diff --git a/apps/sim/blocks/blocks/google_sheets.ts b/apps/sim/blocks/blocks/google_sheets.ts
index 4af33ed2c7..d2e79ba5d3 100644
--- a/apps/sim/blocks/blocks/google_sheets.ts
+++ b/apps/sim/blocks/blocks/google_sheets.ts
@@ -172,7 +172,20 @@ export const GoogleSheetsBlock: BlockConfig<GoogleSheetsResponse> = {
       params: (params) => {
         const { credential, values, spreadsheetId, manualSpreadsheetId, ...rest } = params
 
-        const parsedValues = values ? JSON.parse(values as string) : undefined
+        // Handle values - could be string (from UI) or already parsed (from variable reference)
+        let parsedValues
+        if (values) {
+          if (typeof values === 'string') {
+            try {
+              parsedValues = JSON.parse(values)
+            } catch (error) {
+              throw new Error('Invalid JSON format for values')
+            }
+          } else {
+            // Already an object/array from variable reference
+            parsedValues = values
+          }
+        }
 
         const effectiveSpreadsheetId = (spreadsheetId || manualSpreadsheetId || '').trim()
 
diff --git a/apps/sim/blocks/blocks/microsoft_excel.ts b/apps/sim/blocks/blocks/microsoft_excel.ts
index f6b9d58ec4..8d3625f1e8 100644
--- a/apps/sim/blocks/blocks/microsoft_excel.ts
+++ b/apps/sim/blocks/blocks/microsoft_excel.ts
@@ -149,11 +149,19 @@ export const MicrosoftExcelBlock: BlockConfig<MicrosoftExcelResponse> = {
 
         const effectiveSpreadsheetId = (spreadsheetId || manualSpreadsheetId || '').trim()
 
+        // Handle values - could be string (from UI) or already parsed (from variable reference)
         let parsedValues
-        try {
-          parsedValues = values ? JSON.parse(values as string) : undefined
-        } catch (error) {
-          throw new Error('Invalid JSON format for values')
+        if (values) {
+          if (typeof values === 'string') {
+            try {
+              parsedValues = JSON.parse(values)
+            } catch (error) {
+              throw new Error('Invalid JSON format for values')
+            }
+          } else {
+            // Already an object/array from variable reference
+            parsedValues = values
+          }
         }
 
         if (!effectiveSpreadsheetId) {