diff --git a/include/boost/variant2/variant.hpp b/include/boost/variant2/variant.hpp
index a450eba..63d9c14 100644
--- a/include/boost/variant2/variant.hpp
+++ b/include/boost/variant2/variant.hpp
@@ -133,6 +133,14 @@ template<std::size_t I, class... T> struct variant_alternative_impl<I, variant<T
 {
 };
 
+template<std::size_t I, class... T> struct variant_alternative_impl<I, variant<T...>&, true>: std::add_lvalue_reference< mp11::mp_at_c<variant<T...>, I> >
+{
+};
+
+template<std::size_t I, class... T> struct variant_alternative_impl<I, variant<T...>&&, true>: std::add_rvalue_reference< mp11::mp_at_c<variant<T...>, I> >
+{
+};
+
 } // namespace detail
 
 template<std::size_t I, class T> struct variant_alternative
@@ -155,6 +163,14 @@ template<std::size_t I, class... T> struct variant_alternative<I, variant<T...>
 {
 };
 
+template<std::size_t I, class... T> struct variant_alternative<I, variant<T...>&>: public detail::variant_alternative_impl<I, variant<T...>&, (I < sizeof...(T))>
+{
+};
+
+template<std::size_t I, class... T> struct variant_alternative<I, variant<T...>&&>: public detail::variant_alternative_impl<I, variant<T...>&&, (I < sizeof...(T))>
+{
+};
+
 #else
 
 namespace detail
@@ -180,6 +196,14 @@ template<std::size_t I, class T> struct variant_alternative<I, T const volatile>
 {
 };
 
+template<std::size_t I, class T> struct variant_alternative<I, T&>: mp11::mp_defer<detail::var_alt_impl, mp11::mp_size_t<I>, T, mp11::mp_quote_trait<std::add_lvalue_reference>>
+{
+};
+
+template<std::size_t I, class T> struct variant_alternative<I, T&&>: mp11::mp_defer<detail::var_alt_impl, mp11::mp_size_t<I>, T, mp11::mp_quote_trait<std::add_rvalue_reference>>
+{
+};
+
 template<std::size_t I, class... T> struct variant_alternative<I, variant<T...>>: mp11::mp_defer<mp11::mp_at, variant<T...>, mp11::mp_size_t<I>>
 {
 };
diff --git a/test/variant_alternative.cpp b/test/variant_alternative.cpp
index e5a9fa7..600c26c 100644
--- a/test/variant_alternative.cpp
+++ b/test/variant_alternative.cpp
@@ -25,65 +25,130 @@ int main()
     BOOST_TEST_TRAIT_TRUE((std::is_same<variant_alternative_t<0, variant<void> volatile>, void volatile>));
     BOOST_TEST_TRAIT_TRUE((std::is_same<variant_alternative_t<0, variant<void> const volatile>, void const volatile>));
 
+    BOOST_TEST_TRAIT_TRUE((std::is_same<variant_alternative_t<0, variant<char>&>, char&>));
+    BOOST_TEST_TRAIT_TRUE((std::is_same<variant_alternative_t<0, variant<char> const&>, char const&>));
+    BOOST_TEST_TRAIT_TRUE((std::is_same<variant_alternative_t<0, variant<char>&&>, char&&>));
+    BOOST_TEST_TRAIT_TRUE((std::is_same<variant_alternative_t<0, variant<char> const&&>, char const&&>));
+
     BOOST_TEST_TRAIT_TRUE((std::is_same<variant_alternative_t<0, variant<void, int>>, void>));
     BOOST_TEST_TRAIT_TRUE((std::is_same<variant_alternative_t<0, variant<void, int> const>, void const>));
     BOOST_TEST_TRAIT_TRUE((std::is_same<variant_alternative_t<0, variant<void, int> volatile>, void volatile>));
     BOOST_TEST_TRAIT_TRUE((std::is_same<variant_alternative_t<0, variant<void, int> const volatile>, void const volatile>));
 
+    BOOST_TEST_TRAIT_TRUE((std::is_same<variant_alternative_t<0, variant<char, int>&>, char&>));
+    BOOST_TEST_TRAIT_TRUE((std::is_same<variant_alternative_t<0, variant<char, int> const&>, char const&>));
+    BOOST_TEST_TRAIT_TRUE((std::is_same<variant_alternative_t<0, variant<char, int>&&>, char&&>));
+    BOOST_TEST_TRAIT_TRUE((std::is_same<variant_alternative_t<0, variant<char, int> const&&>, char const&&>));
+
     BOOST_TEST_TRAIT_TRUE((std::is_same<variant_alternative_t<1, variant<void, int>>, int>));
     BOOST_TEST_TRAIT_TRUE((std::is_same<variant_alternative_t<1, variant<void, int> const>, int const>));
     BOOST_TEST_TRAIT_TRUE((std::is_same<variant_alternative_t<1, variant<void, int> volatile>, int volatile>));
     BOOST_TEST_TRAIT_TRUE((std::is_same<variant_alternative_t<1, variant<void, int> const volatile>, int const volatile>));
 
