diff --git a/backend/v3/domain/instance.go b/backend/v3/domain/instance.go
index b1f9c180c3..876d7c9df1 100644
--- a/backend/v3/domain/instance.go
+++ b/backend/v3/domain/instance.go
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ type Instance struct {
 	CreatedAt       time.Time `json:"createdAt" db:"created_at"`
 	UpdatedAt       time.Time `json:"updatedAt" db:"updated_at"`
 
-	Domains []*InstanceDomain `json:"domains,omitempty" db:"domains"`
+	Domains []*InstanceDomain `json:"domains,omitempty" db:"-"` // domains need to be handled separately
 }
 
 type instanceCacheIndex uint8
diff --git a/backend/v3/domain/organization.go b/backend/v3/domain/organization.go
index d5d8de480f..09859631c4 100644
--- a/backend/v3/domain/organization.go
+++ b/backend/v3/domain/organization.go
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ type Organization struct {
 	CreatedAt  time.Time `json:"createdAt,omitzero" db:"created_at"`
 	UpdatedAt  time.Time `json:"updatedAt,omitzero" db:"updated_at"`
 
-	Domains []*OrganizationDomain `json:"domains,omitempty" db:"domains"`
+	Domains []*OrganizationDomain `json:"domains,omitempty" db:"-"` // domains need to be handled separately
 }
 
 // OrgIdentifierCondition is used to help specify a single Organization,