diff --git a/rtdata/languages/default b/rtdata/languages/default
index 04c5e011e..34dac041f 100644
--- a/rtdata/languages/default
+++ b/rtdata/languages/default
@@ -2204,7 +2204,7 @@ TP_LOCALLAB_LABGRID_VALUES;High(a)=%1 High(b)=%2\nLow(a)=%3 Low(b)=%4
 TP_LOCALLAB_LABGRID;Color correction grid
 TP_LOCALLAB_LEVELWAV_TOOLTIP;The Level is automatically adapted to the size of the spot and the preview.\nFrom level 9 size max 512 to level 1 size max = 4
 TP_LOCALLAB_RECURS;Recursive references
-TP_LOCALLAB_RECURS_TOOLTIP;Recalculate references for hue, luma, chroma after each module and after each RT-spot.
+TP_LOCALLAB_RECURS_TOOLTIP;Recalculate references for hue, luma, chroma after each module and after each RT-spot.\nAlso useful for working with masks.
 TP_LOCALLAB_SATUR;Saturation
 TP_LOCALLAB_SENSIDEN;Scope
 TP_LOCALLAB_SENSIEXCLU;Scope
diff --git a/rtengine/improccoordinator.cc b/rtengine/improccoordinator.cc
index a44bff2a9..bb2a90f29 100644
--- a/rtengine/improccoordinator.cc
+++ b/rtengine/improccoordinator.cc
@@ -1122,11 +1122,17 @@ void ImProcCoordinator::updatePreviewImage(int todo, bool panningRelatedChange)
                 } else {
                     ipf.calc_ref(sp, nprevl, nprevl, 0, 0, pW, pH, scale, huerefblu, chromarefblu, lumarefblu, huer, chromar, lumar, sobeler, avg);
                 }
+
                 if (sp == params->locallab.selspot  && params->locallab.spots.at(sp).recurs) {
-                    if (locallListener) {
+                    if (locallListener) {//change GUI ref for masks
                         locallListener->refChanged(huer, lumar, chromar);
                     }
                 }
+                //restore ref values
+                huerefs[sp] = huer;
+                chromarefs[sp] = chromar;
+                lumarefs[sp] = lumar ;
+                sobelrefs[sp] = sobeler;
 
                 lllocalcurve.clear();
                 lightCurveloc.clear();