diff --git a/src/apps/Elsa.Server.Web/Program.cs b/src/apps/Elsa.Server.Web/Program.cs
index b2d1941ce..edc03cffd 100644
--- a/src/apps/Elsa.Server.Web/Program.cs
+++ b/src/apps/Elsa.Server.Web/Program.cs
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ using Elsa.EntityFrameworkCore.Modules.Identity;
 using Elsa.EntityFrameworkCore.Modules.Management;
 using Elsa.EntityFrameworkCore.Modules.Runtime;
 using Elsa.EntityFrameworkCore.Modules.Tenants;
+using Elsa.Expressions.Helpers;
 using Elsa.Extensions;
 using Elsa.Features.Services;
 using Elsa.Identity.Multitenancy;
@@ -52,6 +53,7 @@ using Elsa.Workflows.LogPersistence;
 using Elsa.Workflows.Management;
 using Elsa.Workflows.Management.Compression;
 using Elsa.Workflows.Management.Stores;
+using Elsa.Workflows.Memory;
 using Elsa.Workflows.Options;
 using Elsa.Workflows.Runtime.Distributed.Extensions;
 using Elsa.Workflows.Runtime.Options;
@@ -105,6 +107,8 @@ const bool disableVariableWrappers = false;
 const bool disableVariableCopying = false;
 const bool useManualOtelInstrumentation = true;
 
+ObjectConverter.StrictMode = true; // Default.
+
 var builder = WebApplication.CreateBuilder(args);
 var services = builder.Services;
 var configuration = builder.Configuration;
diff --git a/src/common/Elsa.Mediator/Extensions/HandlerExtensions.cs b/src/common/Elsa.Mediator/Extensions/HandlerExtensions.cs
index 2a157037f..cc5b55fd7 100644
--- a/src/common/Elsa.Mediator/Extensions/HandlerExtensions.cs
+++ b/src/common/Elsa.Mediator/Extensions/HandlerExtensions.cs
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ public static class HandlerExtensions
     /// <param name="cancellationToken">The cancellation token.</param>
     public static Task InvokeAsync(this INotificationHandler handler, MethodBase handleMethod, INotification notification, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
     {
-        return (Task)handleMethod.Invoke(handler, new object?[] { notification, cancellationToken })!;
+        return (Task)handleMethod.Invoke(handler, [notification, cancellationToken])!;
     }
 
