diff --git a/src/dask_awkward/lib/io/json.py b/src/dask_awkward/lib/io/json.py
index f5cfb2e9..bbe85389 100644
--- a/src/dask_awkward/lib/io/json.py
+++ b/src/dask_awkward/lib/io/json.py
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ def mock(self) -> AwkwardArray:
     def prepare_for_projection(
         self,
     ) -> tuple[AwkwardArray, TypeTracerReport, FormStructure]:
-        form = form_with_unique_keys(self.form, "<root>")
+        form = form_with_unique_keys(self.form, "@")
 
         # Build typetracer and associated report object
         (meta, report) = ak.typetracer.typetracer_with_report(
diff --git a/src/dask_awkward/lib/io/parquet.py b/src/dask_awkward/lib/io/parquet.py
index e6996879..db67a269 100644
--- a/src/dask_awkward/lib/io/parquet.py
+++ b/src/dask_awkward/lib/io/parquet.py
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ def mock(self) -> AwkwardArray:
     def prepare_for_projection(
         self,
     ) -> tuple[AwkwardArray, TypeTracerReport, FormStructure]:
-        form = form_with_unique_keys(self.form, "<root>")
+        form = form_with_unique_keys(self.form, "@")
 
         # Build typetracer and associated report object
         (meta, report) = ak.typetracer.typetracer_with_report(
diff --git a/tests/test_inspect.py b/tests/test_inspect.py
index d882e7d9..7d31668a 100644
--- a/tests/test_inspect.py
+++ b/tests/test_inspect.py
@@ -16,9 +16,9 @@ def test_necessary_buffers(
         assert v == (
             frozenset(
                 {
-                    "<root>.points-offsets",
-                    "<root>.points.content.y-data",
-                    "<root>.points.content.x-data",
+                    "@.points-offsets",
+                    "@.points.content.y-data",
+                    "@.points.content.x-data",
                 }
             ),
             frozenset(),
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ def test_necessary_buffers(
     )
     for k, v in dak.report_necessary_buffers(w).items():
         assert v == (
-            frozenset({"<root>.points-offsets", "<root>.points.content.x-data"}),
+            frozenset({"@.points-offsets", "@.points.content.x-data"}),
             frozenset(),
         )
 
@@ -38,9 +38,9 @@ def test_necessary_buffers(
         assert v == (
             frozenset(
                 {
-                    "<root>.points-offsets",
-                    "<root>.points.content.x-data",
-                    "<root>.points.content.y-data",
+                    "@.points-offsets",
+                    "@.points.content.x-data",
+                    "@.points.content.y-data",
                 }
             ),
             frozenset(),
@@ -49,8 +49,8 @@ def test_necessary_buffers(
     z = dak.zeros_like(daa.points.x)
     for k, v in dak.report_necessary_buffers(z).items():
         assert v == (
-            frozenset({"<root>.points-offsets"}),
-            frozenset({"<root>.points.content.x-data"}),
+            frozenset({"@.points-offsets"}),
+            frozenset({"@.points.content.x-data"}),
         )