diff --git a/addons/web/static/src/js/views/basic/basic_model.js b/addons/web/static/src/js/views/basic/basic_model.js
index bb599b2e859..3b750fc743a 100644
--- a/addons/web/static/src/js/views/basic/basic_model.js
+++ b/addons/web/static/src/js/views/basic/basic_model.js
@@ -1583,7 +1583,8 @@ var BasicModel = AbstractModel.extend({
 
         const field = record.fields[fieldName];
         const coModel = field.type === 'reference' ? data.model : field.relation;
-        if (field.type === 'many2one' && !data.id && data.display_name) {
+        const allowedTypes = ['many2one', 'reference'];
+        if (allowedTypes.includes(field.type) && !data.id && data.display_name) {
             // only display_name given -> do a name_create
             const result = await this._rpc({
                 model: coModel,
diff --git a/addons/web/static/tests/fields/relational_fields_tests.js b/addons/web/static/tests/fields/relational_fields_tests.js
index a1e9c1a7d43..a29cfb94895 100644
--- a/addons/web/static/tests/fields/relational_fields_tests.js
+++ b/addons/web/static/tests/fields/relational_fields_tests.js
@@ -2568,6 +2568,37 @@ QUnit.module('relational_fields', {
 
     QUnit.module('FieldReference');
 
+    QUnit.test('Reference field can quick create models', async function (assert) {
+        assert.expect(8);
+
+        const form = await createView({
+            View: FormView,
+            model: 'partner',
+            data: this.data,
+            arch: `<form><field name="reference"/></form>`,
+            mockRPC(route, args) {
+                assert.step(args.method || route);
+                return this._super(...arguments);
+            },
+        });
+
+        await testUtils.fields.editSelect(form.$('select'), 'partner');
+        await testUtils.fields.many2one.searchAndClickItem('reference', {search: 'new partner'});
+        await testUtils.form.clickSave(form);
+
+        assert.verifySteps([
+            'onchange',
+            'name_search', // for the select
+            'name_search', // for the spawned many2one
+            'name_create',
+            'create',
+            'read',
+            'name_get'
+        ], "The name_create method should have been called");
+
+        form.destroy();
+    });
+
     QUnit.test('Reference field in modal readonly mode', async function (assert) {
         assert.expect(4);