diff --git a/core/dbt/parser/util.py b/core/dbt/parser/util.py
index e05c13f3f7d..a17a7f87bd9 100644
--- a/core/dbt/parser/util.py
+++ b/core/dbt/parser/util.py
@@ -173,11 +173,11 @@ def process_docs(cls, manifest, current_project):
     @classmethod
     def process_refs_for_node(cls, manifest, current_project, node):
         """Given a manifest and a node in that manifest, process its refs"""
-        target_model = None
-        target_model_name = None
-        target_model_package = None
-
         for ref in node.refs:
+            target_model = None
+            target_model_name = None
+            target_model_package = None
+
             if len(ref) == 1:
                 target_model_name = ref[0]
             elif len(ref) == 2: