diff --git a/quam/core/quam_classes.py b/quam/core/quam_classes.py
index 4263965..db2eb46 100644
--- a/quam/core/quam_classes.py
+++ b/quam/core/quam_classes.py
@@ -570,7 +570,13 @@ def set_at_reference(self, attr: str, value: Any):
             )
 
         parent_obj = self._get_referenced_value(parent_reference)
-        setattr(parent_obj, ref_attr, value)
+        raw_referenced_value = parent_obj.get_unreferenced_value(ref_attr)
+        if string_reference.is_reference(raw_referenced_value) and isinstance(
+            parent_obj, QuamBase
+        ):
+            parent_obj.set_at_reference(ref_attr, value)
+        else:
+            setattr(parent_obj, ref_attr, value)
 
 
 # Type annotation for QuamRoot, can be replaced by typing.Self from Python 3.11
diff --git a/tests/quam_base/test_set_at_reference.py b/tests/quam_base/test_set_at_reference.py
index 15d016d..e422a3d 100644
--- a/tests/quam_base/test_set_at_reference.py
+++ b/tests/quam_base/test_set_at_reference.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import pytest
 from quam.core.quam_classes import QuamBase, QuamRoot, quam_dataclass
+from typing import Optional
 
 
 @quam_dataclass
@@ -76,3 +77,81 @@ def test_set_at_absolute_reference_invalid():
 
     with pytest.raises(AttributeError):
         root.set_at_reference("abs_ref", 456)
+
+
+@quam_dataclass
+class DoubleChildQuam(ChildQuam):
+    value: int = 0
+    child: Optional[ChildQuam] = None
+
+def test_set_double_reference():
+    """Test setting a value through a double reference"""
+    double_child = DoubleChildQuam(child=ChildQuam(value=42), value="#./child/value")
+    parent = ParentQuam(child=double_child, ref_value="#./child/value")
+
+    assert parent.ref_value == 42
+    assert parent.get_unreferenced_value("ref_value") == "#./child/value"
+    assert parent.child.get_unreferenced_value("value") == "#./child/value"
+
+    # Set value through double reference
+    parent.set_at_reference("ref_value", 789)
+
+    # Check that the value was set correctly in the nested child
+    assert double_child.child.value == 789
+    assert double_child.value == 789
+    assert parent.ref_value == 789
+
+    # Reference string should remain unchanged
+    assert parent.get_unreferenced_value("ref_value") == "#./child/value"
+    assert double_child.get_unreferenced_value("value") == "#./child/value"
+
+
+def test_set_nonexistent_double_reference():
+    """Test setting a value where the double reference does not exist"""
+    double_child = DoubleChildQuam(child=ChildQuam(value=42), value="#./child/nonexistent")
+    parent = ParentQuam(child=double_child, ref_value="#./child/nonexistent")
+
+    with pytest.raises(AttributeError):
+        parent.set_at_reference("ref_value", 789)
+
+
+def test_set_double_reference_to_nonexistent_item():
+    """Test setting a value through a double reference to a nonexistent item"""
+    double_child = DoubleChildQuam(child=ChildQuam(value=42), value="#./nonexistent/value")
+    parent = ParentQuam(child=double_child, ref_value="#./nonexistent/value")
+
+    with pytest.raises(AttributeError):
+        parent.set_at_reference("ref_value", 789)
+
+
+def test_set_double_reference_with_invalid_reference():
+    """Test setting a value through a double reference with an invalid reference"""
+    double_child = DoubleChildQuam(child=ChildQuam(value=42), value="#./child/invalid")
+    parent = ParentQuam(child=double_child, ref_value="#./child/invalid")
+
+    with pytest.raises(AttributeError):
+        parent.set_at_reference("ref_value", 789)
+
+def test_set_triple_reference():
+    """Test setting a value through a triple reference"""
+    triple_child = DoubleChildQuam(child=DoubleChildQuam(child=ChildQuam(value=42), value="#./child/value"), value="#./child/value")
+    parent = ParentQuam(child=triple_child, ref_value="#./child/value")
+
+    assert parent.ref_value == 42
+    assert parent.get_unreferenced_value("ref_value") == "#./child/value"
+    assert parent.child.get_unreferenced_value("value") == "#./child/value"
+    assert parent.child.child.get_unreferenced_value("value") == "#./child/value"
+
+    # Set value through triple reference
+    parent.set_at_reference("ref_value", 789)
+
+    # Check that the value was set correctly in the nested child
+    assert triple_child.child.child.value == 789
+    assert triple_child.child.value == 789
+    assert triple_child.value == 789
+    assert parent.ref_value == 789
+
+    # Reference string should remain unchanged
+    assert parent.get_unreferenced_value("ref_value") == "#./child/value"
+    assert triple_child.get_unreferenced_value("value") == "#./child/value"
+    assert triple_child.child.get_unreferenced_value("value") == "#./child/value"