diff --git a/model/model-common/src/main/java/com/evolveum/midpoint/model/common/expression/ExpressionUtil.java b/model/model-common/src/main/java/com/evolveum/midpoint/model/common/expression/ExpressionUtil.java
index 52058875570..7890ceecad5 100644
--- a/model/model-common/src/main/java/com/evolveum/midpoint/model/common/expression/ExpressionUtil.java
+++ b/model/model-common/src/main/java/com/evolveum/midpoint/model/common/expression/ExpressionUtil.java
@@ -251,6 +251,9 @@ public static Object convertVariableValue(Object originalValue, String variableN
 		if (originalValue instanceof PrismPropertyValue<?>) {
 			return ((PrismPropertyValue<?>)originalValue).getValue();
 		}
+		if (originalValue instanceof PrismReferenceValue) {
+			return ((PrismReferenceValue)originalValue).asReferencable();
+		}
 		if (originalValue instanceof PrismProperty<?>) {
 			PrismProperty<?> prop = (PrismProperty<?>)originalValue;
 			PrismPropertyDefinition<?> def = prop.getDefinition();