diff --git a/invenio_records/dumpers/elasticsearch.py b/invenio_records/dumpers/elasticsearch.py
index b503e5fc..868a8d7b 100644
--- a/invenio_records/dumpers/elasticsearch.py
+++ b/invenio_records/dumpers/elasticsearch.py
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ def _dump_model_field(self, record, model_field_name, dump, dump_key,
         dump[dump_key] = self._serialize(val, dump_type)
 
     def _load_model_field(self, record_cls, model_field_name, dump, dump_key,
-                          dump_type):
+                          load_type):
         """Helper method to load model fields from dump.
 
         :param record_cls: The record class being used for loading.
@@ -169,12 +169,11 @@ def _load_model_field(self, record_cls, model_field_name, dump, dump_key,
             return val
 
         # Determine dump data type if not provided
-        if dump_type is None:
-            sa_field = getattr(record_cls.model_cls, model_field_name)
-            dump_type = self._sa_type(record_cls.model_cls, model_field_name)
+        if load_type is None:
+            load_type = self._sa_type(record_cls.model_cls, model_field_name)
 
         # Deserialize the value
-        return self._deserialize(val, dump_type)
+        return self._deserialize(val, load_type)
 
     @staticmethod
     def _iter_modelfields(record_cls):
@@ -247,15 +246,15 @@ def load(self, dump_data, record_cls):
         # Load explicitly defined model fields.
         model_data = {}
         it = self._model_fields.items()
-        for model_field_name, (dump_key, dump_type) in it:
+        for model_field_name, (dump_key, load_type) in it:
             model_data[model_field_name] = self._load_model_field(
-                record_cls, model_field_name, dump_data, dump_key, dump_type)
+                record_cls, model_field_name, dump_data, dump_key, load_type)
 
         # Load model fields defined as system fields
         for systemfield in self._iter_modelfields(record_cls):
             model_data[systemfield.model_field_name] = self._load_model_field(
                 record_cls, systemfield.model_field_name, dump_data,
-                systemfield.dump_key, systemfield.dump_type)
+                systemfield.dump_key, systemfield.load_type)
 
         # Initialize model if an id was provided.
         if model_data.get('id') is not None:
diff --git a/invenio_records/systemfields/model.py b/invenio_records/systemfields/model.py
index efc74c3c..3b410a84 100644
--- a/invenio_records/systemfields/model.py
+++ b/invenio_records/systemfields/model.py
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ class ModelField(SystemField):
     """Model field for providing get and set access on a model field."""
 
     def __init__(self, model_field_name=None, dump=True, dump_key=None,
-                 dump_type=None):
+                 dump_type=None, load_type=None):
         """Initialize the field.
 
         :param model_field_name: Name of field on the database model.
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ def __init__(self, model_field_name=None, dump=True, dump_key=None,
         self.dump = dump
         self._dump_key = dump_key
         self._dump_type = dump_type
+        self._load_type = load_type
 
     #
     # Helpers
@@ -58,6 +59,14 @@ def dump_type(self):
         """
         return self._dump_type
 
+    @property
+    def load_type(self):
+        """The data type used to determine how to deserialize the model field.
+
+        Defaults to dump_type.
+        """
+        return self._load_type or self._dump_type
+
     def _set(self, model, value):
         """Internal method to set value on the model's field."""
         setattr(model, self.model_field_name, value)
diff --git a/tests/test_api_dumpers.py b/tests/test_api_dumpers.py
index e6e69cf8..b7aba26b 100644
--- a/tests/test_api_dumpers.py
+++ b/tests/test_api_dumpers.py
@@ -9,15 +9,20 @@
 """Test the dumpers API."""
 
 from datetime import date, datetime
+from enum import Enum
 from uuid import UUID
 
 import pytest
+from invenio_db import db
 from sqlalchemy.dialects import mysql
+from sqlalchemy_utils.types import ChoiceType
 
 from invenio_records.api import Record
 from invenio_records.dumpers import ElasticsearchDumper, ElasticsearchDumperExt
 from invenio_records.dumpers.relations import RelationDumperExt
 from invenio_records.models import RecordMetadataBase
+from invenio_records.systemfields import SystemFieldsMixin
+from invenio_records.systemfields.model import ModelField
 from invenio_records.systemfields.relations import PKListRelation, \
     PKRelation, RelationsField
 
@@ -215,3 +220,40 @@ class RecordWithRelations(Record):
     # Load it
     # new_record = Record.loads(dump, loader=dumper)
     # assert 'count' not in new_record
+
+
+def test_load_dump_type(testapp):
+    dumper = ElasticsearchDumper()
+    rec = TestRecord.create({}, test=EnumTestModel.REGISTERED)
+    # Serialize
+    dumped_data = dumper.dump(rec, {})
+    assert isinstance(dumped_data["test"], str)
+    # Deserialize
+    loaded_data = dumper.load(dumped_data, TestRecord)
+    assert isinstance(loaded_data.test, EnumTestModel)
+
+
+# Similar to PIDStatus
+class EnumTestModel(Enum):
+    NEW = "N"
+    REGISTERED = "R"
+
+    def __init__(self, value):
+        """Hack."""
+
+    def __str__(self):
+        """Return its value."""
+        return self.value
+
+
+class TestMetadata(db.Model, RecordMetadataBase):
+    """Represent a record metadata."""
+
+    __tablename__ = 'test_dumper_table'
+    test = db.Column(ChoiceType(EnumTestModel, impl=db.CHAR(1)))
+
+
+# Similar to ModelPIDField
+class TestRecord(Record, SystemFieldsMixin):
+    model_cls = TestMetadata
+    test = ModelField(dump_type=str)