diff --git a/openpype/hosts/maya/api/workfile_template_builder.py b/openpype/hosts/maya/api/workfile_template_builder.py
index 81fc54fe6f..6e6166c2ef 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/maya/api/workfile_template_builder.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/maya/api/workfile_template_builder.py
@@ -43,7 +43,13 @@ class MayaTemplateBuilder(AbstractTemplateBuilder):
             ))
 
         cmds.sets(name=PLACEHOLDER_SET, empty=True)
-        new_nodes = cmds.file(path, i=True, returnNewNodes=True)
+        new_nodes = cmds.file(
+            path,
+            i=True,
+            returnNewNodes=True,
+            preserveReferences=True,
+            loadReferenceDepth="all",
+        )
 
         # make default cameras non-renderable
         default_cameras = [cam for cam in cmds.ls(cameras=True)