diff --git a/CHANGES/972.feature b/CHANGES/972.feature
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..4cdc5a7f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/CHANGES/972.feature
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Updated tasks to always return JSON-serializable value.
diff --git a/pulp_python/app/serializers.py b/pulp_python/app/serializers.py
index 0f769484..d8387adf 100644
--- a/pulp_python/app/serializers.py
+++ b/pulp_python/app/serializers.py
@@ -457,6 +457,13 @@ def to_internal_value(self, data):
         """Converts set to list."""
         return list(super().to_internal_value(data))
 
+    def to_representation(self, value):
+        """Converts set to list for JSON serialization."""
+        result = super().to_representation(value)
+        if isinstance(result, set):
+            result = list(result)
+        return result
+
 
 class PythonRemoteSerializer(core_serializers.RemoteSerializer):
     """
diff --git a/pulp_python/app/tasks/publish.py b/pulp_python/app/tasks/publish.py
index 79bcbfb7..3ab44501 100644
--- a/pulp_python/app/tasks/publish.py
+++ b/pulp_python/app/tasks/publish.py
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 from pulpcore.plugin.util import get_domain
 
 from pulp_python.app import models as python_models
+from pulp_python.app.serializers import PythonPublicationSerializer
 from pulp_python.app.utils import write_simple_index, write_simple_detail
 
 
@@ -36,6 +37,7 @@ def publish(repository_version_pk):
         write_simple_api(pub)
 
     log.info(_("Publication: {pk} created").format(pk=pub.pk))
+    pub = PythonPublicationSerializer(instance=pub, context={"request": None}).data
     return pub