diff --git a/apps/opencs/model/doc/savingstages.cpp b/apps/opencs/model/doc/savingstages.cpp
index c4269670b2..f75a11d51c 100644
--- a/apps/opencs/model/doc/savingstages.cpp
+++ b/apps/opencs/model/doc/savingstages.cpp
@@ -256,13 +256,20 @@ void CSMDoc::CollectionReferencesStage::perform(int stage, Messages& messages)
 
         if (record.isModified() || record.mState == CSMWorld::RecordBase::State_Deleted)
         {
-            const ESM::RefId cellId
-                = record.get().mOriginalCell.empty() ? record.get().mCell : record.get().mOriginalCell;
+            ESM::RefId cellId = record.get().mOriginalCell.empty() ? record.get().mCell : record.get().mOriginalCell;
 
             std::deque<int>& indices = mState.getOrInsertSubRecord(cellId);
 
             // collect moved references at the end of the container
-            const bool interior = !cellId.is<ESM::ESM3ExteriorCellRefId>();
+
+            const bool interior = !cellId.startsWith("#");
+            std::ostringstream stream;
+            if (!interior)
+            {
+                // recalculate the ref's cell location
+                std::pair<int, int> index = record.get().getCellIndex();
+                cellId = ESM::RefId::stringRefId(ESM::RefId::esm3ExteriorCell(index.first, index.second).toString());
+            }
 
             // An empty mOriginalCell is meant to indicate that it is the same as
             // the current cell.  It is possible that a moved ref is moved again.
@@ -351,7 +358,7 @@ void CSMDoc::WriteCellCollectionStage::perform(int stage, Messages& messages)
     std::deque<int> tempRefs;
     std::deque<int> persistentRefs;
 
-    const std::deque<int>* references = mState.findSubRecord(static_cast<ESM::Cell>(cell.get()).mId);
+    const std::deque<int>* references = mState.findSubRecord(cell.get().mId);
 
     if (cell.isModified() || cell.mState == CSMWorld::RecordBase::State_Deleted || references != nullptr)
     {
diff --git a/apps/opencs/model/world/refcollection.cpp b/apps/opencs/model/world/refcollection.cpp
index 125a684f86..1afa9027a9 100644
--- a/apps/opencs/model/world/refcollection.cpp
+++ b/apps/opencs/model/world/refcollection.cpp
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ void CSMWorld::RefCollection::load(ESM::ESMReader& reader, int cellIndex, bool b
             // Autocalculate the cell index from coordinates first
             std::pair<int, int> index = ref.getCellIndex();
 
-            ref.mCell = ESM::RefId::esm3ExteriorCell(index.first, index.second);
+            ref.mCell = ESM::RefId::stringRefId(ESM::RefId::esm3ExteriorCell(index.first, index.second).toString());
 
             // Handle non-base moved references
             if (!base && isMoved)
@@ -89,7 +89,8 @@ void CSMWorld::RefCollection::load(ESM::ESMReader& reader, int cellIndex, bool b
                 if (index.first != mref.mTarget[0] || index.second != mref.mTarget[1])
                 {
                     ESM::RefId indexCell = ref.mCell;
-                    ref.mCell = ESM::RefId::esm3ExteriorCell(mref.mTarget[0], mref.mTarget[1]);
+                    ref.mCell = ESM::RefId::stringRefId(
+                        ESM::RefId::esm3ExteriorCell(mref.mTarget[0], mref.mTarget[1]).toString());
 
                     CSMWorld::UniversalId id(CSMWorld::UniversalId::Type_Cell, mCells.getId(cellIndex));
                     messages.add(id, "The position of the moved reference " + ref.mRefID.toDebugString() + " (cell " + indexCell.toDebugString() + ")"