     /// <summary>
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ public static class HandlerExtensions
     /// <param name="cancellationToken">The cancellation token.</param>
     public static Task<TResult> InvokeAsync<TResult>(this ICommandHandler handler, MethodBase handleMethod, ICommand command, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
     {
-        var task = (Task<TResult>)handleMethod.Invoke(handler, new object?[] { command, cancellationToken })!;
+        var task = (Task<TResult>)handleMethod.Invoke(handler, [command, cancellationToken])!;
         return task;
     }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/modules/Elsa.Common/Extensions/TypeExtensions.cs b/src/modules/Elsa.Common/Extensions/TypeExtensions.cs
index 5883bcd12..863a2057b 100644
--- a/src/modules/Elsa.Common/Extensions/TypeExtensions.cs
+++ b/src/modules/Elsa.Common/Extensions/TypeExtensions.cs
@@ -44,4 +44,14 @@ public static class TypeExtensions
     /// Returns the element type of the specified collection type.
     /// </summary>
     public static Type GetCollectionElementType(this Type type) => type.GenericTypeArguments[0];
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Determines whether the specified type is a numeric type.
+    /// </summary>
+    /// <param name="type">The type to check.</param>
+    /// <returns>True if the specified type is numeric, otherwise false.</returns>
+    public static bool IsNumericType(this Type type)
+    {
+        return type.IsPrimitive || type == typeof(decimal) || type == typeof(float) || type == typeof(double) || type == typeof(int) || type == typeof(long) || type == typeof(short) || type == typeof(byte) || type == typeof(uint) || type == typeof(ulong) || type == typeof(ushort) || type == typeof(sbyte);
+    } 
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/modules/Elsa.Expressions/Helpers/ObjectConverter.cs b/src/modules/Elsa.Expressions/Helpers/ObjectConverter.cs
index 767d57a60..0714ca238 100644
--- a/src/modules/Elsa.Expressions/Helpers/ObjectConverter.cs
+++ b/src/modules/Elsa.Expressions/Helpers/ObjectConverter.cs
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 using System.Collections;
 using System.ComponentModel;
 using System.Diagnostics.CodeAnalysis;
+using System.Diagnostics.SymbolStore;
 using System.Dynamic;
 using System.Globalization;
 using System.Text.Encodings.Web;
@@ -26,6 +27,8 @@ public record ObjectConverterOptions(JsonSerializerOptions? SerializerOptions =
 /// </summary>
 public static class ObjectConverter
 {
+    public static bool StrictMode = true; // Set to false to revert to original flexible behavior.
+
     /// <summary>
     /// Attempts to convert the source value into the destination type.
     /// </summary>
@@ -106,8 +109,19 @@ public static class ObjectConverter
         {
             if (jsonNode is not JsonArray jsonArray)
             {
+                var valueKind = jsonNode.GetValueKind();
+                if (valueKind == JsonValueKind.Null)
+                    return null;
+
+                if (valueKind == JsonValueKind.Undefined)
+                    return null;
+
                 return underlyingTargetType switch
                 {
+                    { } t when t == typeof(bool) && valueKind == JsonValueKind.False => false,
+                    { } t when t == typeof(bool) && valueKind == JsonValueKind.True => true,
+                    { } t when t.IsNumericType() && valueKind == JsonValueKind.Number => ConvertTo(jsonNode.ToString(), t),
+                    { } t when t == typeof(string) && valueKind == JsonValueKind.String => jsonNode.ToString(),
                     { } t when t == typeof(string) => jsonNode.ToString(),
                     { } t when t == typeof(ExpandoObject) && jsonNode.GetValueKind() == JsonValueKind.Object => JsonSerializer.Deserialize<ExpandoObject>(jsonNode.ToJsonString()),
                     { } t when t != typeof(object) || converterOptions?.DeserializeJsonObjectToObject == true => jsonNode.Deserialize(targetType, serializerOptions),
@@ -187,14 +201,22 @@ public static class ObjectConverter
         var targetTypeConverter = TypeDescriptor.GetConverter(underlyingTargetType);
 
         if (targetTypeConverter.CanConvertFrom(underlyingSourceType))
-            return targetTypeConverter.IsValid(value)
-                ? targetTypeConverter.ConvertFrom(null, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture, value)
-                : targetType.GetDefaultValue();
+        {
+            var isValid = targetTypeConverter.IsValid(value);
+
+            if (isValid)
+                return targetTypeConverter.ConvertFrom(null, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture, value);
+        }
 
         var sourceTypeConverter = TypeDescriptor.GetConverter(underlyingSourceType);
 
         if (sourceTypeConverter.CanConvertTo(underlyingTargetType))
-            return sourceTypeConverter.ConvertTo(value, underlyingTargetType);
+        {
+            var isValid = targetTypeConverter.IsValid(value);
+
+            if (isValid)
+                return sourceTypeConverter.ConvertTo(value, underlyingTargetType);
+        }
 
