diff --git a/modules/ve-cite/ve.dm.MWDocumentReferences.js b/modules/ve-cite/ve.dm.MWDocumentReferences.js
index 713eb2abc..0c6e2fae3 100644
--- a/modules/ve-cite/ve.dm.MWDocumentReferences.js
+++ b/modules/ve-cite/ve.dm.MWDocumentReferences.js
@@ -34,10 +34,13 @@ OO.mixinClass( ve.dm.MWDocumentReferences, OO.EventEmitter );
 /**
  * Singleton MWDocumentReferences for a document.
  *
- * @param {ve.dm.Document} doc Source document associated with the singleton
+ * @param {ve.dm.Document} fragment Source document associated with the
+ * singleton, may be a fragment in which case we step up to the original
+ * document.
  * @return {ve.dm.MWDocumentReferences} Singleton docRefs
  */
-ve.dm.MWDocumentReferences.static.refsForDoc = function ( doc ) {
+ve.dm.MWDocumentReferences.static.refsForDoc = function ( fragment ) {
+	const doc = fragment.getOriginalDocument() || fragment;
 	let docRefs = doc.getStorage( 'document-references-store' );
 	if ( docRefs === undefined ) {
 		docRefs = new ve.dm.MWDocumentReferences( doc );
diff --git a/tests/qunit/ve-cite/ve.ui.MWReferenceSearchWidget.test.js b/tests/qunit/ve-cite/ve.ui.MWReferenceSearchWidget.test.js
index 7b594e72e..f394d6868 100644
--- a/tests/qunit/ve-cite/ve.ui.MWReferenceSearchWidget.test.js
+++ b/tests/qunit/ve-cite/ve.ui.MWReferenceSearchWidget.test.js
@@ -13,7 +13,8 @@ function getInternalListMock( groups, mockWithNode ) {
 		getItemNode: () => ( node )
 	};
 	const docMock = {
-		getStorage: () => ( refDocMock )
+		getStorage: () => ( refDocMock ),
+		getOriginalDocument: () => ( null )
 	};
 	const mockInternalList = {
 		getDocument: () => ( docMock ),