diff --git a/osc/util/models.py b/osc/util/models.py
index 525540be..7f03bacc 100644
--- a/osc/util/models.py
+++ b/osc/util/models.py
@@ -249,8 +249,18 @@ class Field(property):
     def get(self, obj):
         try:
             result = obj._values[self.name]
+
+            # convert dictionaries into objects
+            # we can't do it earlier because list is a standalone object that is not under our control
+            if result is not None and self.is_model_list:
+                for num, i in enumerate(result):
+                    if isinstance(i, dict):
+                        klass = self.inner_type
+                        result[num] = klass(**i)
+
             if self.get_callback is not None:
                 result = self.get_callback(obj, result)
+
             return result
         except KeyError:
             pass
diff --git a/tests/test_models.py b/tests/test_models.py
index 89f9d981..84ae542b 100644
--- a/tests/test_models.py
+++ b/tests/test_models.py
@@ -339,6 +339,19 @@ class Test(unittest.TestCase):
         m.field = [{"text": "one"}, {"text": "two"}]
         self.assertFalse(m.has_changed())
 
+    def test_append_dict(self):
+        class TestSubmodel(BaseModel):
+            text: str = Field(default="default")
+
+        class TestModel(BaseModel):
+            field: Optional[List[TestSubmodel]] = Field(default=[])
+
+        m = TestModel()
+        m.field.append({"text": "value"})
+        # dict is converted to object next time the field is retrieved
+        self.assertIsInstance(m.field[0], BaseModel)
+        self.assertEqual(m.field[0].text, "value")
+
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     unittest.main()