diff --git a/services/web/server/src/simcore_service_webserver/projects/utils.py b/services/web/server/src/simcore_service_webserver/projects/utils.py
index 70a0047c042..63697ea6f17 100644
--- a/services/web/server/src/simcore_service_webserver/projects/utils.py
+++ b/services/web/server/src/simcore_service_webserver/projects/utils.py
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ def _replace_uuids(node: str | list | dict) -> str | list | dict:
         )
 
         # exclude annotations UI info for conversations done in the source project
-        annotations = project_copy.get("ui", {}).get("annotations", {}).copy()
+        annotations = deepcopy(project_copy.get("ui", {}).get("annotations", {})) or {}
         for ann_id, ann in annotations.items():
             if ann["type"] == "conversation":
                 project_copy["ui"]["annotations"].pop(ann_id)