diff --git a/packages/client/src/components/app/forms/BBReferenceField.svelte b/packages/client/src/components/app/forms/BBReferenceField.svelte
index c266268275..8d08a49fb3 100644
--- a/packages/client/src/components/app/forms/BBReferenceField.svelte
+++ b/packages/client/src/components/app/forms/BBReferenceField.svelte
@@ -1,25 +1,27 @@
-<script>
+<script lang="ts">
   import { sdk } from "@budibase/shared-core"
   import { FieldType } from "@budibase/types"
   import RelationshipField from "./RelationshipField.svelte"
 
-  export let defaultValue
+  export let defaultValue: string
   export let type = FieldType.BB_REFERENCE
 
-  function updateUserIDs(value) {
+  function updateUserIDs(value: string | string[]) {
     if (Array.isArray(value)) {
-      return value.map(val => sdk.users.getGlobalUserID(val))
+      return value.map(val => sdk.users.getGlobalUserID(val)!)
     } else {
       return sdk.users.getGlobalUserID(value)
     }
   }
 
-  function updateReferences(value) {
+  function updateReferences(value: string) {
     if (sdk.users.containsUserID(value)) {
       return updateUserIDs(value)
     }
     return value
   }
+
+  $: updatedDefaultValue = updateReferences(defaultValue)
 </script>
 
 <RelationshipField
@@ -27,5 +29,5 @@
   {type}
   datasourceType={"user"}
   primaryDisplay={"email"}
-  defaultValue={updateReferences(defaultValue)}
+  defaultValue={updatedDefaultValue}
 />