diff --git a/src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/api/document/add_reference.py b/src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/api/document/add_reference.py
index 39cdb109d6..bcec5da606 100644
--- a/src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/api/document/add_reference.py
+++ b/src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/api/document/add_reference.py
@@ -69,10 +69,12 @@ class Usecase:
 
     def execute(self) -> ifcopenshell.entity_instance:
         if self.file.schema == "IFC2X3":
-            reference = self.file.create_entity("IfcDocumentReference")
+            reference = self.file.create_entity("IfcDocumentReference", ItemReference="X")
             if self.settings["information"]:
                 references = list(self.settings["information"].DocumentReferences or [])
                 references.append(reference)
                 self.settings["information"].DocumentReferences = references
             return reference
-        return self.file.create_entity("IfcDocumentReference", ReferencedDocument=self.settings["information"])
+        return self.file.create_entity(
+            "IfcDocumentReference", ReferencedDocument=self.settings["information"], Identification="X"
+        )