diff --git a/app/References/ReferenceFetcher.php b/app/References/ReferenceFetcher.php
index 655ea7c09..1c9664f45 100644
--- a/app/References/ReferenceFetcher.php
+++ b/app/References/ReferenceFetcher.php
@@ -41,7 +41,8 @@ class ReferenceFetcher
     {
         $baseQuery = Reference::query()
             ->where('to_type', '=', $entity->getMorphClass())
-            ->where('to_id', '=', $entity->id);
+            ->where('to_id', '=', $entity->id)
+            ->whereHas('from');
 
         return $this->permissions->restrictEntityRelationQuery(
             $baseQuery,
diff --git a/tests/References/ReferencesTest.php b/tests/References/ReferencesTest.php
index 715f71435..f8698d028 100644
--- a/tests/References/ReferencesTest.php
+++ b/tests/References/ReferencesTest.php
@@ -271,7 +271,31 @@ class ReferencesTest extends TestCase
         }
     }
 
-    protected function createReference(Model $from, Model $to)
+    public function test_reference_from_deleted_item_does_not_count_or_show_in_references_page()
+    {
+        $page = $this->entities->page();
+        $referencingPageA = $this->entities->page();
+        $referencingPageB = $this->entities->page();
+
+        $this->asEditor();
+        $this->createReference($referencingPageA, $page);
+        $this->createReference($referencingPageB, $page);
+
+        $resp = $this->get($page->getUrl());
+        $resp->assertSee('Referenced by 2 items');
+
+        $this->delete($referencingPageA->getUrl());
+
+        $resp = $this->get($page->getUrl());
+        $resp->assertSee('Referenced by 1 item');
+
+        $resp = $this->get($page->getUrl('/references'));
+        $resp->assertOk();
+        $resp->assertSee($referencingPageB->getUrl());
+        $resp->assertDontSee($referencingPageA->getUrl());
+    }
+
+    protected function createReference(Model $from, Model $to): void
     {
         (new Reference())->forceFill([
             'from_type' => $from->getMorphClass(),