diff --git a/hyperon_das_atomdb/adapters/ram_only.py b/hyperon_das_atomdb/adapters/ram_only.py
index 67047ee1..b325246b 100644
--- a/hyperon_das_atomdb/adapters/ram_only.py
+++ b/hyperon_das_atomdb/adapters/ram_only.py
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ class Database:
     atom_type: dict[str, Any] = dc_field(default_factory=dict)
     node: dict[str, AtomT] = dc_field(default_factory=dict)
     link: dict[str, AtomT] = dc_field(default_factory=dict)
-    outgoing_set: dict[str, set[str]] = dc_field(default_factory=dict)
+    outgoing_set: dict[str, list[str]] = dc_field(default_factory=dict)
     incoming_set: dict[str, set[str]] = dc_field(default_factory=dict)
     patterns: dict[str, set[str]] = dc_field(default_factory=dict)
     templates: dict[str, set[str]] = dc_field(default_factory=dict)
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ def _add_outgoing_set(self, key: str, targets_hash: list[str]) -> None:
             key (str): The key for the outgoing set.
             targets_hash (list[str]): A list of target hashes to be added to the outgoing set.
         """
-        self.db.outgoing_set[key] = set(targets_hash)
+        self.db.outgoing_set[key] = targets_hash
 
     def _get_and_delete_outgoing_set(self, handle: str) -> list[str] | None:
         """
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ def _get_and_delete_outgoing_set(self, handle: str) -> list[str] | None:
         Returns:
             list[str] | None: The outgoing set if found and deleted, otherwise None.
         """
-        return list(self.db.outgoing_set.pop(handle)) if handle in self.db.outgoing_set else None
+        return self.db.outgoing_set.pop(handle, None)
 
     def _add_incoming_set(self, key: str, targets_hash: list[str]) -> None:
         """
diff --git a/tests/unit/adapters/test_ram_only.py b/tests/unit/adapters/test_ram_only.py
index b4df70d1..3a8f7592 100644
--- a/tests/unit/adapters/test_ram_only.py
+++ b/tests/unit/adapters/test_ram_only.py
@@ -760,8 +760,8 @@ def test_delete_atom(self):
             },
         }
         assert db.db.outgoing_set == {
-            inheritance_dog_mammal_handle: {dog_handle, mammal_handle},
-            inheritance_cat_mammal_handle: {cat_handle, mammal_handle},
+            inheritance_dog_mammal_handle: [dog_handle, mammal_handle],
+            inheritance_cat_mammal_handle: [cat_handle, mammal_handle],
         }
         assert db.db.templates == {
             "41c082428b28d7e9ea96160f7fd614ad": {
@@ -904,7 +904,7 @@ def test_delete_atom(self):
             dog_handle: {inheritance_dog_mammal_handle},
             mammal_handle: {inheritance_dog_mammal_handle},
         }
-        assert db.db.outgoing_set == {inheritance_dog_mammal_handle: {dog_handle, mammal_handle}}
+        assert db.db.outgoing_set == {inheritance_dog_mammal_handle: [dog_handle, mammal_handle]}
         assert db.db.templates == {
             "41c082428b28d7e9ea96160f7fd614ad": {
                 inheritance_dog_mammal_handle,
@@ -956,7 +956,7 @@ def test_delete_atom(self):
             cat_handle: {inheritance_cat_mammal_handle},
             mammal_handle: {inheritance_cat_mammal_handle},
         }
-        assert db.db.outgoing_set == {inheritance_cat_mammal_handle: {cat_handle, mammal_handle}}
+        assert db.db.outgoing_set == {inheritance_cat_mammal_handle: [cat_handle, mammal_handle]}
         assert db.db.templates == {
             "41c082428b28d7e9ea96160f7fd614ad": {
                 inheritance_cat_mammal_handle,