diff --git a/scribble-lib/scribble/html-render.rkt b/scribble-lib/scribble/html-render.rkt
index dac29bf0..e9d3a5d8 100644
--- a/scribble-lib/scribble/html-render.rkt
+++ b/scribble-lib/scribble/html-render.rkt
@@ -1346,7 +1346,7 @@
              (if (or indirect-link? dest)
                  `((a ([href
                       ,(cond
-                        [(and ext-id external-root-url
+                        [(and ext-id external-root-url dest
                               (let* ([ref-path (relative->path (dest-path dest))]
                                      [rel (if (relative-path? ref-path)
                                               #f