diff --git a/metagpt/schema.py b/metagpt/schema.py
index e5df6fb10..1bb07aa95 100644
--- a/metagpt/schema.py
+++ b/metagpt/schema.py
@@ -108,9 +108,9 @@ class Message(BaseModel):
     send_to: Set = Field(default_factory={MESSAGE_ROUTE_TO_ALL})
 
     def __init__(self, **kwargs):
-        instruct_content = kwargs.get("instruct_content", None)
-        if instruct_content and not isinstance(instruct_content, BaseModel):
-            ic = instruct_content
+        ic = kwargs.get("instruct_content", None)
+        if ic and not isinstance(ic, BaseModel) and "class" in ic:
+            # compatible with custom-defined ActionOutput
             mapping = actionoutput_str_to_mapping(ic["mapping"])
 
             actionnode_class = import_class("ActionNode", "metagpt.actions.action_node")  # avoid circular import
@@ -140,13 +140,17 @@ class Message(BaseModel):
     def dict(self, *args, **kwargs) -> "DictStrAny":
         """ overwrite the `dict` to dump dynamic pydantic model"""
         obj_dict = super(Message, self).dict(*args, **kwargs)
-        ic = self.instruct_content  # deal custom-defined action
+        ic = self.instruct_content
         if ic:
+            # compatible with custom-defined ActionOutput
             schema = ic.schema()
-            mapping = actionoutout_schema_to_mapping(schema)
-            mapping = actionoutput_mapping_to_str(mapping)
+            # `Documents` contain definitions
+            if "definitions" not in schema:
+                # TODO refine with nested BaseModel
+                mapping = actionoutout_schema_to_mapping(schema)
+                mapping = actionoutput_mapping_to_str(mapping)
 
-            obj_dict["instruct_content"] = {"class": schema["title"], "mapping": mapping, "value": ic.dict()}
+                obj_dict["instruct_content"] = {"class": schema["title"], "mapping": mapping, "value": ic.dict()}
         return obj_dict
 
     def __str__(self):
diff --git a/metagpt/utils/common.py b/metagpt/utils/common.py
index a445c9f31..ab7a3d99e 100644
--- a/metagpt/utils/common.py
+++ b/metagpt/utils/common.py
@@ -450,14 +450,12 @@ def serialize_decorator(func):
     async def wrapper(self, *args, **kwargs):
         try:
             result = await func(self, *args, **kwargs)
-            self.serialize()  # Team.serialize
             return result
         except KeyboardInterrupt as kbi:
             logger.error(f"KeyboardInterrupt occurs, start to serialize the project, exp:\n{format_trackback_info()}")
-            self.serialize()  # Team.serialize
         except Exception as exp:
             logger.error(f"Exception occurs, start to serialize the project, exp:\n{format_trackback_info()}")
-            self.serialize()  # Team.serialize
+        self.serialize()  # Team.serialize
 
     return wrapper
 
diff --git a/metagpt/utils/serialize.py b/metagpt/utils/serialize.py
index 1d90e8de8..a52dc8f45 100644
--- a/metagpt/utils/serialize.py
+++ b/metagpt/utils/serialize.py
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ def serialize_general_message(message: "Message") -> dict:
     message_cp = copy.deepcopy(message)
     ic = message_cp.instruct_content
     if ic:
-        # model create by pydantic create_model like `pydantic.main.prd`, can't pickle.dump directly
+        # model create by pydantic create_model like `pydantic.main.prd`, can't load directly
         schema = ic.schema()
         mapping = actionoutout_schema_to_mapping(schema)
         mapping = actionoutput_mapping_to_str(mapping)
diff --git a/tests/metagpt/serialize_deserialize/test_team.py b/tests/metagpt/serialize_deserialize/test_team.py
index e87df9b52..d6a477b0e 100644
--- a/tests/metagpt/serialize_deserialize/test_team.py
+++ b/tests/metagpt/serialize_deserialize/test_team.py
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import pytest
 from metagpt.const import SERDESER_PATH
 from metagpt.roles import ProjectManager, ProductManager, Architect
 from metagpt.team import Team
+from metagpt.logs import logger
 from tests.metagpt.serialize_deserialize.test_serdeser_base import RoleA, RoleB, RoleC, serdeser_path, ActionOK
 
 
@@ -120,6 +121,8 @@ async def test_team_recover_multi_roles_save():
     company.run_project(idea)
     await company.run(n_round=4)
 
+    logger.info("Team recovered")
+
     new_company = Team.recover(stg_path)
     new_company.run_project(idea)