diff --git a/doc/org-manual.org b/doc/org-manual.org
index c332f90f1..8813f4944 100644
--- a/doc/org-manual.org
+++ b/doc/org-manual.org
@@ -17806,6 +17806,10 @@ from the reference.
 
 : :var NAME=FILE:REFERENCE
 
+When =FILE= does not exist, the reference is searched in the current
+file, using the verbatim reference.  This way,
+=:var table=tbl:example= will be searched inside the current buffer.
+
 Here are examples of passing values by reference:
 
 - table ::
diff --git a/etc/ORG-NEWS b/etc/ORG-NEWS
index 19117821a..1207d6fca 100644
--- a/etc/ORG-NEWS
+++ b/etc/ORG-NEWS
@@ -13,6 +13,12 @@ Please send Org bug reports to mailto:emacs-orgmode@gnu.org.
 
 * Version 9.7 (not released yet)
 ** Important announcements and breaking changes
+*** Babel references =FILE:REFERENCE= now search current buffer when =FILE= does not exist
+
+When =FILE= does not exist, the reference is searched in the current
+file, using the verbatim reference.  This way,
+=:var table=tbl:example= will be searched inside the current buffer.
+
 *** New export option ~org-export-expand-links~
 
 The new option makes Org expand environment variables in link and INCLUDE paths.
diff --git a/lisp/ob-ref.el b/lisp/ob-ref.el
index fd6927ccf..b7858569a 100644
--- a/lisp/ob-ref.el
+++ b/lisp/ob-ref.el
@@ -156,8 +156,9 @@ Emacs Lisp representation of the value of the variable."
 	  (when (string-match "^\\(.+\\):\\(.+\\)$" ref)
 	    (setq split-file (match-string 1 ref))
 	    (setq split-ref (match-string 2 ref))
-	    (find-file split-file)
-	    (setq ref split-ref))
+            (when (file-exists-p split-file)
+	      (find-file split-file)
+	      (setq ref split-ref)))
 	  (org-with-wide-buffer
 	   (goto-char (point-min))
 	   (let* ((params (append args '((:results . "none"))))