         if (underlyingTargetType.IsEnum)
         {
@@ -248,8 +270,8 @@ public static class ObjectConverter
                     return collection;
                 }
             }
-            
-            if(underlyingTargetType.IsArray)
+
+            if (underlyingTargetType.IsArray)
             {
                 var executedEnumerable = enumerable.Cast<object>().ToList();
                 var underlyingTargetElementType = underlyingTargetType.GetElementType()!;
@@ -261,6 +283,7 @@ public static class ObjectConverter
                     array.SetValue(convertedItem, index);
                     index++;
                 }
+
                 return array;
             }
         }
@@ -269,8 +292,20 @@ public static class ObjectConverter
         {
             return Convert.ChangeType(value, underlyingTargetType, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture);
         }
+        catch (FormatException e)
+        {
+            return ReturnOrThrow(e);
+        }
         catch (InvalidCastException e)
         {
+            return ReturnOrThrow(e);
+        }
+
+        object ReturnOrThrow(Exception e)
+        {
+            if (!StrictMode)
+                return value;
+
             throw new TypeConversionException($"Failed to convert an object of type {sourceType} to {underlyingTargetType}", value, underlyingTargetType, e);
         }
     }
diff --git a/src/modules/Elsa.Expressions/Models/MemoryBlock.cs b/src/modules/Elsa.Expressions/Models/MemoryBlock.cs
index 75cf2c1cd..58df59695 100644
--- a/src/modules/Elsa.Expressions/Models/MemoryBlock.cs
+++ b/src/modules/Elsa.Expressions/Models/MemoryBlock.cs
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ public class MemoryBlock
     /// <summary>
     /// Constructor.
     /// </summary>
-    public MemoryBlock(object? value, object? metadata = default)
+    public MemoryBlock(object? value, object? metadata = null)
     {
         Value = value;
         Metadata = metadata;
diff --git a/src/modules/Elsa.Expressions/Models/MemoryBlockReference.cs b/src/modules/Elsa.Expressions/Models/MemoryBlockReference.cs
index 1a6a908fd..9756e5959 100644
--- a/src/modules/Elsa.Expressions/Models/MemoryBlockReference.cs
+++ b/src/modules/Elsa.Expressions/Models/MemoryBlockReference.cs
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ public class MemoryBlockReference
     /// <summary>
     /// The ID of the memory block.
     /// </summary>
-    public string Id { get; set; } = default!;
+    public string Id { get; set; } = null!;
 
     /// <summary>
     /// Declares the memory block.
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ public class MemoryBlockReference
     /// <summary>
     /// Sets the value of the memory block.
     /// </summary>
-    public void Set(MemoryRegister memoryRegister, object? value, Action<MemoryBlock>? configure = default)
+    public void Set(MemoryRegister memoryRegister, object? value, Action<MemoryBlock>? configure = null)
     {
         var block = GetBlock(memoryRegister);
         block.Value = value;
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ public class MemoryBlockReference
     /// <summary>
     /// Sets the value of the memory block.
     /// </summary>
-    public void Set(ExpressionExecutionContext context, object? value, Action<MemoryBlock>? configure = default) => context.Set(this, value, configure);
+    public void Set(ExpressionExecutionContext context, object? value, Action<MemoryBlock>? configure = null) => context.Set(this, value, configure);
     
     /// <summary>
     /// Returns the <see cref="MemoryBlock"/> pointed to by the specified memory block reference.
diff --git a/src/modules/Elsa.Http/Activities/HttpEndpoint.cs b/src/modules/Elsa.Http/Activities/HttpEndpoint.cs
index 428d73adc..edfcfa5c3 100644
--- a/src/modules/Elsa.Http/Activities/HttpEndpoint.cs
+++ b/src/modules/Elsa.Http/Activities/HttpEndpoint.cs
@@ -225,7 +225,6 @@ public class HttpEndpoint : Trigger<HttpRequest>
         // Handle Form Fields
         if (request.HasFormContentType)
         {
-
             var formFields = request.Form.ToObjectDictionary();
 
             ParsedContent.Set(context, formFields);
diff --git a/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Core/Activities/SetVariable.cs b/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Core/Activities/SetVariable.cs
index 914933d23..a12b35086 100644
--- a/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Core/Activities/SetVariable.cs
+++ b/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Core/Activities/SetVariable.cs
@@ -18,37 +18,37 @@ namespace Elsa.Workflows.Activities;
 public class SetVariable<T> : CodeActivity
 {
     /// <inheritdoc />
-    public SetVariable([CallerFilePath] string? source = default, [CallerLineNumber] int? line = default) : base(source, line)
+    public SetVariable([CallerFilePath] string? source = null, [CallerLineNumber] int? line = null) : base(source, line)
     {
     }
 
     /// <inheritdoc />
-    public SetVariable(Variable<T> variable, Input<T> value, [CallerFilePath] string? source = default, [CallerLineNumber] int? line = default) : this(source, line)
+    public SetVariable(Variable<T> variable, Input<T> value, [CallerFilePath] string? source = null, [CallerLineNumber] int? line = null) : this(source, line)
     {
         Variable = variable;
         Value = value;
     }
 
     /// <inheritdoc />
-    public SetVariable(Variable<T> variable, Variable<T> value, [CallerFilePath] string? source = default, [CallerLineNumber] int? line = default)
+    public SetVariable(Variable<T> variable, Variable<T> value, [CallerFilePath] string? source = null, [CallerLineNumber] int? line = null)
         : this(variable, new Input<T>(value), source, line)
     {
     }
 
