diff --git a/automation/types/expr.go b/automation/types/expr.go
index 6b405452f..85ac076bd 100644
--- a/automation/types/expr.go
+++ b/automation/types/expr.go
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@ func (set ExprSet) Eval(ctx context.Context, in *expr.Vars) (*expr.Vars, error)
 					}
 				}
 			} else if typedValue, err = e.typ.Cast(value); err != nil {
-				return nil, fmt.Errorf("cannot cast value %T to %s (target %s)", value, e.typ.Type(), e.Target)
+				return nil, fmt.Errorf("cannot cast value %T to %s (target %s): %w", value, e.typ.Type(), e.Target, err)
 			}
 		}
 
diff --git a/system/automation/expr_types.go b/system/automation/expr_types.go
index a80efb4f0..e347d0aa3 100644
--- a/system/automation/expr_types.go
+++ b/system/automation/expr_types.go
@@ -31,6 +31,8 @@ func CastToUser(val interface{}) (out *types.User, err error) {
 	switch val := expr.UntypedValue(val).(type) {
 	case *types.User:
 		return val, nil
+	case nil:
+		return &types.User{}, nil
 	default:
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("unable to cast type %T to %T", val, out)
 	}
@@ -48,6 +50,8 @@ func CastToRole(val interface{}) (out *types.Role, err error) {
 	switch val := expr.UntypedValue(val).(type) {
 	case *types.Role:
 		return val, nil
+	case nil:
+		return &types.Role{}, nil
 	default:
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("unable to cast type %T to %T", val, out)
 	}
@@ -84,6 +88,8 @@ func CastToTemplateMeta(val interface{}) (out types.TemplateMeta, err error) {
 	switch val := expr.UntypedValue(val).(type) {
 	case types.TemplateMeta:
 		return val, nil
+	case nil:
+		return types.TemplateMeta{}, nil
 	default:
 		return types.TemplateMeta{}, fmt.Errorf("unable to cast type %T to %T", val, out)
 	}
@@ -144,6 +150,8 @@ func CastToQueueMessage(val interface{}) (out *types.QueueMessage, err error) {
 	switch val := expr.UntypedValue(val).(type) {
 	case *types.QueueMessage:
 		return val, nil
+	case nil:
+		return &types.QueueMessage{}, nil
 	default:
 		return &types.QueueMessage{}, fmt.Errorf("unable to cast type %T to %T", val, out)
 	}
diff --git a/tests/workflows/0003_create_user_test.go b/tests/workflows/0003_create_user_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..21df4ddbe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/workflows/0003_create_user_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+package workflows
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"testing"
+
+	autTypes "github.com/cortezaproject/corteza-server/automation/types"
+	sysTypes "github.com/cortezaproject/corteza-server/system/types"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+)
+
+func Test0003_create_user(t *testing.T) {
+	var (
+		ctx = bypassRBAC(context.Background())
+		req = require.New(t)
+	)
+
+	loadScenario(ctx, t)
+
+	var (
+		aux = struct {
+			User *sysTypes.User
+		}{}
+		vars, _ = mustExecWorkflow(ctx, t, "create-user", autTypes.WorkflowExecParams{})
+	)
+
+	req.NoError(vars.Decode(&aux))
+}
diff --git a/tests/workflows/testdata/S0003_create_user/workflow.yaml b/tests/workflows/testdata/S0003_create_user/workflow.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d4a5411e6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/workflows/testdata/S0003_create_user/workflow.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+workflows:
+  create-user:
+    enabled: true
+    trace: true
+    triggers:
+      - enabled: true
+        stepID: 1
+
+    steps:
+      - stepID: 1
+        kind: expressions
+        arguments:
+          - { target: dummy,       type: User }
+          - { target: dummy.email, type: String, value: "some.email@domain.tld" }
+          - { target: dummy.name,  type: String, value: "Not Sure" }
+
+      - stepID: 2
+        kind: function
+        ref: usersCreate
+        arguments:
+          - { target: user, type: User, expr: "dummy" }
+
+    paths:
+      - { parentID: 1, childID: 2 }