diff --git a/crates/typst-ide/src/complete.rs b/crates/typst-ide/src/complete.rs
index bb8f8e78c..6a489f27a 100644
--- a/crates/typst-ide/src/complete.rs
+++ b/crates/typst-ide/src/complete.rs
@@ -130,7 +130,14 @@ fn complete_markup(ctx: &mut CompletionContext) -> bool {
         return true;
     }
 
-    // Start of a reference: "@|" or "@he|".
+    // Start of a reference: "@|".
+    if ctx.leaf.kind() == SyntaxKind::Text && ctx.before.ends_with("@") {
+        ctx.from = ctx.cursor;
+        ctx.label_completions();
+        return true;
+    }
+
+    // An existing reference: "@he|".
     if ctx.leaf.kind() == SyntaxKind::RefMarker {
         ctx.from = ctx.leaf.offset() + 1;
         ctx.label_completions();