diff --git a/packages/mermaid/src/diagrams/sequence/parser/sequenceDiagram.jison b/packages/mermaid/src/diagrams/sequence/parser/sequenceDiagram.jison
index 17be25a7a..5a6599ef5 100644
--- a/packages/mermaid/src/diagrams/sequence/parser/sequenceDiagram.jison
+++ b/packages/mermaid/src/diagrams/sequence/parser/sequenceDiagram.jison
@@ -138,8 +138,8 @@ statement
 	| autonumber NUM 'NEWLINE' { $$ = {type:'sequenceIndex',sequenceIndex: Number($2), sequenceIndexStep:1, sequenceVisible:true, signalType:yy.LINETYPE.AUTONUMBER};}
 	| autonumber off 'NEWLINE' { $$ = {type:'sequenceIndex', sequenceVisible:false, signalType:yy.LINETYPE.AUTONUMBER};}
 	| autonumber 'NEWLINE'  {$$ = {type:'sequenceIndex', sequenceVisible:true, signalType:yy.LINETYPE.AUTONUMBER}; }
-	| 'activate' actor 'NEWLINE' {$$={type: 'activeStart', signalType: yy.LINETYPE.ACTIVE_START, actor: $2};}
-	| 'deactivate' actor 'NEWLINE' {$$={type: 'activeEnd', signalType: yy.LINETYPE.ACTIVE_END, actor: $2};}
+	| 'activate' actor 'NEWLINE' {$$={type: 'activeStart', signalType: yy.LINETYPE.ACTIVE_START, actor: $2.actor};}
+	| 'deactivate' actor 'NEWLINE' {$$={type: 'activeEnd', signalType: yy.LINETYPE.ACTIVE_END, actor: $2.actor};}
 	| note_statement 'NEWLINE'
 	| links_statement 'NEWLINE'
 	| link_statement 'NEWLINE'
@@ -288,11 +288,11 @@ placement
 signal
 	: actor signaltype '+' actor text2
 	{ $$ = [$1,$4,{type: 'addMessage', from:$1.actor, to:$4.actor, signalType:$2, msg:$5, activate: true},
-	              {type: 'activeStart', signalType: yy.LINETYPE.ACTIVE_START, actor: $4}
+	              {type: 'activeStart', signalType: yy.LINETYPE.ACTIVE_START, actor: $4.actor}
 	             ]}
 	| actor signaltype '-' actor text2
 	{ $$ = [$1,$4,{type: 'addMessage', from:$1.actor, to:$4.actor, signalType:$2, msg:$5},
-	             {type: 'activeEnd', signalType: yy.LINETYPE.ACTIVE_END, actor: $1}
+	             {type: 'activeEnd', signalType: yy.LINETYPE.ACTIVE_END, actor: $1.actor}
 	             ]}
 	| actor signaltype actor text2
 	{ $$ = [$1,$3,{type: 'addMessage', from:$1.actor, to:$3.actor, signalType:$2, msg:$4}]}
diff --git a/packages/mermaid/src/diagrams/sequence/sequenceDb.ts b/packages/mermaid/src/diagrams/sequence/sequenceDb.ts
index 5a0916729..9f1ea443f 100644
--- a/packages/mermaid/src/diagrams/sequence/sequenceDb.ts
+++ b/packages/mermaid/src/diagrams/sequence/sequenceDb.ts
@@ -513,10 +513,10 @@ export const apply = function (param: any | AddMessageParams | AddMessageParams[
         state.records.destroyedActors[param.actor] = state.records.messages.length;
         break;
       case 'activeStart':
-        addSignal(param.actor.actor, undefined, undefined, param.signalType);
+        addSignal(param.actor, undefined, undefined, param.signalType);
         break;
       case 'activeEnd':
-        addSignal(param.actor.actor, undefined, undefined, param.signalType);
+        addSignal(param.actor, undefined, undefined, param.signalType);
         break;
       case 'addNote':
         addNote(param.actor, param.placement, param.text);