diff --git a/kernel/cli/cmd/ref.go b/kernel/cli/cmd/ref.go
index b572df323..6980b7c6d 100644
--- a/kernel/cli/cmd/ref.go
+++ b/kernel/cli/cmd/ref.go
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ var refBacklinksCmd = &cobra.Command{
 		keyword, _ := cmd.Flags().GetString("keyword")
 		sortMode, _ := cmd.Flags().GetInt("sort")
 
-		_, backlinks, _, count, _ := model.GetBacklink2(id, keyword, "", sortMode, 0, false)
+		_, backlinks, _, count, _ := model.GetBacklink2(id, keyword, "", sortMode, 0, model.Conf.Editor.BacklinkContainChildren)
 
 		switch outputFormat {
 		case "json":
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ var refMentionsCmd = &cobra.Command{
 		keyword, _ := cmd.Flags().GetString("keyword")
 		sortMode, _ := cmd.Flags().GetInt("sort")
 
-		_, _, backmentions, _, count := model.GetBacklink2(id, "", keyword, 0, sortMode, false)
+		_, _, backmentions, _, count := model.GetBacklink2(id, "", keyword, 0, sortMode, model.Conf.Editor.BacklinkContainChildren)
 
 		switch outputFormat {
 		case "json":
diff --git a/kernel/mcp/tools/ref.go b/kernel/mcp/tools/ref.go
index 193f2f5c1..bdacd17e2 100644
--- a/kernel/mcp/tools/ref.go
+++ b/kernel/mcp/tools/ref.go
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ func refBacklinks(args map[string]interface{}) (CallToolResult, error) {
 	id, _ := args["id"].(string)
 	keyword, _ := args["keyword"].(string)
 
-	_, backlinks, _, _, _ := model.GetBacklink2(id, keyword, "", 0, 0, false)
+	_, backlinks, _, _, _ := model.GetBacklink2(id, keyword, "", 0, 0, model.Conf.Editor.BacklinkContainChildren)
 	if len(backlinks) == 0 {
 		return CallToolResult{Content: []ContentItem{{Type: "text", Text: "no backlinks found"}}}, nil
 	}
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ func refMentions(args map[string]interface{}) (CallToolResult, error) {
 	id, _ := args["id"].(string)
 	keyword, _ := args["keyword"].(string)
 
-	_, _, mentions, _, _ := model.GetBacklink2(id, "", keyword, 0, 0, false)
+	_, _, mentions, _, _ := model.GetBacklink2(id, "", keyword, 0, 0, model.Conf.Editor.BacklinkContainChildren)
 	if len(mentions) == 0 {
 		return CallToolResult{Content: []ContentItem{{Type: "text", Text: "no mentions found"}}}, nil
 	}