diff --git a/tools/aapt2/link/ManifestFixer.cpp b/tools/aapt2/link/ManifestFixer.cpp
index df09e47aa9469..d0850b800e4f9 100644
--- a/tools/aapt2/link/ManifestFixer.cpp
+++ b/tools/aapt2/link/ManifestFixer.cpp
@@ -69,7 +69,9 @@ static bool VerifyDeeplinkPathAttribute(xml::Element* data_el, android::SourcePa
     StringPiece attr_value = attr->value;
     const char* startChar = attr_value.begin();
     if (attr_name == "pathPattern") {
-      if (*startChar == '/' || *startChar == '.' || *startChar == '*') {
+      // pathPattern starts with '.' or '*' does not need leading slash.
+      // Reference starts with @ does not need leading slash.
+      if (*startChar == '/' || *startChar == '.' || *startChar == '*' || *startChar == '@') {
         return true;
       } else {
         diag->Error(android::DiagMessage(data_el->line_number)
@@ -80,7 +82,8 @@ static bool VerifyDeeplinkPathAttribute(xml::Element* data_el, android::SourcePa
         return false;
       }
     } else {
-      if (*startChar == '/') {
+      // Reference starts with @ does not need leading slash.
+      if (*startChar == '/' || *startChar == '@') {
         return true;
       } else {
         diag->Error(android::DiagMessage(data_el->line_number)
diff --git a/tools/aapt2/link/ManifestFixer_test.cpp b/tools/aapt2/link/ManifestFixer_test.cpp
index cec9a1a5917e3..8d1a647b494d8 100644
--- a/tools/aapt2/link/ManifestFixer_test.cpp
+++ b/tools/aapt2/link/ManifestFixer_test.cpp
@@ -1408,5 +1408,24 @@ TEST_F(ManifestFixerTest, IntentFilterPathMustStartWithLeadingSlashOnDeepLinks)
       </application>
     </manifest>)";
   EXPECT_THAT(Verify(input), NotNull());
+
+  // DeepLink with string reference as a path.
+  input = R"(
+    <manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
+        package="android">
+      <application>
+        <activity android:name=".MainActivity">
+          <intent-filter>
+            <action android:name="android.intent.action.VIEW" />
+            <category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" />
+            <category android:name="android.intent.category.BROWSABLE" />
+            <data android:scheme="http"
+                          android:host="www.example.com"
+                          android:path="@string/startup_uri" />
+          </intent-filter>
+        </activity>
+      </application>
+    </manifest>)";
+  EXPECT_THAT(Verify(input), NotNull());
 }
 }  // namespace aapt