diff --git a/app/notifications/process_notifications.py b/app/notifications/process_notifications.py
index ed4334d29..4918da1e5 100644
--- a/app/notifications/process_notifications.py
+++ b/app/notifications/process_notifications.py
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ def persist_notification(
         created_at=notification_created_at,
         job_id=job_id,
         job_row_number=job_row_number,
-        client_reference=client_reference,
+        client_reference=client_reference or _get_reference_from_personalisation(personalisation),
         reference=reference,
         created_by_id=created_by_id,
         status=status,
@@ -159,6 +159,12 @@ def persist_notification(
     return notification
 
 
+def _get_reference_from_personalisation(personalisation):
+    if personalisation:
+        return personalisation.get("reference")
+    return None
+
+
 def send_notification_to_queue_detached(
     key_type, notification_type, notification_id, research_mode, queue=None
 ):
diff --git a/tests/app/notifications/test_process_notification.py b/tests/app/notifications/test_process_notification.py
index 7b22282fa..3321f74ba 100644
--- a/tests/app/notifications/test_process_notification.py
+++ b/tests/app/notifications/test_process_notification.py
@@ -96,6 +96,42 @@ def test_persist_notification_creates_and_save_to_db(sample_template, sample_api
     assert notification_from_db.reply_to_text == sample_template.service.get_default_sms_sender()
 
 
+@pytest.mark.parametrize('client_reference,personalisation,expected_client_reference', [
+    ('clientref1', {}, 'clientref1'),
+    ('clientref1', {'reference': 'ref2'}, 'clientref1'),
+    (None, {'reference': 'ref2'}, 'ref2'),
+    (None, {'foo': 'bar'}, None),
+])
+def test_persist_notification_sets_client_reference_correctly(
+    sample_letter_template, sample_api_key, client_reference, personalisation, expected_client_reference
+):
+
+    assert Notification.query.count() == 0
+    assert NotificationHistory.query.count() == 0
+    notification = persist_notification(
+        template_id=sample_letter_template.id,
+        template_version=sample_letter_template.version,
+        recipient='3 Somerset House',
+        service=sample_letter_template.service,
+        personalisation=personalisation,
+        notification_type='letter',
+        api_key_id=sample_api_key.id,
+        key_type=sample_api_key.key_type,
+        reference="ref",
+        client_reference=client_reference,
+    )
+
+    assert Notification.query.get(notification.id) is not None
+
+    notification_from_db = Notification.query.one()
+
+    assert notification_from_db.id == notification.id
+    assert notification_from_db.template_id == notification.template_id
+    assert notification_from_db.notification_type == notification.notification_type
+    assert notification_from_db.reference == notification.reference
+    assert notification_from_db.client_reference == expected_client_reference
+
+
 def test_persist_notification_throws_exception_when_missing_template(sample_api_key):
     assert Notification.query.count() == 0
     assert NotificationHistory.query.count() == 0