diff --git a/frontend/src/components/AwardRefSelector.tsx b/frontend/src/components/AwardRefSelector.tsx
index 2e8a254..7c24eba 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/AwardRefSelector.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/AwardRefSelector.tsx
@@ -216,8 +216,8 @@ export function AwardRefSelector({ dxcc, value, onChange, fieldValues, heightCla
           <span className="font-mono truncate text-[11px]">{selectedRef?.subgrp || '—'}</span>
         </div>
 
-        {/* Selected ref chip */}
-        {selectedRef ? (
+        {/* Selected ref chip (nothing shown until one is picked) */}
+        {selectedRef && (
           <div className="flex items-center gap-1.5 h-6 px-2 rounded border border-success-border bg-success-muted text-success-muted-foreground text-xs min-w-0">
             <span className="font-mono font-semibold shrink-0">{selectedRef.code}</span>
             <span className="truncate text-[10px] text-success-muted-foreground">{selectedRef.name}</span>
@@ -225,10 +225,6 @@ export function AwardRefSelector({ dxcc, value, onChange, fieldValues, heightCla
               <X className="size-3" />
             </button>
           </div>
-        ) : (
-          <div className="h-6 flex items-center px-2 text-[11px] text-muted-foreground italic border border-dashed border-border rounded">
-            {t('awrs.pickReference')}
-          </div>
         )}
 
         {/* Add — references are always scoped to the contacted DXCC */}