diff --git a/WHATSNEW b/WHATSNEW
index 88f54d7a1..f9b434c10 100644
--- a/WHATSNEW
+++ b/WHATSNEW
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@ Changes that could break older environments:
 * <classconstants> filter reader uses ISO-8879-1 encoding to read
   the java class file. Bugzilla report 33604.
 
+* Defer reference process. Bugzilla 36955, 34458, 37688.
+
 Fixed bugs:
 -----------
 
diff --git a/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/helper/ProjectHelper2.java b/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/helper/ProjectHelper2.java
index 0450bf25f..2f1efd428 100644
--- a/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/helper/ProjectHelper2.java
+++ b/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/helper/ProjectHelper2.java
@@ -1007,8 +1007,6 @@ public class ProjectHelper2 extends ProjectHelper {
             task.setLocation(location);
             task.setOwningTarget(context.getCurrentTarget());
 
-            context.configureId(task, attrs);
-
             if (parent != null) {
                 // Nested element
                 ((UnknownElement) parent).addChild(task);