diff --git a/hexrdgui/hexrd_config.py b/hexrdgui/hexrd_config.py
index 586a1fd0f..8b14acd1f 100644
--- a/hexrdgui/hexrd_config.py
+++ b/hexrdgui/hexrd_config.py
@@ -2904,25 +2904,22 @@ def physics_package_dictified(self):
 
     @physics_package_dictified.setter
     def physics_package_dictified(self, v):
-        if v is None:
-            self._physics_package = None
-        else:
-            det_type = guess_instrument_type(self.detector_names)
-            self.update_physics_package(det_type, **v)
+        instr_type = guess_instrument_type(self.detector_names)
+        self.update_physics_package(instr_type, **v)
 
     @property
     def physics_package(self):
         return self._physics_package
 
-    def update_physics_package(self, det_type=None, **kwargs):
-        if det_type is None:
+    def update_physics_package(self, instr_type=None, **kwargs):
+        if instr_type is None:
             self._physics_package = None
         elif self.physics_package is None:
-            self._physics_package = HEDPhysicsPackage(
-                **PHYSICS_PACKAGE_DEFAULTS.HED)
-        if det_type is not None and kwargs is not None:
-            for attr, val in kwargs.items():
-                setattr(self._physics_package, attr, val)
+            all_kwargs = PHYSICS_PACKAGE_DEFAULTS.HED
+            all_kwargs.update(**kwargs)
+            self._physics_package = HEDPhysicsPackage(**all_kwargs)
+        else:
+            self._physics_package.deserialize(**kwargs)
         self.physics_package_modified.emit()
 
     def absorption_length(self):
@@ -2969,8 +2966,7 @@ def detector_filter(self, det_name):
     def update_detector_filter(self, det_name, **kwargs):
         self._set_detector_coatings('filter')
         filter = self._detector_coatings[det_name]['filter']
-        for attr, val in kwargs.items():
-            setattr(filter, attr, val)
+        filter.deserialize(**kwargs)
 
     def detector_coating(self, det_name):
         self._detector_coatings.setdefault(det_name, {})
@@ -2979,8 +2975,7 @@ def detector_coating(self, det_name):
     def update_detector_coating(self, det_name, **kwargs):
         self._set_detector_coatings('coating')
         coating = self._detector_coatings[det_name]['coating']
-        for attr, val in kwargs.items():
-            setattr(coating, attr, val)
+        coating.deserialize(**kwargs)
 
     def detector_phosphor(self, det_name):
         self._detector_coatings.setdefault(det_name, {})
@@ -2989,5 +2984,4 @@ def detector_phosphor(self, det_name):
     def update_detector_phosphor(self, det_name, **kwargs):
         self._set_detector_coatings('phosphor')
         phosphor = self._detector_coatings[det_name]['phosphor']
-        for attr, val in kwargs.items():
-            setattr(phosphor, attr, val)
+        phosphor.deserialize(**kwargs)
diff --git a/hexrdgui/physics_package_manager_dialog.py b/hexrdgui/physics_package_manager_dialog.py
index e295a044a..89905423c 100644
--- a/hexrdgui/physics_package_manager_dialog.py
+++ b/hexrdgui/physics_package_manager_dialog.py
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ def update_instrument_type(self):
                 HexrdConfig().update_detector_filter(
                     det, **FILTER_DEFAULTS.PXRDIP)
         else:
-            HexrdConfig().update_physics_package(det_type=None)
+            HexrdConfig().update_physics_package(instr_type=None)
         self.instrument_type = new_instr_type
 
     def setup_form(self):