diff --git a/app/auth/views/login_utils.py b/app/auth/views/login_utils.py
index c4426d06..96bd0ab5 100644
--- a/app/auth/views/login_utils.py
+++ b/app/auth/views/login_utils.py
@@ -53,4 +53,12 @@ def get_referral() -> Optional[Referral]:
         ref_code = request.cookies.get(_REFERRAL_COOKIE)
         referral = Referral.get_by(code=ref_code)
 
+    if not referral:
+        if "slref" in session:
+            ref_code = session["slref"]
+            referral = Referral.get_by(code=ref_code)
+
+    if referral:
+        LOG.d("referral found %s", referral)
+
     return referral
diff --git a/app/models.py b/app/models.py
index d5176faa..5b37c2d0 100644
--- a/app/models.py
+++ b/app/models.py
@@ -2269,6 +2269,9 @@ class Referral(Base, ModelMixin):
     def link(self):
         return f"{LANDING_PAGE_URL}?slref={self.code}"
 
+    def __repr__(self):
+        return f"<Referral {self.code}>"
+
 
 class SentAlert(Base, ModelMixin):
     """keep track of alerts sent to user.
diff --git a/server.py b/server.py
index fdb250b6..fc9ea888 100644
--- a/server.py
+++ b/server.py
@@ -481,6 +481,11 @@ def set_index_page(app):
         ):
             g.start_time = time.time()
 
+            # to handle the referral url that has ?slref=code part
+            ref_code = request.args.get("slref")
+            if ref_code:
+                session["slref"] = ref_code
+
     @app.after_request
     def after_request(res):
         # not logging /static call