+    BOOST_TEST_TRAIT_TRUE((std::is_same<variant_alternative_t<1, variant<void, int>&>, int&>));
+    BOOST_TEST_TRAIT_TRUE((std::is_same<variant_alternative_t<1, variant<void, int> const&>, int const&>));
+    BOOST_TEST_TRAIT_TRUE((std::is_same<variant_alternative_t<1, variant<void, int>&&>, int&&>));
+    BOOST_TEST_TRAIT_TRUE((std::is_same<variant_alternative_t<1, variant<void, int> const&&>, int const&&>));
+
     BOOST_TEST_TRAIT_TRUE((std::is_same<variant_alternative_t<0, variant<void, int, float>>, void>));
     BOOST_TEST_TRAIT_TRUE((std::is_same<variant_alternative_t<0, variant<void, int, float> const>, void const>));
     BOOST_TEST_TRAIT_TRUE((std::is_same<variant_alternative_t<0, variant<void, int, float> volatile>, void volatile>));
     BOOST_TEST_TRAIT_TRUE((std::is_same<variant_alternative_t<0, variant<void, int, float> const volatile>, void const volatile>));
 
+    BOOST_TEST_TRAIT_TRUE((std::is_same<variant_alternative_t<0, variant<char, int, float>&>, char&>));
+    BOOST_TEST_TRAIT_TRUE((std::is_same<variant_alternative_t<0, variant<char, int, float> const&>, char const&>));
+    BOOST_TEST_TRAIT_TRUE((std::is_same<variant_alternative_t<0, variant<char, int, float>&&>, char&&>));
+    BOOST_TEST_TRAIT_TRUE((std::is_same<variant_alternative_t<0, variant<char, int, float> const&&>, char const&&>));
+
     BOOST_TEST_TRAIT_TRUE((std::is_same<variant_alternative_t<1, variant<void, int, float>>, int>));
     BOOST_TEST_TRAIT_TRUE((std::is_same<variant_alternative_t<1, variant<void, int, float> const>, int const>));
     BOOST_TEST_TRAIT_TRUE((std::is_same<variant_alternative_t<1, variant<void, int, float> volatile>, int volatile>));
     BOOST_TEST_TRAIT_TRUE((std::is_same<variant_alternative_t<1, variant<void, int, float> const volatile>, int const volatile>));
 
+    BOOST_TEST_TRAIT_TRUE((std::is_same<variant_alternative_t<1, variant<void, int, float>&>, int&>));
+    BOOST_TEST_TRAIT_TRUE((std::is_same<variant_alternative_t<1, variant<void, int, float> const&>, int const&>));
+    BOOST_TEST_TRAIT_TRUE((std::is_same<variant_alternative_t<1, variant<void, int, float>&&>, int&&>));
+    BOOST_TEST_TRAIT_TRUE((std::is_same<variant_alternative_t<1, variant<void, int, float> const&&>, int const&&>));
+
     BOOST_TEST_TRAIT_TRUE((std::is_same<variant_alternative_t<2, variant<void, int, float>>, float>));
     BOOST_TEST_TRAIT_TRUE((std::is_same<variant_alternative_t<2, variant<void, int, float> const>, float const>));
     BOOST_TEST_TRAIT_TRUE((std::is_same<variant_alternative_t<2, variant<void, int, float> volatile>, float volatile>));
     BOOST_TEST_TRAIT_TRUE((std::is_same<variant_alternative_t<2, variant<void, int, float> const volatile>, float const volatile>));
 
+    BOOST_TEST_TRAIT_TRUE((std::is_same<variant_alternative_t<2, variant<void, int, float>&>, float&>));
+    BOOST_TEST_TRAIT_TRUE((std::is_same<variant_alternative_t<2, variant<void, int, float> const&>, float const&>));
+    BOOST_TEST_TRAIT_TRUE((std::is_same<variant_alternative_t<2, variant<void, int, float>&&>, float&&>));
+    BOOST_TEST_TRAIT_TRUE((std::is_same<variant_alternative_t<2, variant<void, int, float> const&&>, float const&&>));
+
     variant_alternative<0, void>();
     variant_alternative<0, void const>();
     variant_alternative<0, void volatile>();
     variant_alternative<0, void const volatile>();
 
+    variant_alternative<0, int&>();
+    variant_alternative<0, int const&>();
+    variant_alternative<0, int&&>();
+    variant_alternative<0, int const&&>();
+
     variant_alternative<0, variant<>>();
     variant_alternative<0, variant<> const>();
     variant_alternative<0, variant<> volatile>();
     variant_alternative<0, variant<> const volatile>();
 
