diff --git a/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/types/selectors/BaseSelector.java b/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/types/selectors/BaseSelector.java
index c1b0d720e..783a21ebf 100644
--- a/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/types/selectors/BaseSelector.java
+++ b/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/types/selectors/BaseSelector.java
@@ -71,6 +71,9 @@ public abstract class BaseSelector extends DataType implements FileSelector {
      * setError() as necessary.</p>
      */
     public void verifySettings() {
+        if(isReference()) {
+            ((BaseSelector)getCheckedRef()).verifySettings();
+        }
     }