diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 2da697f..3d27245 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 * Prepare text nodes during compiling
 * Clean up custom element `renderCustomTemplate` function
 * Add initial reactive variable support
+* Allow assigning an element to a reference using `:ref` syntax
 
 ## 2.3.19 (2024-04-13)
 
diff --git a/lib/core/renderer.js b/lib/core/renderer.js
index 26aa9d1..d90c88b 100644
--- a/lib/core/renderer.js
+++ b/lib/core/renderer.js
@@ -2321,6 +2321,16 @@ Renderer.setMethod(function applyElementOptions(element, options, for_sync_rende
 		}
 	}
 
+	if (options.hooks?.length) {
+		for (let hook of options.hooks) {
+			if (hook.name === 'ref') {
+				if (hook.value) {
+					hook.value.value = element;
+				}
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
 	// If the element body is rendered using reference variables,
 	// the element has to be registered so the browser knows about it
 	if (options.reference_count > 0 && options.references?.length) {
@@ -2551,10 +2561,12 @@ Renderer.setMethod(function startExpression(name, options, vars, fnc) {
  *
  * @author   Jelle De Loecker   <jelle@develry.be>
  * @since    1.3.3
- * @version  2.0.0
+ * @version  2.4.0
  */
-Renderer.setMethod(function parseExpression(tokens, vars) {
-	return Hawkejs.Expression.Expression.parseExpression(this, tokens, vars);
+Renderer.setMethod(function parseExpression(tokens, vars, unwrap_optionals = true) {
+	let expression = new Hawkejs.Expression.Expression(this);
+	expression.unwrap_optionals = unwrap_optionals;
+	return expression.parseExpression(tokens, vars);
 });
 
 /**
@@ -2562,10 +2574,11 @@ Renderer.setMethod(function parseExpression(tokens, vars) {
  *
  * @author   Jelle De Loecker   <jelle@develry.be>
  * @since    1.3.3
- * @version  2.0.0
+ * @version  2.4.0
  */
-Renderer.setMethod(function parseExpressionAsArguments(tokens, vars) {
+Renderer.setMethod(function parseExpressionAsArguments(tokens, vars, unwrap_optionals = true) {
 	let expression = new Hawkejs.Expression.Expression(this);
+	expression.unwrap_optionals = unwrap_optionals;
 	return expression.getTokenValuesArray(tokens, vars);
 });
 
diff --git a/lib/expression/expression.js b/lib/expression/expression.js
index 334089e..4d1605c 100644
--- a/lib/expression/expression.js
+++ b/lib/expression/expression.js
@@ -12,6 +12,9 @@ const Expression = Fn.inherits(null, 'Hawkejs.Expression', function Expression(v
 	// The renderer instance
 	this.view = view;
 
+	// Should optionals be unwrapped?
+	this.unwrap_optionals = true;
+
 	this.options = null;
 	this.vars = null;
 	this.fnc = null;
@@ -430,6 +433,15 @@ Expression.setMethod(function _getValueByPath(path, variables, main_variables) {
 			break;
 		}
 
+		// Always unwrap optionals that are not the last part of a path
+		if (current instanceof Classes.Develry.Optional) {
+			current = current.value;
+		}
+
+		if (!current) {
+			break;
+		}
+
 		if (current instanceof Classes.Hawkejs.Variables) {
 			current = current.get(piece);
 		} else {
@@ -766,7 +778,7 @@ const toLowerCase = (input) => input ? input.toLowerCase() : input;
  *
  * @author   Jelle De Loecker   <jelle@develry.be>
  * @since    1.2.9
- * @version  1.4.0
+ * @version  2.4.0
  *
  * @param    {Object}  token
  * @param    {Object}  vars     An object of variables
@@ -796,7 +808,7 @@ Expression.setMethod(function getTokenValue(token, vars) {
 	}
 
 	// Unwrap optionals
-	if (result && result instanceof Classes.Develry.Optional) {
+	if (result && this.unwrap_optionals && result instanceof Classes.Develry.Optional) {
 		result = result.value;
 	}
 