     /// <inheritdoc />
-    public SetVariable(Variable<T> variable, Func<ExpressionExecutionContext, T> value, [CallerFilePath] string? source = default, [CallerLineNumber] int? line = default)
+    public SetVariable(Variable<T> variable, Func<ExpressionExecutionContext, T> value, [CallerFilePath] string? source = null, [CallerLineNumber] int? line = null)
         : this(variable, new Input<T>(value), source, line)
     {
     }
 
     /// <inheritdoc />
-    public SetVariable(Variable<T> variable, Func<T> value, [CallerFilePath] string? source = default, [CallerLineNumber] int? line = default)
+    public SetVariable(Variable<T> variable, Func<T> value, [CallerFilePath] string? source = null, [CallerLineNumber] int? line = null)
         : this(variable, new Input<T>(value), source, line)
     {
     }
 
     /// <inheritdoc />
-    public SetVariable(Variable<T> variable, T value, [CallerFilePath] string? source = default, [CallerLineNumber] int? line = default)
+    public SetVariable(Variable<T> variable, T value, [CallerFilePath] string? source = null, [CallerLineNumber] int? line = null)
         : this(variable, new Input<T>(value), source, line)
     {
     }
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ public class SetVariable<T> : CodeActivity
     /// The variable to assign the value to.
     /// </summary>
     [Input(Description = "The variable to assign the value to.")]
-    public Variable<T> Variable { get; set; } = default!;
+    public Variable<T> Variable { get; set; } = null!;
 
     /// <summary>
     /// The value to assign.
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ public class SetVariable<T> : CodeActivity
 public class SetVariable : CodeActivity
 {
     /// <inheritdoc />
-    public SetVariable([CallerFilePath] string? source = default, [CallerLineNumber] int? line = default) : base(source, line)
+    public SetVariable([CallerFilePath] string? source = null, [CallerLineNumber] int? line = null) : base(source, line)
     {
     }
 
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ public class SetVariable : CodeActivity
     /// The variable to assign the value to.
     /// </summary>
     [Input(Description = "The variable to assign the value to.")]
-    public Variable Variable { get; set; } = default!;
+    public Variable Variable { get; set; } = null!;
 
     /// <summary>
     /// The value to assign.
diff --git a/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Core/Extensions/DictionaryExtensions.cs b/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Core/Extensions/DictionaryExtensions.cs
index 33cb94f5f..9aae63257 100644
--- a/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Core/Extensions/DictionaryExtensions.cs
+++ b/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Core/Extensions/DictionaryExtensions.cs
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 using Elsa.Expressions.Helpers;
+using Elsa.Expressions.Models;
 
 // ReSharper disable once CheckNamespace
 namespace Elsa.Extensions;
@@ -29,8 +30,9 @@ public static class DictionaryExtensions
             return false;
         }
 
-        value = ConvertValue<T>(item);
-        return true;
+        var result = TryConvertValue<T>(item);
+        value = result.Success ? (T)result.Value! : default!;
+        return result.Success;
     }
     
     public static bool TryGetValue<TKey, T>(this IDictionary<TKey, object> dictionary, IEnumerable<TKey> keys, out T value)
@@ -39,8 +41,9 @@ public static class DictionaryExtensions
         {
             if (dictionary.TryGetValue(key, out var item))
             {
-                value = ConvertValue<T>(item);
-                return true;
+                var result = TryConvertValue<T>(item);
+                value = result.Success ? (T)result.Value! : default!;
+                return result.Success;
             }    
         }
         
@@ -98,4 +101,9 @@ public static class DictionaryExtensions
     }
 
     private static T? ConvertValue<T>(object? value) => value.ConvertTo<T>();
+    
+    private static Result TryConvertValue<T>(object? value)
+    {
+        return value.TryConvertTo<T>();
+    }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Core/Extensions/ExpressionExecutionContextExtensions.cs b/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Core/Extensions/ExpressionExecutionContextExtensions.cs
index 70f5381d2..aba7ae1ac 100644
--- a/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Core/Extensions/ExpressionExecutionContextExtensions.cs
+++ b/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Core/Extensions/ExpressionExecutionContextExtensions.cs
@@ -8,7 +8,9 @@ using Elsa.Workflows;
 using Elsa.Workflows.Activities;
 using Elsa.Workflows.Memory;
 using Elsa.Workflows.Models;
+using Elsa.Workflows.Options;
 using Humanizer;
+using Microsoft.Extensions.Options;
 
