diff --git a/fireant/reference_helpers.py b/fireant/reference_helpers.py
index d4bccc90..ba0b44f4 100644
--- a/fireant/reference_helpers.py
+++ b/fireant/reference_helpers.py
@@ -74,8 +74,9 @@ def reference_suffix(metric, reference):
 def apply_reference_filters(df, reference):
     for reference_filter in reference.filters:
         df_column_key = alias_selector(reference_alias(reference_filter.metric, reference))
-        column = df[df_column_key]
-        dataframe_filter = ComparisonOperator.eval(column, reference_filter.operator, reference_filter.value)
-        df = df.loc[dataframe_filter]
+        if df_column_key in df:
+            column = df[df_column_key]
+            dataframe_filter = ComparisonOperator.eval(column, reference_filter.operator, reference_filter.value)
+            df = df.loc[dataframe_filter]
 
     return df
diff --git a/fireant/tests/test_reference_helpers.py b/fireant/tests/test_reference_helpers.py
index 6223960e..d934c1be 100644
--- a/fireant/tests/test_reference_helpers.py
+++ b/fireant/tests/test_reference_helpers.py
@@ -31,6 +31,12 @@ def setUpClass(cls):
                     definition=t0.metric,
                     data_type=DataType.number,
                 ),
+                Field(
+                    "unused_metric",
+                    label="Unused Metric",
+                    definition=t0.unused_metric,
+                    data_type=DataType.number,
+                ),
             ],
         )
 
@@ -146,3 +152,15 @@ def test_reference_filter_with_2_filters_combined(self):
             result_df.reset_index(drop=True),
             pd.DataFrame.from_dict({"$metric0": [2, 3], "$metric0_dod": [5, 9]}),
         )
+
+    def test_reference_filter_for_an_unselected_metric(self):
+        reference_filter = ReferenceFilter(
+            self.dataset.fields.unused_metric, ComparisonOperator.gt, 5
+        )
+        reference = DayOverDay(
+            self.dataset.fields.timestamp, filters=[reference_filter]
+        )
+
+        result_df = apply_reference_filters(self.df, reference)
+
+        pd.testing.assert_frame_equal(result_df, self.df)