diff --git a/sdk/basyx/aas/adapter/json/json_deserialization.py b/sdk/basyx/aas/adapter/json/json_deserialization.py
index 79db2a56..4d4cdb32 100644
--- a/sdk/basyx/aas/adapter/json/json_deserialization.py
+++ b/sdk/basyx/aas/adapter/json/json_deserialization.py
@@ -278,7 +278,8 @@ def _amend_abstract_attributes(cls, obj: object, dct: Dict[str, object]) -> None
                         # TODO: remove the following type: ignore comment when mypy supports abstract types for Type[T]
                         # see https://github.com/python/mypy/issues/5374
                         model.EmbeddedDataSpecification(
-                            data_specification=cls._construct_reference(_get_ts(dspec, 'dataSpecification', dict)),
+                            data_specification=cls._construct_external_reference(
+                                _get_ts(dspec, 'dataSpecification', dict)),
                             data_specification_content=_get_ts(dspec, 'dataSpecificationContent',
                                                                model.DataSpecificationContent)  # type: ignore
                         )