diff --git a/server/cp/mgmt_api/topics.py b/server/cp/mgmt_api/topics.py
index 08425ae..2ae4af7 100644
--- a/server/cp/mgmt_api/topics.py
+++ b/server/cp/mgmt_api/topics.py
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 import superdesk
 
-from bson import ObjectId
 from flask import current_app as app
 
 from newsroom.topics.topics import TopicsResource, TopicsService
@@ -30,8 +29,6 @@ def on_create(self, docs):
             elif not doc.get('is_global'):
                 message = ("Please set is_global True, or provide user in the body.")
                 raise SuperdeskApiError.badRequestError(message=message, payload=message)
-            if doc.get('subscribers'):
-                doc['subscribers'] = [ObjectId(sub) for sub in doc['subscribers']]
 
     def on_created(self, docs):
         super().on_created(docs)
diff --git a/server/features/mgmt_api_topics.feature b/server/features/mgmt_api_topics.feature
index 2d38597..0864862 100644
--- a/server/features/mgmt_api_topics.feature
+++ b/server/features/mgmt_api_topics.feature
@@ -27,7 +27,10 @@ Feature: Management API - Topics
             "topic_type": "wire",
             "query": "topic1",
             "is_global": true,
-            "user": "#users._id#"
+            "user": "#users._id#",
+            "subscribers": [
+                {"user_id": "#users._id#"}
+            ]
         }
         """
         Then we get response code 201
@@ -43,7 +46,10 @@ Feature: Management API - Topics
                     "topic_type": "wire",
                     "query": "topic1",
                     "is_global": true,
-                    "user": "#users._id#"
+                    "user": "#users._id#",
+                    "subscribers": [
+                        {"user_id": "#users._id#", "notification_type": "real-time"}
+                    ]
                 }
             ]
         }