diff --git a/packages/core/src/git.ts b/packages/core/src/git.ts
index aa09186254..655bacbbc3 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/git.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/git.ts
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ export class OperationError extends Schema.TaggedErrorClass<OperationError>()("G
   ]),
   message: Schema.String,
   directory: Schema.optional(AbsolutePath),
-  cause: Schema.optional(Schema.Defect),
+  cause: Schema.optional(Schema.Defect()),
 }) {}
 
 export class Worktree extends Schema.Class<Worktree>("Git.Worktree")({
diff --git a/packages/core/src/snapshot.ts b/packages/core/src/snapshot.ts
index c0b3108e32..07fe9fede4 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/snapshot.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/snapshot.ts
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ export type ID = typeof ID.Type
 export class Error extends Schema.TaggedErrorClass<Error>()("Snapshot.Error", {
   operation: Schema.Literals(["capture", "files", "diff", "preview", "restore"]),
   message: Schema.String,
-  cause: Schema.optional(Schema.Defect),
+  cause: Schema.optional(Schema.Defect()),
 }) {}
 
 export interface CompareInput {