diff --git a/gameloop.py b/gameloop.py
index 0abcb95..9cd3bcc 100644
--- a/gameloop.py
+++ b/gameloop.py
@@ -809,7 +809,7 @@ def game(send, notice, voice, devoice, get_event):
 
 		notice(nick, cards)
 
-	def combine_cards(call, responses):
+	def combine_cards(call, responses, dereference_backreferences = True):
 		# This function is really messy, in part due to the format used
 		#
 		# `call` is a list of strings, and here I'll refer to each of
@@ -874,6 +874,10 @@ def game(send, notice, voice, devoice, get_event):
 		# 		2. Add the response pointed to by the
 		# 		   backreference
 		# 2. Repeat
+		#
+		# Additionally, we have a special mode in case we are displaying
+		# the round call card, where we do not look up the responses
+		# pointed to by backreferences, but instead add the $<num>
 
 		formatting_state = IRCFormattingState()
 		no_formatting = IRCFormattingState()
@@ -922,14 +926,21 @@ def game(send, notice, voice, devoice, get_event):
 					if 0 <= backreference_index < len(responses):
 						# Copy the previous segment fully to `r`
 						call_segment, formatting_state = handle_control_codes(call_part[segment_start_index:index - 2], formatting_state)
-
-						# Add the response this backreference refers to
 						r.append(call_segment)
-						r.append(to_formatting_state(formatting_state, no_formatting))
-						r.append('[')
-						r.append(sanitize(responses[backreference_index], no_formatting))
-						r.append(']')
-						r.append(to_formatting_state(no_formatting, formatting_state))
+
+						if dereference_backreferences:
+							# Add the response this backreference refers to
+							r.append(to_formatting_state(formatting_state, no_formatting))
+							r.append('[')
+							r.append(sanitize(responses[backreference_index], no_formatting))
+							r.append(']')
+							r.append(to_formatting_state(no_formatting, formatting_state))
+
+						else:
+							# Add the backreference itself (useful for displaying the call card)
+							r.append(to_formatting_state(formatting_state, no_formatting))
+							r.append('$%i' % backreference_index)
+							r.append(to_formatting_state(no_formatting, formatting_state))
 
 						# Start new segment after this char
 						segment_start_index = index
@@ -962,7 +973,7 @@ def game(send, notice, voice, devoice, get_event):
 		num_blanks = len(round_call_card.text) - 1
 
 		send('Round %i. %s is czar. %s choose your cards' % (round_number, czar.nick, ', '.join(i.nick for i in choosers)))
-		send('[%s]' % combine_cards(round_call_card.text, ['_'] * num_blanks))
+		send('[%s]' % combine_cards(round_call_card.text, ['_'] * num_blanks, dereference_backreferences = False))
 
 		# Have bots choose first
 		for bot in bots.values():