+    variant_alternative<0, variant<>&>();
+    variant_alternative<0, variant<> const&>();
+    variant_alternative<0, variant<>&&>();
+    variant_alternative<0, variant<> const&&>();
+
     variant_alternative<1, variant<int>>();
     variant_alternative<1, variant<int> const>();
     variant_alternative<1, variant<int> volatile>();
     variant_alternative<1, variant<int> const volatile>();
 
+    variant_alternative<1, variant<int>&>();
+    variant_alternative<1, variant<int> const&>();
+    variant_alternative<1, variant<int>&&>();
+    variant_alternative<1, variant<int> const&&>();
+
     BOOST_TEST_TRAIT_FALSE((mp_valid<var_alt_t, mp_size_t<0>, void>));
     BOOST_TEST_TRAIT_FALSE((mp_valid<var_alt_t, mp_size_t<0>, void const>));
     BOOST_TEST_TRAIT_FALSE((mp_valid<var_alt_t, mp_size_t<0>, void volatile>));
     BOOST_TEST_TRAIT_FALSE((mp_valid<var_alt_t, mp_size_t<0>, void const volatile>));
 
+    BOOST_TEST_TRAIT_FALSE((mp_valid<var_alt_t, mp_size_t<0>, int&>));
+    BOOST_TEST_TRAIT_FALSE((mp_valid<var_alt_t, mp_size_t<0>, int const&>));
+    BOOST_TEST_TRAIT_FALSE((mp_valid<var_alt_t, mp_size_t<0>, int&&>));
+    BOOST_TEST_TRAIT_FALSE((mp_valid<var_alt_t, mp_size_t<0>, int const&&>));
+
     BOOST_TEST_TRAIT_FALSE((mp_valid<var_alt_t, mp_size_t<0>, variant<>>));
     BOOST_TEST_TRAIT_FALSE((mp_valid<var_alt_t, mp_size_t<0>, variant<> const>));
     BOOST_TEST_TRAIT_FALSE((mp_valid<var_alt_t, mp_size_t<0>, variant<> volatile>));
     BOOST_TEST_TRAIT_FALSE((mp_valid<var_alt_t, mp_size_t<0>, variant<> const volatile>));
 
+    BOOST_TEST_TRAIT_FALSE((mp_valid<var_alt_t, mp_size_t<0>, variant<>&>));
+    BOOST_TEST_TRAIT_FALSE((mp_valid<var_alt_t, mp_size_t<0>, variant<> const&>));
+    BOOST_TEST_TRAIT_FALSE((mp_valid<var_alt_t, mp_size_t<0>, variant<>&&>));
+    BOOST_TEST_TRAIT_FALSE((mp_valid<var_alt_t, mp_size_t<0>, variant<> const&&>));
+
     BOOST_TEST_TRAIT_TRUE((mp_valid<var_alt_t, mp_size_t<0>, variant<int>>));
     BOOST_TEST_TRAIT_TRUE((mp_valid<var_alt_t, mp_size_t<0>, variant<int> const>));
     BOOST_TEST_TRAIT_TRUE((mp_valid<var_alt_t, mp_size_t<0>, variant<int> volatile>));
     BOOST_TEST_TRAIT_TRUE((mp_valid<var_alt_t, mp_size_t<0>, variant<int> const volatile>));
 
+    BOOST_TEST_TRAIT_TRUE((mp_valid<var_alt_t, mp_size_t<0>, variant<int>&>));
+    BOOST_TEST_TRAIT_TRUE((mp_valid<var_alt_t, mp_size_t<0>, variant<int> const&>));
+    BOOST_TEST_TRAIT_TRUE((mp_valid<var_alt_t, mp_size_t<0>, variant<int>&&>));
+    BOOST_TEST_TRAIT_TRUE((mp_valid<var_alt_t, mp_size_t<0>, variant<int> const&&>));
+
     BOOST_TEST_TRAIT_FALSE((mp_valid<var_alt_t, mp_size_t<1>, variant<int>>));
     BOOST_TEST_TRAIT_FALSE((mp_valid<var_alt_t, mp_size_t<1>, variant<int> const>));
     BOOST_TEST_TRAIT_FALSE((mp_valid<var_alt_t, mp_size_t<1>, variant<int> volatile>));
     BOOST_TEST_TRAIT_FALSE((mp_valid<var_alt_t, mp_size_t<1>, variant<int> const volatile>));
 
+    BOOST_TEST_TRAIT_FALSE((mp_valid<var_alt_t, mp_size_t<1>, variant<int>&>));
+    BOOST_TEST_TRAIT_FALSE((mp_valid<var_alt_t, mp_size_t<1>, variant<int> const&>));
+    BOOST_TEST_TRAIT_FALSE((mp_valid<var_alt_t, mp_size_t<1>, variant<int>&&>));
+    BOOST_TEST_TRAIT_FALSE((mp_valid<var_alt_t, mp_size_t<1>, variant<int> const&&>));
+
     return boost::report_errors();
 }