@@ -1051,7 +1063,7 @@ Expression.setMethod(function callPathWithArgs(path, args, vars) {
  *
  * @author   Jelle De Loecker   <jelle@develry.be>
  * @since    1.2.9
- * @version  2.2.0
+ * @version  2.4.0
  *
  * @param    {Object}  token
  * @param    {Object}  vars     An object of variables
diff --git a/lib/parser/base_parser.js b/lib/parser/base_parser.js
index f158d7d..ba17803 100644
--- a/lib/parser/base_parser.js
+++ b/lib/parser/base_parser.js
@@ -105,14 +105,15 @@ Parser.setStatic(function rawString(text) {
  *
  * @author   Jelle De Loecker   <jelle@elevenways.be>
  * @since    2.2.0
- * @version  2.2.0
+ * @version  2.4.0
  *
  * @param    {Object}   options
  * @param    {boolean}  as_args
+ * @param    {boolean}  unwrap_optionals
  *
  * @return   {Object}
  */
-Parser.setStatic(function wrapExpression(options, as_args) {
+Parser.setStatic(function wrapExpression(options, as_args, unwrap_optionals = true) {
 
 	options = Bound.Array.cast(options);
 
@@ -127,10 +128,16 @@ Parser.setStatic(function wrapExpression(options, as_args) {
 		code += 'AsArguments';
 	}
 
-	return {
+	let result = {
 		$wrap: '__render.' + code,
 		$args: [options, Parser.rawString('vars')],
 	};
+
+	if (!unwrap_optionals) {
+		result.$args.push(false);
+	}
+
+	return result;
 });
 
 /**
diff --git a/lib/parser/builder.js b/lib/parser/builder.js
index 08a384e..b971c74 100644
--- a/lib/parser/builder.js
+++ b/lib/parser/builder.js
@@ -803,7 +803,7 @@ Builder.setMethod(function _compileEntry(subroutine, entry) {
  *
  * @author   Jelle De Loecker   <jelle@elevenways.be>
  * @since    2.2.0
- * @version  2.2.0
+ * @version  2.4.0
  *
  * @param    {Object}   entry
  *
@@ -813,7 +813,7 @@ Builder.setMethod(function _compileElementOptions(entry) {
 
 	let has_attributes = !Obj.isEmpty(entry.attributes);
 
-	if (!has_attributes && !entry.directives && !entry.properties && !entry.variables && !entry.codes && !entry.body) {
+	if (!has_attributes && !entry.directives && !entry.properties && !entry.variables && !entry.codes && !entry.body && !entry.hooks) {
 		return;
 	}
 
@@ -825,6 +825,7 @@ Builder.setMethod(function _compileElementOptions(entry) {
 		directives : null,
 		properties : null,
 		variables  : null,
+		hooks      : null,
 		codes      : null,
 		body       : null,
 	};
@@ -852,6 +853,10 @@ Builder.setMethod(function _compileElementOptions(entry) {
 		data.variables = this._compileDirectiveValues(entry.variables);
 	}
 
+	if (entry.hooks) {
+		data.hooks = this._compileDirectiveValues(entry.hooks, false);
+	}
+
 	if (entry.codes) {
 		data.codes = this._compileCodes(entry.codes);
 	}
@@ -868,16 +873,17 @@ Builder.setMethod(function _compileElementOptions(entry) {
  *
  * @author   Jelle De Loecker   <jelle@develry.be>
  * @since    2.2.0
- * @version  2.2.0
+ * @version  2.4.0
  *
  * @param    {Object}   entry
+ * @param    {boolean}  unwrap_optionals
  *
  * @return   {Builder}
  */
-Builder.setMethod(function _compileRawExpression(entry) {
+Builder.setMethod(function _compileRawExpression(entry, unwrap_optionals = true) {
 	let tokens = new Hawkejs.Parser.Expressions(entry.value);
 	let expression = tokens.getExpression();
-	return Hawkejs.Parser.Parser.wrapExpression(expression);
+	return Hawkejs.Parser.Parser.wrapExpression(expression, null, unwrap_optionals);
 });
 
