diff --git a/library/lua/utils.lua b/library/lua/utils.lua
index 1b626f051..00e31929f 100644
--- a/library/lua/utils.lua
+++ b/library/lua/utils.lua
@@ -608,7 +608,7 @@ df_env = df_shortcut_env()
 function df_expr_to_ref(expr)
     expr = expr:gsub('%["(.-)"%]', function(field) return '.' .. field end)
         :gsub('%[\'(.-)\'%]', function(field) return '.' .. field end)
-        :gsub('%[(%d+)]', function(field) return '.' .. field end)
+        :gsub('%[(%-?%d+)%]', function(field) return '.' .. field end)
     local parts = expr:split('.', true)
     local obj = df_env[parts[1]]
     for i = 2, #parts do
diff --git a/test/library/utils.lua b/test/library/utils.lua
index 2434da321..509fab8bc 100644
--- a/test/library/utils.lua
+++ b/test/library/utils.lua
@@ -89,5 +89,27 @@ function test.df_expr_to_ref()
             -- primitive field
             expect.eq(utils.df_expr_to_ref('unit.profession'), fake_unit:_field('profession'))
         end)
+
+        -- vector items
+        dfhack.with_temp_object(df.new('ptr-vector'), function(vec)
+            fake_unit = vec
+            vec:insert('#', df.global.world)
+            vec:insert('#', df.global.ui)
+
+            expect.eq(utils.df_expr_to_ref('unit'), vec)
+
+            expect.eq(utils.df_expr_to_ref('unit[0]'), utils.df_expr_to_ref('unit.0'))
+            expect.eq(df.reinterpret_cast(df.world, utils.df_expr_to_ref('unit[0]').value), df.global.world)
+
+            expect.eq(utils.df_expr_to_ref('unit[1]'), utils.df_expr_to_ref('unit.1'))
+            expect.eq(df.reinterpret_cast(df.ui, utils.df_expr_to_ref('unit[1]').value), df.global.ui)
+
+            expect.error_match('index out of bounds', function() utils.df_expr_to_ref('unit.2') end)
+            expect.error_match('index out of bounds', function() utils.df_expr_to_ref('unit[2]') end)
+            expect.error_match('index out of bounds', function() utils.df_expr_to_ref('unit.-1') end)
+            expect.error_match('index out of bounds', function() utils.df_expr_to_ref('unit[-1]') end)
+
+            expect.error_match('not found', function() utils.df_expr_to_ref('unit.a') end)
+        end)
     end)
 end