 // ReSharper disable once CheckNamespace
 namespace Elsa.Extensions;
@@ -137,8 +139,7 @@ public static class ExpressionExecutionContextExtensions
     /// <summary>
     /// Creates a named variable in the context.
     /// </summary>
-    public static Variable CreateVariable<T>(this ExpressionExecutionContext context, string name, T? value, Type? storageDriverType = null,
-        Action<MemoryBlock>? configure = null)
+    public static Variable CreateVariable<T>(this ExpressionExecutionContext context, string name, T? value, Type? storageDriverType = null, Action<MemoryBlock>? configure = null)
     {
         var existingVariable = context.GetVariable(name, localScopeOnly: true);
 
@@ -149,12 +150,14 @@ public static class ExpressionExecutionContextExtensions
         {
             StorageDriverType = storageDriverType ?? typeof(WorkflowInstanceStorageDriver)
         };
+        
+        var parsedValue = variable.ParseValue(value);
 
         // Find the first parent context that has a variable container.
         // If not found, use the current context.
         var variableContainerContext = context.GetVariableContainerContext();
 
-        variableContainerContext.Set(variable, value, configure);
+        variableContainerContext.Set(variable, parsedValue, configure);
         return variable;
     }
 
@@ -184,7 +187,8 @@ public static class ExpressionExecutionContextExtensions
         var contextWithVariable = context.FindContextContainingBlock(variable.Id) ?? context;
 
         // Set the value on the variable.
-        variable.Set(contextWithVariable, value, configure);
+        var parsedValue = variable.ParseValue(value);
+        variable.Set(contextWithVariable, parsedValue, configure);
 
         // Return the variable.
         return variable;
@@ -199,7 +203,8 @@ public static class ExpressionExecutionContextExtensions
         {
             // Set the value on the output.
             var outputMemoryBlockReference = output.MemoryBlockReference();
-            context.Set(outputMemoryBlockReference, value, configure);
+            var parsedValue = output.ParseValue(value);
+            context.Set(outputMemoryBlockReference, parsedValue, configure);
 
             // If the referenced output is a workflow output definition, set the value on the workflow execution context.
             var workflowExecutionContext = context.GetWorkflowExecutionContext();
diff --git a/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Core/Extensions/OutputExtensions.cs b/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Core/Extensions/OutputExtensions.cs
index 70573c4d2..5d1c8ae9d 100644
--- a/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Core/Extensions/OutputExtensions.cs
+++ b/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Core/Extensions/OutputExtensions.cs
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 using System.Runtime.CompilerServices;
+using Elsa.Expressions.Helpers;
 using Elsa.Expressions.Models;
 using Elsa.Workflows;
 using Elsa.Workflows.Memory;
@@ -20,7 +21,7 @@ public static class OutputExtensions
     /// <summary>
     /// Sets the output to the specified value.
     /// </summary>
-    public static void Set<T>(this Output<T>? output, ActivityExecutionContext context, T? value, [CallerArgumentExpression("output")] string? outputName = default) => context.Set(output, value, outputName);
+    public static void Set<T>(this Output<T>? output, ActivityExecutionContext context, T? value, [CallerArgumentExpression("output")] string? outputName = null) => context.Set(output, value, outputName);
     
     /// <summary>
     /// Sets the output to the specified value.
@@ -45,10 +46,10 @@ public static class OutputExtensions
         var memoryBlockReference = output?.MemoryBlockReference();
         
         if (memoryBlockReference is null)
-            return default;
+            return null;
 
         if(!context.ExpressionExecutionContext.TryGetBlock(memoryBlockReference, out var memoryBlock))
-            return default;
+            return null;
         
