diff --git a/apps/applications/serializers/remote_app.py b/apps/applications/serializers/remote_app.py
index 90f32f8cd..65190f38c 100644
--- a/apps/applications/serializers/remote_app.py
+++ b/apps/applications/serializers/remote_app.py
@@ -21,17 +21,11 @@ logger = get_logger(__file__)
 class CharPrimaryKeyRelatedField(serializers.PrimaryKeyRelatedField):
 
     def to_internal_value(self, data):
-        if self.pk_field is not None:
-            data = self.pk_field.to_internal_value(data)
-        try:
-            instance = self.get_queryset().get(pk=data)
-            return str(instance.id)
-        except ObjectDoesNotExist:
-            self.fail('does_not_exist', pk_value=data)
-        except (TypeError, ValueError):
-            self.fail('incorrect_type', data_type=type(data).__name__)
+        instance = super().to_internal_value(data)
+        return str(instance.id)
 
     def to_representation(self, value):
+        # value is instance.id
         if self.pk_field is not None:
             return self.pk_field.to_representation(value)
         return value