diff --git a/Sources/BranchSDK/Branch.m b/Sources/BranchSDK/Branch.m
index 194e03f60..1cfe0a50a 100644
--- a/Sources/BranchSDK/Branch.m
+++ b/Sources/BranchSDK/Branch.m
@@ -690,8 +690,10 @@ - (BOOL)handleDeepLink:(NSURL *)url sceneIdentifier:(NSString *)sceneIdentifier
     }
     if (pattern) {
         self.preferenceHelper.dropURLOpen = YES;
-        self.preferenceHelper.externalIntentURI = pattern;
-        self.preferenceHelper.referringURL = pattern;
+        
+        NSString *urlString = [url absoluteString];
+        self.preferenceHelper.externalIntentURI = urlString;
+        self.preferenceHelper.referringURL = urlString;
 
         [self initUserSessionAndCallCallback:YES sceneIdentifier:sceneIdentifier urlString:nil];
         return NO;