diff --git a/pygsti/modelmembers/operations/experrorgenop.py b/pygsti/modelmembers/operations/experrorgenop.py
index 142ee2c21..53e0a474a 100644
--- a/pygsti/modelmembers/operations/experrorgenop.py
+++ b/pygsti/modelmembers/operations/experrorgenop.py
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 from pygsti.modelmembers.errorgencontainer import ErrorGeneratorContainer as _ErrorGeneratorContainer
 from pygsti.baseobjs.polynomial import Polynomial as _Polynomial
 from pygsti.tools import matrixtools as _mt
+from pygsti.tools import optools as _ot
 
 IMAG_TOL = 1e-7  # tolerance for imaginary part being considered zero
 MAX_EXPONENT = _np.log(_np.finfo('d').max) - 10.0  # so that exp(.) doesn't overflow
@@ -180,11 +181,22 @@ def to_dense(self, on_space='minimal'):
         """
         if self._rep_type == 'dense':
             # Then self._rep contains a dense version already
-            return self._rep.base  # copy() unnecessary since we set to readonly
+            superop = self._rep.base  # copy() unnecessary since we set to readonly
 
         else:
             # Construct a dense version from scratch (more time consuming)
-            return _spl.expm(self.errorgen.to_dense(on_space))
+            superop = _spl.expm(self.errorgen.to_dense(on_space))
+        
+        # Attempt to cast down to unitary, if requested
+        if on_space == 'Hilbert' or (on_space == 'minimal' and self.evotype.minimal_space == 'Hilbert'):
+            try:
+                U = _ot.superop_to_unitary(superop, self.errorgen.matrix_basis, True)
+            except ValueError as e:
+                raise ValueError("Could not convert to unitary. Check that only Hamiltonian errors are provided.") from e
+            
+            return U
+    
+        return superop
 
     #FUTURE: maybe remove this function altogether, as it really shouldn't be called
     def to_sparse(self, on_space='minimal'):
diff --git a/pygsti/modelmembers/operations/lindbladerrorgen.py b/pygsti/modelmembers/operations/lindbladerrorgen.py
index e0b42df6e..7dcba2511 100644
--- a/pygsti/modelmembers/operations/lindbladerrorgen.py
+++ b/pygsti/modelmembers/operations/lindbladerrorgen.py
@@ -761,25 +761,14 @@ def to_dense(self, on_space='minimal'):
         numpy.ndarray
         """
         if self._rep_type == 'lindblad errorgen':
-            # assert(on_space in ('minimal', 'HilbertSchmidt'))
+            assert(on_space in ('minimal', 'HilbertSchmidt'))
             lnd_error_gen = sum([_np.tensordot(blk.block_data.flat, Lterm_superops, (0, 0)) for blk, (Lterm_superops, _)
                                  in zip(self.coefficient_blocks, self.lindblad_term_superops_and_1norms)])
 
             assert(_np.isclose(_np.linalg.norm(lnd_error_gen.imag), 0)), \
                 "Imaginary error gen norm: %g" % _np.linalg.norm(lnd_error_gen.imag)
             
-            superop = lnd_error_gen.real
-            
-            if on_space == 'Hilbert' or (on_space == 'minimal' and self.evotype.minimal_space == 'Hilbert'):
-                # Attempt to cast down to unitary
-                try:
-                    U = _ot.superop_to_unitary(lnd_error_gen.real, self.matrix_basis, True)
-                except ValueError as e:
-                    raise ValueError("Could not convert to unitary. Check that only Hamiltonian errors are provided.") from e
-                
-                return U
-            
-            return superop
+            return lnd_error_gen.real
 
         elif self._rep_type == 'sparse superop':
             return self.to_sparse(on_space).toarray()