         var parsedContentVariableType = (memoryBlock.Metadata as VariableBlockMetadata)?.Variable.GetType();
         return parsedContentVariableType?.GenericTypeArguments.FirstOrDefault();
@@ -62,4 +63,10 @@ public static class OutputExtensions
         var memoryBlockReference = output?.MemoryBlockReference();
         return memoryBlockReference is not null && context.ExpressionExecutionContext.TryGetBlock(memoryBlockReference, out _);
     }
+    
+    public static object? ParseValue(this Output output, object? value)
+    {
+        var genericType = output.GetType();
+        return VariableExtensions.ParseValue(genericType, value);
+    }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Core/Extensions/VariableExtensions.cs b/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Core/Extensions/VariableExtensions.cs
index 125040e79..81af7820d 100644
--- a/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Core/Extensions/VariableExtensions.cs
+++ b/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Core/Extensions/VariableExtensions.cs
@@ -66,13 +66,7 @@ public static class VariableExtensions
     
     public static void Set(this Variable variable, ActivityExecutionContext context, object? value)
     {
-        // Validate type compatibility.
-        if (!variable.TryParseValue(value, out var parsedValue))
-        {
-            var variableType = variable.GetVariableType();
-            throw new InvalidCastException($"The value '{value}' is not compatible with the variable '{variable.Name}' of type '{variableType.FullName}'.");
-        }
-        
+        var parsedValue = variable.ParseValue(value);
         // Set the value.
         ((MemoryBlockReference)variable).Set(context, parsedValue);
     }
@@ -83,7 +77,13 @@ public static class VariableExtensions
     [RequiresUnreferencedCode("Calls System.Text.Json.JsonSerializer.Serialize<TValue>(TValue, JsonSerializerOptions)")]
     public static object? ParseValue(this Variable variable, object? value)
     {
-        var genericType = variable.GetType().GenericTypeArguments.FirstOrDefault();
+        var genericType = variable.GetType();
+        return ParseValue(genericType, value);
+    }
+    
+    public static object? ParseValue(Type type, object? value)
+    {
+        var genericType = type.GenericTypeArguments.FirstOrDefault();
         var converterOptions = new ObjectConverterOptions(SerializerOptions);
         return genericType == null ? value : value?.ConvertTo(genericType, converterOptions);
     }
diff --git a/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Core/Memory/Variable.cs b/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Core/Memory/Variable.cs
index 47a33dd29..c75655fc3 100644
--- a/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Core/Memory/Variable.cs
+++ b/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Core/Memory/Variable.cs
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-using System.Text.Json.Serialization;
 using Elsa.Expressions.Helpers;
 using Elsa.Expressions.Models;
 using Humanizer;
diff --git a/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Core/Services/VariablePersistenceManager.cs b/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Core/Services/VariablePersistenceManager.cs
index 1e19a9d88..a383253e2 100644
--- a/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Core/Services/VariablePersistenceManager.cs
+++ b/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Core/Services/VariablePersistenceManager.cs
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+using Elsa.Expressions.Helpers;
 using Elsa.Expressions.Models;
 using Elsa.Extensions;
 using Elsa.Workflows.Memory;
@@ -51,10 +52,13 @@ public class VariablePersistenceManager(IStorageDriverManager storageDriverManag
                     if (!variable.TryParseValue(value, out var parsedValue))
                     {
                         logger.LogWarning("Failed to parse value for variable {VariableId} of type {VariableType} with value {Value}", variable.Id, variable.GetVariableType().FullName, value);
+
+                        if (!ObjectConverter.StrictMode)
+                            variable.Set(register, value);
                         continue;
                     }
 
-                    variable.Set(register, parsedValue);    
+                    variable.Set(register, parsedValue);
                 }
                 catch (Exception e)
                 {
diff --git a/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Core/VariableStorageDrivers/WorkflowInstanceStorageDriver.cs b/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Core/VariableStorageDrivers/WorkflowInstanceStorageDriver.cs
index cf942dcce..566473c3a 100644
--- a/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Core/VariableStorageDrivers/WorkflowInstanceStorageDriver.cs
+++ b/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Core/VariableStorageDrivers/WorkflowInstanceStorageDriver.cs
@@ -47,7 +47,8 @@ public class WorkflowInstanceStorageDriver(IPayloadSerializer payloadSerializer)
             DeserializeJsonObjectToObject = true,
             SerializerOptions = payloadSerializer.GetOptions()  
         };
-        var parsedValue = node.ConvertTo(variableType, options);
+        var result = node.TryConvertTo(variableType, options);
+        var parsedValue = result.Success ? result.Value : node;
         return new (parsedValue);
     }
 
