diff --git a/addons/web/static/src/js/fields/relational_fields.js b/addons/web/static/src/js/fields/relational_fields.js
index 7522bb3bc37..89fcb4fe406 100644
--- a/addons/web/static/src/js/fields/relational_fields.js
+++ b/addons/web/static/src/js/fields/relational_fields.js
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ var FieldMany2One = AbstractField.extend({
         this.nodeOptions = _.defaults(this.nodeOptions, {
             quick_create: true,
         });
-        this.m2o_value = field_utils.format.many2one(this.value);
+        this.m2o_value = this._formatValue(this.value);
         // 'recordParams' is a dict of params used when calling functions
         // 'getDomain' and 'getContext' on this.record
         this.recordParams = {fieldName: this.name, viewType: this.viewType};
@@ -2029,7 +2029,20 @@ var FieldReference = FieldMany2One.extend({
         // needs to be copied as it is an unmutable object
         this.field = _.extend({}, this.field);
         if (this.value) {
-            this._setRelation(this.value.model);
+            var model = null;
+            // The value of a Reference field can either be a string in the form
+            // of model,record_id or an object
+            if (typeof this.value === "string") {
+                var value = this.value.split(',');
+                model = value[0];
+                this.value = {
+                    res_id: parseInt(value[1]),
+                };
+            } else {
+                model = this.value.model;
+            }
+
+            this._setRelation(model);
         }
     },
     /**
@@ -2044,6 +2057,15 @@ var FieldReference = FieldMany2One.extend({
     // Private
     //--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
+    /**
+     * Get the encompassing record's display_name
+     *
+     * @override
+     */
+    _formatValue: function () {
+        return this.recordData.display_name;
+    },
+
     /**
      * Add a select in edit mode (for the model).
      *
diff --git a/addons/web/static/tests/fields/relational_fields_tests.js b/addons/web/static/tests/fields/relational_fields_tests.js
index 30b6acc2c40..f3c63333f18 100644
--- a/addons/web/static/tests/fields/relational_fields_tests.js
+++ b/addons/web/static/tests/fields/relational_fields_tests.js
@@ -6921,7 +6921,7 @@ QUnit.module('relational_fields', {
                 "should do a do_action with correct parameters");
         });
 
-        assert.strictEqual(form.$('a.o_form_uri:contains(xphone)').length, 1,
+        assert.strictEqual(form.$('a.o_form_uri:contains(first record)').length, 1,
                         "should contain a link");
         form.$('a.o_form_uri').click(); // click on the link in readonly mode (should trigger do_action)
 
@@ -6933,7 +6933,7 @@ QUnit.module('relational_fields', {
             "should contain one many2one");
         assert.strictEqual(form.$('.o_field_widget select').val(), "product",
             "widget should contain one select with the model");
-        assert.strictEqual(form.$('.o_field_widget input').val(), "xphone",
+        assert.strictEqual(form.$('.o_field_widget input').val(), "first record",
             "widget should contain one input with the record");
 
         var options = _.map(form.$('.o_field_widget select > option'), function (el) {
@@ -6942,7 +6942,6 @@ QUnit.module('relational_fields', {
         assert.deepEqual(options, ['', 'product', 'partner_type', 'partner'],
             "the options should be correctly set");
 
-
         form.$('.o_external_button').click(); // click on the external button (should do an RPC)
 
         assert.strictEqual($('.modal .modal-title').text().trim(), 'Open: custom label',
@@ -6959,7 +6958,7 @@ QUnit.module('relational_fields', {
         $dropdown.find('li:first()').click();
 
         form.$buttons.find('.o_form_button_save').click();
-        assert.strictEqual(form.$('a.o_form_uri:contains(gold)').length, 1,
+        assert.strictEqual(form.$('a.o_form_uri').length, 1,
                         "should contain a link with the new value");
 
         form.destroy();