diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/contrib/chat/browser/widget/chatListRenderer.ts b/src/vs/workbench/contrib/chat/browser/widget/chatListRenderer.ts
index 8a52ad08d8b2f..b559869616fec 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/contrib/chat/browser/widget/chatListRenderer.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/contrib/chat/browser/widget/chatListRenderer.ts
@@ -1777,7 +1777,8 @@ export class ChatListItemRenderer extends Disposable implements ITreeRenderer<Ch
 			} else if (content.kind === 'markdownContent') {
 				return this.renderMarkdown(content, templateData, context);
 			} else if (content.kind === 'references') {
-				if (isResponseVM(context.element) && context.element.model.request?.modeInfo?.modeId === ChatModeKind.Agent) {
+				// Only show references for chat participants, not agents
+				if (isResponseVM(context.element) && context.element.agent?.isDefault && !context.element.agent.modes.includes(ChatModeKind.Ask)) {
 					return this.renderNoContent(other => other.kind === content.kind);
 				}
 				return this.renderContentReferencesListData(content, undefined, context, templateData);