diff --git a/puepy/core.py b/puepy/core.py
index 330bd6d..bf4e7e6 100644
--- a/puepy/core.py
+++ b/puepy/core.py
@@ -831,9 +831,10 @@ def generate_tag(self, tag_name, *children, **kwargs):
             raise Exception("t.generate_tag called without a context")
 
         # Determine ref value
-        ref_part = f"__{parent.ref}.{tag_name}{len(parent.children) + 1}_" + binascii.hexlify(
-            hashlib.sha256(str(kwargs).encode()).digest()
-        )[:8].decode("utf8")
+        ref_part = "__" + (
+            f"{parent.ref}.{tag_name}{len(parent.children) + 1}_"
+            + (binascii.hexlify(hashlib.sha256(str(kwargs).encode()).digest()))[:8].decode("utf8")
+        ).lstrip("_")
 
         ref = kwargs.pop("ref", ref_part)