diff --git a/osbuild/meta.py b/osbuild/meta.py
index e8aaf52b..7605d454 100644
--- a/osbuild/meta.py
+++ b/osbuild/meta.py
@@ -514,7 +514,7 @@ class ModuleInfo:
             },
             "desc": meta.get("summary", "no summary provided"),
             "info": long_description,
-            "caps": meta.get("capabilities", set()),
+            "caps": set(meta.get("capabilities", [])),
         }
         return cls(klass, name, path, info)
 
diff --git a/test/mod/test_meta.py b/test/mod/test_meta.py
index 8a26e58a..19935901 100644
--- a/test/mod/test_meta.py
+++ b/test/mod/test_meta.py
@@ -247,7 +247,7 @@ def test_load_from_json(tmp_path):
     modinfo = osbuild.meta.ModuleInfo.load(tmp_path, "Stage", "org.osbuild.noop")
     assert modinfo.desc == "some json summary"
     assert modinfo.info == "long text\nwith newlines"
-    assert modinfo.caps == ["CAP_MAC_ADMIN", "CAP_BIG_MAC"]
+    assert modinfo.caps == set(["CAP_MAC_ADMIN", "CAP_BIG_MAC"])
     assert modinfo.opts == {
         "1": {"properties": {"json_filename": {"type": "string"}}},
         "2": {},
@@ -304,7 +304,7 @@ def test_load_from_json_prefered(tmp_path):
     modinfo = osbuild.meta.ModuleInfo.load(tmp_path, "Stage", "org.osbuild.noop")
     assert modinfo.desc == "some json summary"
     assert modinfo.info == "long text\nwith newlines"
-    assert modinfo.caps == ["CAP_MAC_ADMIN", "CAP_BIG_MAC"]
+    assert modinfo.caps == set(["CAP_MAC_ADMIN", "CAP_BIG_MAC"])
     assert modinfo.opts == {
         "1": {},
         "2": {"json_devices": {"type": "object"}},