diff --git a/dace/sdfg/nodes.py b/dace/sdfg/nodes.py
index 2b75a73ffa..d717c0a85f 100644
--- a/dace/sdfg/nodes.py
+++ b/dace/sdfg/nodes.py
@@ -108,40 +108,40 @@ def to_json(self, parent):
     def __repr__(self):
         return type(self).__name__ + ' (' + self.__str__() + ')'
 
-    def add_in_connector(self, connector_name: str, dtype: dtypes.typeclass = None, force: bool = False):
+    def add_in_connector(self, connector_name: str, dtype: Any = None, force: bool = False):
         """ Adds a new input connector to the node. The operation will fail if
             a connector (either input or output) with the same name already
             exists in the node.
 
             :param connector_name: The name of the new connector.
             :param dtype: The type of the connector, or None for auto-detect.
-            :param force: Add connector even if output connector already exists.
+            :param force: Add connector even if input or output connector of that name already exists.
             :return: True if the operation is successful, otherwise False.
         """
 
         if (not force and (connector_name in self.in_connectors or connector_name in self.out_connectors)):
             return False
-        connectors = self.in_connectors
-        connectors[connector_name] = dtype
-        self.in_connectors = connectors
+        if not isinstance(dtype, dace.typeclass):
+            dtype = dace.typeclass(dtype)
+        self.in_connectors[connector_name] = dtype
         return True
 
-    def add_out_connector(self, connector_name: str, dtype: dtypes.typeclass = None, force: bool = False):
+    def add_out_connector(self, connector_name: str, dtype: Any = None, force: bool = False,) -> bool:
         """ Adds a new output connector to the node. The operation will fail if
             a connector (either input or output) with the same name already
             exists in the node.
 
             :param connector_name: The name of the new connector.
             :param dtype: The type of the connector, or None for auto-detect.
-            :param force: Add connector even if input connector already exists.
+            :param force: Add connector even if input or output connector of that name already exists.
             :return: True if the operation is successful, otherwise False.
         """
 
         if (not force and (connector_name in self.in_connectors or connector_name in self.out_connectors)):
             return False
-        connectors = self.out_connectors
-        connectors[connector_name] = dtype
-        self.out_connectors = connectors
+        if not isinstance(dtype, dace.typeclass):
+            dtype = dace.typeclass(dtype)
+        self.out_connectors[connector_name] = dtype
         return True
 
     def remove_in_connector(self, connector_name: str):