b/ci/release/changelogs/next.md
index 46f11dc1c..acd76b3fc 100644
--- a/ci/release/changelogs/next.md
+++ b/ci/release/changelogs/next.md
@@ -13,4 +13,4 @@
 - Fixes rare compiler bug when using underscores in edges to create objects across containers. [#824](https://github.com/terrastruct/d2/pull/824)
 - Fixes rare possibility of rendered connections being hidden or cut off. [#828](https://github.com/terrastruct/d2/pull/828)
 - Creating nested children within `sql_table` and `class` shapes are now prevented (caused confusion when accidentally done). [#834](https://github.com/terrastruct/d2/pull/834)
-- Fixes graph deserialization. [#837](https://github.com/terrastruct/d2/pull/837)
\ No newline at end of file
+- Fixes graph deserialization bug. [#837](https://github.com/terrastruct/d2/pull/837)
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/d2graph/serde.go b/d2graph/serde.go
index 6b46a2697..1e1778577 100644
--- a/d2graph/serde.go
+++ b/d2graph/serde.go
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ func DeserializeGraph(bytes []byte, g *Graph) error {
 			for _, id := range so["ChildrenArray"].([]interface{}) {
 				o := idToObj[id.(string)]
 				childrenArray = append(childrenArray, o)
-				children[strings.ToLower(o.IDVal)] = o
+				children[strings.ToLower(o.ID)] = o
 
 				o.Parent = idToObj[so["AbsID"].(string)]
 			}