diff --git a/main/query.py b/main/query.py
index f48a6b7e..c9aa20d9 100644
--- a/main/query.py
+++ b/main/query.py
@@ -461,6 +461,8 @@ def build_citation_for_docid(
         refs = query_suppressing_user_input_error(
             lambda: search_refs_docids(primary_docid)
         ) or []
+    else:
+        refs = []
 
     composite_item, valid = compose_bibitem(
         refs,