diff --git a/pygeo/mphys/mphys_dvgeo.py b/pygeo/mphys/mphys_dvgeo.py
index 9759c503..38681674 100644
--- a/pygeo/mphys/mphys_dvgeo.py
+++ b/pygeo/mphys/mphys_dvgeo.py
@@ -355,6 +355,17 @@ def nom_addESPVariable(self, desmptr_name, isComposite=False, **kwargs):
         if not isComposite:
             self.add_input(desmptr_name, distributed=False, shape=val.shape, val=val)
 
+    def nom_addRefAxis(self, childIdx=None, **kwargs):
+        # references axes are only needed in FFD-based DVGeo objects
+        if self.geo_type != "ffd":
+            raise RuntimeError(f"Only FFD-based DVGeo objects can use reference axes, not type:{self.geo_type}")
+
+        # we just pass this through
+        if childIdx is None:
+            return self.DVGeo.addRefAxis(**kwargs)
+        else:
+            return self.DVGeo.children[childIdx].addRefAxis(**kwargs)
+
     """
     Wrapper for DVCon functions
     """