diff --git a/awx/main/models/workflow.py b/awx/main/models/workflow.py
index 60a5f151f2..1f1d776bd4 100644
--- a/awx/main/models/workflow.py
+++ b/awx/main/models/workflow.py
@@ -527,7 +527,7 @@ class WorkflowJob(UnifiedJob, WorkflowJobOptions, SurveyJobMixin, JobNotificatio
                                 'this is not normal and suggests task manager degeneracy.')
                 break
             wj_ids.add(wj.pk)
-            ancestors.append(wj.workflow_job_template_id)
+            ancestors.append(wj.workflow_job_template)
             wj = wj.get_workflow_job()
         return ancestors
 
diff --git a/awx/main/scheduler/task_manager.py b/awx/main/scheduler/task_manager.py
index 4936ff74e0..0d7c528566 100644
--- a/awx/main/scheduler/task_manager.py
+++ b/awx/main/scheduler/task_manager.py
@@ -124,17 +124,18 @@ class TaskManager():
                 can_start = True
                 if isinstance(spawn_node.unified_job_template, WorkflowJobTemplate):
                     workflow_ancestors = job.get_ancestor_workflows()
-                    if spawn_node.unified_job_template.id in set(workflow_ancestors):
+                    if spawn_node.unified_job_template in set(workflow_ancestors):
                         can_start = False
                         logger.info('Refusing to start recursive workflow-in-workflow id={}, wfjt={}, ancestors={}'.format(
-                            job.id, spawn_node.unified_job_template.id, workflow_ancestors))
+                            job.id, spawn_node.unified_job_template.pk, [wa.pk for wa in workflow_ancestors]))
+                        display_list = [spawn_node.unified_job_template] + workflow_ancestors
                         job.job_explanation = _(
                             "Workflow Job spawned from workflow could not start because it "
-                            "would result in recursion (template spawn order {})"
-                        ).format([spawn_node.unified_job_template.id] + workflow_ancestors)
+                            "would result in recursion (spawn order, most recent first: {})"
+                        ).format(six.text_type(', ').join([six.text_type('<{}>').format(tmp) for tmp in display_list]))
                     else:
                         logger.debug('Starting workflow-in-workflow id={}, wfjt={}, ancestors={}'.format(
-                            job.id, spawn_node.unified_job_template.id, workflow_ancestors))
+                            job.id, spawn_node.unified_job_template.pk, [wa.pk for wa in workflow_ancestors]))
                 if not job._resources_sufficient_for_launch():
                     can_start = False
                     job.job_explanation = _("Job spawned from workflow could not start because it "
diff --git a/awx/main/tests/functional/models/test_workflow.py b/awx/main/tests/functional/models/test_workflow.py
index 5b57326242..d7d03a53bb 100644
--- a/awx/main/tests/functional/models/test_workflow.py
+++ b/awx/main/tests/functional/models/test_workflow.py
@@ -249,7 +249,7 @@ def test_workflow_ancestors(organization):
         job=parent_job
     )
     # ancestors method gives a list of WFJT ids
-    assert child_job.get_ancestor_workflows() == [parent.pk, grandparent.pk]
+    assert child_job.get_ancestor_workflows() == [parent, grandparent]
 
 
 @pytest.mark.django_db