diff --git a/src/api/api_server.py b/src/api/api_server.py
index 1eab8fb..dc6fe47 100755
--- a/src/api/api_server.py
+++ b/src/api/api_server.py
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ def subjob_status_change(job_id):
     try:
         subjob_details = request.json
         logger.info(f"Subjob to job id: {job_id} is now {subjob_details['status']}")
-        DistributedJobManager.handle_subjob_status_change(RenderQueue.job_with_id(job_id), subjob_data=subjob_details)
+        DistributedJobManager.handle_subjob_status_change(job_id, subjob_data=subjob_details)
         return Response(status=200)
     except JobNotFoundError:
         return "Job not found", 404
diff --git a/src/distributed_job_manager.py b/src/distributed_job_manager.py
index 05a450b..af81441 100644
--- a/src/distributed_job_manager.py
+++ b/src/distributed_job_manager.py
@@ -85,12 +85,12 @@ class DistributedJobManager:
             logger.debug(f"Unable to show UI notification: {e}")
 
     @classmethod
-    def handle_subjob_status_change(cls, local_job, subjob_data):
+    def handle_subjob_status_change(cls, local_job_id, subjob_data):
         """
         Responds to a status change from a remote subjob and triggers the creation or modification of subjobs as needed.
 
         Parameters:
-        local_job (BaseRenderWorker): The local parent job worker.
+        local_job_id (str): ID for local parent job worker.
         subjob_data (dict): Subjob data sent from the remote server.
 
         Returns:
@@ -103,9 +103,10 @@ class DistributedJobManager:
         subjob_key = f'{subjob_id}@{subjob_hostname}'
 
         # Update the local job's subjob data
+        local_job.children = dict(local_job.children)  # copy as dict to work around sqlalchemy update issue
         local_job.children[subjob_key] = subjob_data
 
-        logname = f"{local_job.id}:{subjob_key}"
+        logname = f"{local_job_id}:{subjob_key}"
         subjob_status = string_to_status(subjob_data['status'])
         logger.debug(f"Subjob status changed: {logname} -> {subjob_status.value}")