diff --git a/src/Buffer.cpp b/src/Buffer.cpp
index 79f41cb13f..e1e10e86c6 100644
--- a/src/Buffer.cpp
+++ b/src/Buffer.cpp
@@ -5496,7 +5496,7 @@ void Buffer::Impl::updateStatistics(DocIterator & from, DocIterator & to, bool s
 	char_count_ = 0;
 	blank_count_ = 0;
 
-	for (DocIterator dit = from ; dit != to && !dit.atEnd(); ) {
+	for (DocIterator dit = from; dit != to && !dit.atEnd(); ) {
 		if (!dit.inTexted()) {
 			dit.forwardPos();
 			continue;
diff --git a/src/insets/InsetRef.cpp b/src/insets/InsetRef.cpp
index 7666d13e1d..d29ba1b2b9 100644
--- a/src/insets/InsetRef.cpp
+++ b/src/insets/InsetRef.cpp
@@ -668,4 +668,15 @@ docstring InsetRef::getTOCString() const
 	return (broken_ ? _("BROKEN: ") : docstring()) + toc_string_;
 }
 
+pair<int, int> InsetRef::isWords() const
+{
+	docstring const & ref = getParam("reference");
+	string const & cmd = params().getCmdName();
+	// best we can do here
+	string const & lang = buffer().params().language->lang();
+	docstring const refstring = displayString(ref, cmd, lang);
+	return pair<int, int>(refstring.size(), wordCount(refstring));
+}
+
+
 } // namespace lyx
diff --git a/src/insets/InsetRef.h b/src/insets/InsetRef.h
index 52c8de79e2..3cadaea267 100644
--- a/src/insets/InsetRef.h
+++ b/src/insets/InsetRef.h
@@ -79,6 +79,8 @@ public:
 				  UpdateType utype, TocBackend & backend) const override;
 	///
 	bool forceLTR(OutputParams const &) const override;
+	///
+	std::pair<int, int> isWords() const override;
 	//@}
 
 	/// \name Static public methods obligated for InsetCommand derived classes
diff --git a/status.24x b/status.24x
index e40b3fe522..930d6d74d0 100644
--- a/status.24x
+++ b/status.24x
@@ -33,6 +33,8 @@ What's new
   the outliner, even of they do not have a label yet. In the latter
   case, a label is autonatically inserted.
 
+- Approximate word count for cross-references.
+
 - Document PDF settings allow color links and frames around them.
   These two settings are mutually exclusive by default and we signal
   that within UI now. Workarounds can be found our and hyperref manual.