diff --git a/test/component/Elsa.Workflows.ComponentTests/Scenarios/LogPersistenceModes/input-output-logging-1.json b/test/component/Elsa.Workflows.ComponentTests/Scenarios/LogPersistenceModes/input-output-logging-1.json
index 4fe00dd76..f228d1ed5 100644
--- a/test/component/Elsa.Workflows.ComponentTests/Scenarios/LogPersistenceModes/input-output-logging-1.json
+++ b/test/component/Elsa.Workflows.ComponentTests/Scenarios/LogPersistenceModes/input-output-logging-1.json
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@
           "logPersistenceMode": {
             "default": "Exclude",
             "inputs": {
-              "text": "Default"
+              "text": "Inherit"
             },
             "outputs": {}
           },
diff --git a/test/component/Elsa.Workflows.ComponentTests/Scenarios/LogPersistenceModes/input-output-logging-2.json b/test/component/Elsa.Workflows.ComponentTests/Scenarios/LogPersistenceModes/input-output-logging-2.json
index a0e6fd9d3..cd2c977b3 100644
--- a/test/component/Elsa.Workflows.ComponentTests/Scenarios/LogPersistenceModes/input-output-logging-2.json
+++ b/test/component/Elsa.Workflows.ComponentTests/Scenarios/LogPersistenceModes/input-output-logging-2.json
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@
           "logPersistenceMode": {
             "default": "Include",
             "inputs": {
-              "text": "Default"
+              "text": "Inherit"
             },
             "outputs": {}
           },
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@
         "version": 1,
         "customProperties": {
           "logPersistenceMode": {
-            "default": "Default",
+            "default": "Inherit",
             "inputs": {
               "text": "Include"
             },
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@
         "version": 1,
         "customProperties": {
           "logPersistenceMode": {
-            "default": "Default",
+            "default": "Inherit",
             "inputs": {
               "text": "Exclude"
             },
diff --git a/test/component/Elsa.Workflows.ComponentTests/Scenarios/LogPersistenceModes/input-output-logging-3-child.json b/test/component/Elsa.Workflows.ComponentTests/Scenarios/LogPersistenceModes/input-output-logging-3-child.json
index dbdfb410b..47bc32840 100644
--- a/test/component/Elsa.Workflows.ComponentTests/Scenarios/LogPersistenceModes/input-output-logging-3-child.json
+++ b/test/component/Elsa.Workflows.ComponentTests/Scenarios/LogPersistenceModes/input-output-logging-3-child.json
@@ -75,10 +75,10 @@
           "canStartWorkflow": false,
           "runAsynchronously": false,
           "logPersistenceMode": {
-            "default": "Default",
+            "default": "Inherit",
             "inputs": {
-              "outputName": "Default",
-              "outputValue": "Default"
+              "outputName": "Inherit",
+              "outputValue": "Inherit"
             },
             "outputs": {}
           }
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@
           "canStartWorkflow": false,
           "runAsynchronously": false,
           "logPersistenceMode": {
-            "default": "Default",
+            "default": "Inherit",
             "inputs": {
               "outputName": "Include",
               "outputValue": "Include"
diff --git a/test/unit/Elsa.Workflows.Core.UnitTests/ObjectConversion/Tests.cs b/test/unit/Elsa.Workflows.Core.UnitTests/ObjectConversion/Tests.cs
index 6e0f9034a..c1e228222 100644
--- a/test/unit/Elsa.Workflows.Core.UnitTests/ObjectConversion/Tests.cs
+++ b/test/unit/Elsa.Workflows.Core.UnitTests/ObjectConversion/Tests.cs
@@ -46,13 +46,8 @@ public class Tests
         var result = value.TryConvertTo<int>();
 
         // Assert
-
-        // I would have expected this conversion to not be successful. It seems there are many cases like this
-        //Assert.False(result.Success);
-        //Assert.NotNull(result.Exception);
-
-        Assert.True(result.Success);
-        Assert.Equal(0, result.Value);
+        Assert.False(result.Success);
+        Assert.NotNull(result.Exception);
     }
 
     [Fact]