diff --git a/src/specklepy/objects/base.py b/src/specklepy/objects/base.py
index 51765f1a..d0a797c9 100644
--- a/src/specklepy/objects/base.py
+++ b/src/specklepy/objects/base.py
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
 
 from stringcase import pascalcase
 
-from specklepy.logging.exceptions import SpeckleException
+from specklepy.logging.exceptions import SpeckleException, SpeckleInvalidUnitException
 from specklepy.objects.units import Units, get_units_from_string
 from specklepy.transports.memory import MemoryTransport
 
@@ -322,7 +322,7 @@ class Base(_RegisteringBase):
     id: Union[str, None] = None
     totalChildrenCount: Union[int, None] = None
     applicationId: Union[str, None] = None
-    _units: Union[Units, None] = None
+    _units: Union[None, str] = None
 
     def __init__(self, **kwargs) -> None:
         super().__init__()
@@ -463,22 +463,18 @@ def add_detachable_attrs(self, names: Set[str]) -> None:
 
     @property
     def units(self) -> Union[str, None]:
-        if self._units:
-            return self._units.value
-        return None
+        return self._units
 
     @units.setter
     def units(self, value: Union[str, Units, None]):
-        if value is None:
-            units = value
+        if isinstance(value, str) or value is None:
+            self._units = value
         elif isinstance(value, Units):
-            units: Units = value
+            self._units = value.value
         else:
-            units = get_units_from_string(value)
-        self._units = units
-        # except SpeckleInvalidUnitException as ex:
-        #     warn(f"Units are reset to None. Reason {ex.message}")
-        #     self._units = None
+            raise SpeckleInvalidUnitException(
+                f"Unknown type {type(value)} received for units"
+            )
 
     def get_member_names(self) -> List[str]:
         """Get all of the property names on this object, dynamic or not"""
diff --git a/src/specklepy/objects/units.py b/src/specklepy/objects/units.py
index e89dbc71..182ea1d3 100644
--- a/src/specklepy/objects/units.py
+++ b/src/specklepy/objects/units.py
@@ -72,13 +72,18 @@ def get_units_from_encoding(unit: int):
     )
 
 
-def get_encoding_from_units(unit: Union[Units, None]):
+def get_encoding_from_units(unit: Union[Units, str, None]):
+    maybe_sanitized_unit = unit
+    if isinstance(unit, str):
+        for unit_enum, aliases in UNITS_STRINGS.items():
+            if unit in aliases:
+                maybe_sanitized_unit = unit_enum
     try:
-        return UNITS_ENCODINGS[unit]
+        return UNITS_ENCODINGS[maybe_sanitized_unit]
     except KeyError as e:
         raise SpeckleException(
             message=(
-                f"No encoding exists for unit {unit}."
+                f"No encoding exists for unit {maybe_sanitized_unit}."
                 f"Please enter a valid unit to encode (eg {UNITS_ENCODINGS})."
             )
         ) from e
diff --git a/tests/intergration/test_serialization.py b/tests/intergration/test_serialization.py
index 6f444795..85bcd927 100644
--- a/tests/intergration/test_serialization.py
+++ b/tests/intergration/test_serialization.py
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ def test_serialize(self, base):
         deserialized = operations.deserialize(serialized)
 
         assert base.get_id() == deserialized.get_id()
-        assert base.units == "mm"
+        assert base.units == "millimetres"
         assert isinstance(base.test_bases[0], Base)
         assert base["@revit_thing"].speckle_type == "SpecialRevitFamily"
         assert base["@detach"].name == deserialized["@detach"].name
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_base.py b/tests/unit/test_base.py
index f653a3a4..1dc87f35 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_base.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_base.py
@@ -85,14 +85,15 @@ def test_speckle_type_cannot_be_set(base: Base) -> None:
 
 def test_setting_units():
     b = Base(units="foot")
-    assert b.units == "ft"
+    assert b.units == "foot"
 
-    with pytest.raises(SpeckleInvalidUnitException):
-        b.units = "big"
+    # with pytest.raises(SpeckleInvalidUnitException):
+    b.units = "big"
+    assert b.units == "big"
 
     with pytest.raises(SpeckleInvalidUnitException):
         b.units = 7  # invalid args are skipped
-    assert b.units == "ft"
+    assert b.units == "big"
 
     b.units = None  # None should be a valid arg
     assert b.units is None