diff --git a/src/Fieldtypes/DictionaryFields.php b/src/Fieldtypes/DictionaryFields.php
index ccbeda002e..89eda653d0 100644
--- a/src/Fieldtypes/DictionaryFields.php
+++ b/src/Fieldtypes/DictionaryFields.php
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ public function preProcess($data): array
         }
 
         if (is_string($data)) {
-            return ['type' => $data];
+            $data = ['type' => $data];
         }
 
         $dictionary = Dictionary::find($data['type']);