diff --git a/src/server/database/graph_db/agensgraph/models/edge.py b/src/server/database/graph_db/agensgraph/models/edge.py
index 15d83b5..70abffd 100644
--- a/src/server/database/graph_db/agensgraph/models/edge.py
+++ b/src/server/database/graph_db/agensgraph/models/edge.py
@@ -90,13 +90,14 @@ def to_cypher_create(self) -> tuple[str, tuple]:
         # Build property string with %s placeholders
         props = ", ".join([f"{k}: %s" for k in properties.keys()])
 
-        # Determine the relationship pattern based on direction
+        # Double-quote the relation type to handle reserved Cypher keywords (e.g. REFERENCES)
+        quoted_rel = f'"{self.relation}"'
         if self.direction == "->":
-            rel_pattern = f"(a)-[r:{self.relation} {{ {props} }}]->(b)"
+            rel_pattern = f"(a)-[r:{quoted_rel} {{ {props} }}]->(b)"
         elif self.direction == "<-":
-            rel_pattern = f"(a)<-[r:{self.relation} {{ {props} }}]-(b)"
+            rel_pattern = f"(a)<-[r:{quoted_rel} {{ {props} }}]-(b)"
         else:  # undirected
-            rel_pattern = f"(a)-[r:{self.relation} {{ {props} }}]-(b)"
+            rel_pattern = f"(a)-[r:{quoted_rel} {{ {props} }}]-(b)"
 
         # Build the query to check node existence and create relationship
         query = f"MATCH (a {{id: %s}}), (b {{id: %s}}) CREATE {rel_pattern} RETURN r"
diff --git a/src/server/database/graph_db/agensgraph/models/test_edge.py b/src/server/database/graph_db/agensgraph/models/test_edge.py
index 41b73a1..ecff27a 100644
--- a/src/server/database/graph_db/agensgraph/models/test_edge.py
+++ b/src/server/database/graph_db/agensgraph/models/test_edge.py
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ def test_to_cypher_create(self):
 
         # Check the parameterized query format (uses %s placeholders)
         assert "MATCH (a {id: %s}), (b {id: %s})" in query
-        assert "CREATE (a)-[r:RELATES_TO { since: %s, active: %s, id: %s }]->(b)" in query
+        assert 'CREATE (a)-[r:"RELATES_TO" { since: %s, active: %s, id: %s }]->(b)' in query
         assert "RETURN r" in query
 
         # Check parameters (tuple format: source_id, target_id, then property values)