diff --git a/src/memory/traits.rs b/src/memory/traits.rs
index de72923d3..63f766ad6 100644
--- a/src/memory/traits.rs
+++ b/src/memory/traits.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 use async_trait::async_trait;
-use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
+use serde::{Deserialize, Deserializer, Serialize, Serializer};
 
 /// A single memory entry
 #[derive(Clone, Serialize, Deserialize)]
@@ -27,8 +27,7 @@ impl std::fmt::Debug for MemoryEntry {
 }
 
 /// Memory categories for organization
-#[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize, PartialEq, Eq)]
-#[serde(rename_all = "snake_case")]
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq)]
 pub enum MemoryCategory {
     /// Long-term facts, preferences, decisions
     Core,
@@ -51,6 +50,30 @@ impl std::fmt::Display for MemoryCategory {
     }
 }
 
+impl Serialize for MemoryCategory {
+    fn serialize<S>(&self, serializer: S) -> Result<S::Ok, S::Error>
+    where
+        S: Serializer,
+    {
+        serializer.serialize_str(&self.to_string())
+    }
+}
+
+impl<'de> Deserialize<'de> for MemoryCategory {
+    fn deserialize<D>(deserializer: D) -> Result<Self, D::Error>
+    where
+        D: Deserializer<'de>,
+    {
+        let raw = String::deserialize(deserializer)?;
+        Ok(match raw.as_str() {
+            "core" => Self::Core,
+            "daily" => Self::Daily,
+            "conversation" => Self::Conversation,
+            other => Self::Custom(other.to_string()),
+        })
+    }
+}
+
 /// Core memory trait — implement for any persistence backend
 #[async_trait]
 pub trait Memory: Send + Sync {
@@ -110,14 +133,33 @@ mod tests {
     }
 
     #[test]
-    fn memory_category_serde_uses_snake_case() {
+    fn memory_category_serde_roundtrip_uses_plain_strings() {
         let core = serde_json::to_string(&MemoryCategory::Core).unwrap();
         let daily = serde_json::to_string(&MemoryCategory::Daily).unwrap();
         let conversation = serde_json::to_string(&MemoryCategory::Conversation).unwrap();
+        let custom = serde_json::to_string(&MemoryCategory::Custom("travel".into())).unwrap();
 
         assert_eq!(core, "\"core\"");
         assert_eq!(daily, "\"daily\"");
         assert_eq!(conversation, "\"conversation\"");
+        assert_eq!(custom, "\"travel\"");
+
+        assert_eq!(
+            serde_json::from_str::<MemoryCategory>("\"core\"").unwrap(),
+            MemoryCategory::Core
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            serde_json::from_str::<MemoryCategory>("\"daily\"").unwrap(),
+            MemoryCategory::Daily
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            serde_json::from_str::<MemoryCategory>("\"conversation\"").unwrap(),
+            MemoryCategory::Conversation
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            serde_json::from_str::<MemoryCategory>("\"travel\"").unwrap(),
+            MemoryCategory::Custom("travel".into())
+        );
     }
 
     #[test]
@@ -142,4 +184,20 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(parsed.session_id.as_deref(), Some("session-abc"));
         assert_eq!(parsed.score, Some(0.98));
     }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn memory_entry_serializes_custom_category_as_plain_string() {
+        let entry = MemoryEntry {
+            id: "id-2".into(),
+            key: "trip".into(),
+            content: "booked a flight".into(),
+            category: MemoryCategory::Custom("travel".into()),
+            timestamp: "2026-03-04T00:00:00Z".into(),
+            session_id: None,
+            score: None,
+        };
+
+        let json = serde_json::to_value(&entry).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(json.get("category").unwrap(), "travel");
+    }
 }