 /**
@@ -887,9 +893,12 @@ Builder.setMethod(function _compileRawExpression(entry) {
  * @since    2.0.0
  * @version  2.2.0
  *
+ * @param    {Object}   val
+ * @param    {boolean}  unwrap_optionals
+ *
  * @return   {Object}
  */
-Builder.setMethod(function _compileAttributeValue(val) {
+Builder.setMethod(function _compileAttributeValue(val, unwrap_optionals = true) {
 
 	let result = '';
 
@@ -918,7 +927,7 @@ Builder.setMethod(function _compileAttributeValue(val) {
 				entry = val.value[i];
 
 				if (entry.type == 'expressions') {
-					result.push(this._compileRawExpression(entry));
+					result.push(this._compileRawExpression(entry, unwrap_optionals));
 				} else if (entry.type == 'code') {
 					let code;
 
@@ -947,7 +956,7 @@ Builder.setMethod(function _compileAttributeValue(val) {
 				val.value = val.value.slice(2, -2);
 			}
 
-			result = this._compileRawExpression(val);
+			result = this._compileRawExpression(val, unwrap_optionals);
 		} else {
 			result = R(val.value);
 		}
@@ -961,13 +970,14 @@ Builder.setMethod(function _compileAttributeValue(val) {
  *
  * @author   Jelle De Loecker   <jelle@develry.be>
  * @since    2.0.0
- * @version  2.0.0
+ * @version  2.4.0
  *
- * @param    {Array}   values
+ * @param    {Object[]}   values
+ * @param    {boolean}    unwrap_optionals
  *
  * @return   {String}
  */
-Builder.setMethod(function _compileDirectiveValues(values) {
+Builder.setMethod(function _compileDirectiveValues(values, unwrap_optionals = true) {
 
 	let result = [],
 	    value,
@@ -981,7 +991,7 @@ Builder.setMethod(function _compileDirectiveValues(values) {
 			name     : value.name,
 			context  : value.context || null,
 			method   : value.method || null,
-			value    : this._compileAttributeValue(value.value)
+			value    : this._compileAttributeValue(value.value, unwrap_optionals),
 		};
 
 		result.push(entry);
diff --git a/lib/parser/directives_parser.js b/lib/parser/directives_parser.js
index f080b9b..f2ee744 100644
--- a/lib/parser/directives_parser.js
+++ b/lib/parser/directives_parser.js
@@ -380,7 +380,7 @@ Dparser.setMethod(function parseCurrent() {
  *
  * @author   Jelle De Loecker   <jelle@develry.be>
  * @since    2.0.0
- * @version  2.1.5
+ * @version  2.4.0
  *
  * @param    {Object}   result
  */
@@ -441,7 +441,7 @@ Dparser.setMethod(function parseAttributes(result) {
 		char = next.value[0];
 		name = next.value;
 
-		if (char === '!' || char === '#' || char === '+') {
+		if (char === '!' || char === '#' || char === '+' || char === ':') {
 			name = next.value.slice(1);
 		}
 
@@ -493,6 +493,13 @@ Dparser.setMethod(function parseAttributes(result) {
 			}
 
 			result.variables.push(entry);
+		} else if (char === ':') {
+
+			if (!result.hooks) {
+				result.hooks = [];
+			}
+
+			result.hooks.push(entry);
 		} else {
 			result.attributes[entry.name] = entry;
 		}
diff --git a/test/10-expressions.js b/test/10-expressions.js
index e9126e0..ab96a67 100644
--- a/test/10-expressions.js
+++ b/test/10-expressions.js
@@ -934,6 +934,25 @@ This should be a converted variable:
 				(vars) => {vars.get('ref_bool').value = null},
 				`<span>Ref bool is: FALSE</span>`,
 			],
+			[
+				(vars) => vars.set('ref_el', Optional()),
+				`<span :ref={% ref_el %}>INNER</span><div>{{ &ref_el.textContent }}</div>`,
+				`<span>INNER</span><div>INNER</div>`,
+				(vars) => {
+					// Get the reference again
+					let ref_el = vars.get('ref_el');
+
+					// Get the element it is referring
+					let el = ref_el.value;
+
+					// Change the content of the element directly
+					el.textContent = 'CHANGED';
+
+					// Trigger a change
+					ref_el.value = el;
+				},
+				`<span>CHANGED</span><div>CHANGED</div>`,
+			]
 		];
 
 		createReactiveTests(tests);