diff --git a/CHANGES.d/20240829_112623_ph_FC_40064_skip_serializing_instances.md b/CHANGES.d/20240829_112623_ph_FC_40064_skip_serializing_instances.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1f2de9c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/CHANGES.d/20240829_112623_ph_FC_40064_skip_serializing_instances.md
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+- fix a mysterious regression that cause a test to fail
diff --git a/src/batou_ext/nix.py b/src/batou_ext/nix.py
index 742c334..d357ef3 100644
--- a/src/batou_ext/nix.py
+++ b/src/batou_ext/nix.py
@@ -630,7 +630,7 @@ def component_to_nix(component: Component):
             pass
         elif inspect.ismethod(value) or inspect.isgenerator(value):
             pass
-        elif name in ("sub_components", "changed"):
+        elif name in ("sub_components", "changed", "instances"):
             pass
         elif isinstance(value, NixOSModuleContext):
             pass