diff --git a/cliapp/cliapp/cli.py b/cliapp/cliapp/cli.py
index b3f1acb8700382ec0d42d949bb001595b81e688a..d39b70e45ae54b17ec9cfa2003f120c6a2b68c2f 100644
--- a/cliapp/cliapp/cli.py
+++ b/cliapp/cliapp/cli.py
@@ -11,10 +11,12 @@ import ory_kratos_client
 from flask import current_app
 from flask.cli import AppGroup
 from ory_kratos_client.api import v0alpha2_api as kratos_api
+from sqlalchemy import func
 
 from config import *
 from helpers import KratosUser
 from cliapp import cli
+from areas.roles import Role
 from areas.apps import AppRole, App
 from database import db
 
@@ -136,10 +138,12 @@ def setrole(email, app_slug, role):
     if role_obj:
         db.session.delete(role_obj)
 
+    role = Role.query.filter(func.lower(Role.name) == func.lower(role)).first()
+
     obj = AppRole()
     obj.user_id = user.uuid
     obj.app_id = app_obj.id
-    obj.role = role
+    obj.role_id = role.id if role else None
 
     db.session.add(obj)
     db.session.commit()