diff --git a/module/netbox/object_classes.py b/module/netbox/object_classes.py
index 377c12b..4b7ec09 100644
--- a/module/netbox/object_classes.py
+++ b/module/netbox/object_classes.py
@@ -1904,7 +1904,7 @@ def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
             "group": NBClusterGroup,
             "scope_type": self.mapping.scopes_object_types(self.scopes),
             # supports scoped clusters
-            "scope_id": NetBoxObject,
+            "scope_id": self.scopes,
             # supports pre4.2.0 clusters with site
             "site": NBSite,
             "tags": NBTagList
@@ -1917,6 +1917,9 @@ def update(self, data=None, read_from_netbox=False, source=None):
 
     def resolve_relations(self):
         log.debug2(f"Resolving relations for {self.name} '{self.get_display_name()}'")
+        # NetBox reports the scope as an id, turn it back into the object it points to,
+        # otherwise every run sees a change from the id to the object and updates the cluster
+        self.resolve_scoped_relations("scope_id", "scope_type")
         super().resolve_relations()
 
 
diff --git a/module/sources/vmware/connection.py b/module/sources/vmware/connection.py
index 63e97d8..3b0245b 100644
--- a/module/sources/vmware/connection.py
+++ b/module/sources/vmware/connection.py
@@ -1628,8 +1628,11 @@ def add_cluster(self, obj):
                 log.debug(f"Cluster '{full_cluster_name}' (or {name}) has scope type '{scope_type}' "
                           f"and scope id '{scope_id}'.")
             elif site_name is not None:
+                # NetBox wants the id of the scoped object, so the site has to be a real
+                # object here. A plain dict is sent as is and rejected with
+                # "scope_id: A valid integer is required."
                 data["scope_type"] = "dcim.site"
-                data["scope_id"] = {"name": site_name}
+                data["scope_id"] = self.inventory.add_update_object(NBSite, data={"name": site_name})
             else:
                 log.debug(f"Cluster '{full_cluster_name}' has no scope type or scope id.")
         else:
diff --git a/tests/test_cluster_scope.py b/tests/test_cluster_scope.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5cb3a38
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_cluster_scope.py
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+"""
+A cluster scoped to a site has to carry the site object, not a name (NetBox wants the
+id of the scoped object), and a scope read back from NetBox as an id has to resolve to
+that object again, otherwise every run reports a change.
+"""
+from module.netbox.object_classes import NBCluster, NBClusterType, NBSite
+
+
+def test_cluster_scope_is_resolved_from_an_id(inventory):
+    site = inventory.add_object(NBSite, data={"name": "site1"}, read_from_netbox=True)
+    site.nb_id = 7
+    ctype = inventory.add_object(NBClusterType, data={"name": "vmware"}, read_from_netbox=True)
+
+    # this is the shape NetBox hands back for a scoped cluster
+    cluster = inventory.add_object(NBCluster, data={
+        "name": "c1", "type": ctype, "scope_type": "dcim.site", "scope_id": 7,
+    }, read_from_netbox=True)
+    cluster.resolve_relations()
+
+    assert cluster.data.get("scope_id") is site, "scope was left as a plain id"
+
+
+def test_a_site_object_survives_resolving(inventory):
+    site = inventory.add_object(NBSite, data={"name": "site1"}, read_from_netbox=True)
+    ctype = inventory.add_object(NBClusterType, data={"name": "vmware"}, read_from_netbox=True)
+
+    cluster = inventory.add_object(NBCluster, data={
+        "name": "c1", "type": ctype, "scope_type": "dcim.site", "scope_id": site,
+    }, read_from_netbox=True)
+    cluster.resolve_relations()
+
+    assert cluster.data.get("scope_id") is site
+    assert cluster.data.get("scope_type") == "dcim.site", "scope type was dropped"
+
+
+def test_source_scopes_a_cluster_with_the_site_object(vcsim, inventory, load_config, vmware_settings):
+    """A dict here is sent to NetBox as is and rejected with 'scope_id: A valid integer is required.'"""
+    from module.sources import instantiate_sources
+
+    load_config(vmware_settings + "cluster_site_relation = .* = site1\n")
+    source = instantiate_sources()[0]
+    assert source.init_successful
+    inventory.resolve_relations()
+    source.apply()
+
+    clusters = list(inventory.get_all_items(NBCluster))
+    assert clusters, "no cluster was synced"
+    for cluster in clusters:
+        scope = cluster.data.get("scope_id")
+        assert isinstance(scope, NBSite), f"scope_id is {type(scope).__name__}, NetBox needs an object it can turn into an id"
+        assert scope.get_display_name() == "site1"