diff --git a/sphinx/transforms/i18n.py b/sphinx/transforms/i18n.py
index 2618c7246..aa0e2b942 100644
--- a/sphinx/transforms/i18n.py
+++ b/sphinx/transforms/i18n.py
@@ -327,22 +327,38 @@ class Locale(SphinxTransform):
 
                 self.document.note_refname(new)
 
-            # refnamed footnote and citation should use original 'ids'.
+            # refnamed footnote should use original 'ids'.
             def is_refnamed_footnote_ref(node):
                 # type: (nodes.Node) -> bool
-                footnote_ref_classes = (nodes.footnote_reference,
-                                        nodes.citation_reference)
-                return isinstance(node, footnote_ref_classes) and \
+                return isinstance(node, nodes.footnote_reference) and \
                     'refname' in node
-            old_refs = node.traverse(is_refnamed_footnote_ref)
-            new_refs = patch.traverse(is_refnamed_footnote_ref)
+            old_foot_refs = node.traverse(is_refnamed_footnote_ref)
+            new_foot_refs = patch.traverse(is_refnamed_footnote_ref)
             refname_ids_map = {}
-            if len(old_refs) != len(new_refs):
-                logger.warning('inconsistent references in translated message',
+            if len(old_foot_refs) != len(new_foot_refs):
+                logger.warning('inconsistent footnote references in translated message',
                                location=node)
-            for old in old_refs:
+            for old in old_foot_refs:
                 refname_ids_map[old["refname"]] = old["ids"]
-            for new in new_refs:
+            for new in new_foot_refs:
+                refname = new["refname"]
+                if refname in refname_ids_map:
+                    new["ids"] = refname_ids_map[refname]
+
+            # citation should use original 'ids'.
+            def is_citation_ref(node):
+                # type: (nodes.Node) -> bool
+                return isinstance(node, nodes.citation_reference) and \
+                    'refname' in node
+            old_cite_refs = node.traverse(is_citation_ref)
+            new_cite_refs = patch.traverse(is_citation_ref)
+            refname_ids_map = {}
+            if len(old_cite_refs) != len(new_cite_refs):
+                logger.warning('inconsistent citation references in translated message',
+                               location=node)
+            for old in old_cite_refs:
+                refname_ids_map[old["refname"]] = old["ids"]
+            for new in new_cite_refs:
                 refname = new["refname"]
                 if refname in refname_ids_map:
                     new["ids"] = refname_ids_map[refname]
diff --git a/tests/roots/test-intl/refs_inconsistency.po b/tests/roots/test-intl/refs_inconsistency.po
index cb2de9ad8..9d8d13f61 100644
--- a/tests/roots/test-intl/refs_inconsistency.po
+++ b/tests/roots/test-intl/refs_inconsistency.po
@@ -19,8 +19,8 @@ msgstr ""
 msgid "i18n with refs inconsistency"
 msgstr "I18N WITH REFS INCONSISTENCY"
 
-msgid "[100]_ for [#]_ footnote [ref2]_."
-msgstr "FOR FOOTNOTE [ref2]_."
+msgid "[100]_ for [#]_ citation [ref2]_."
+msgstr "FOR CITATION [ref3]_."
 
 msgid "for reference_."
 msgstr "reference_ FOR reference_."
@@ -31,8 +31,8 @@ msgstr "ORPHAN REFERENCE: `I18N WITH REFS INCONSISTENCY`_."
 msgid "This is a auto numbered footnote."
 msgstr "THIS IS A AUTO NUMBERED FOOTNOTE."
 
-msgid "This is a named footnote."
-msgstr "THIS IS A NAMED FOOTNOTE."
+msgid "This is a citation."
+msgstr "THIS IS A CITATION."
 
 msgid "This is a numbered footnote."
 msgstr "THIS IS A NUMBERED FOOTNOTE."
diff --git a/tests/roots/test-intl/refs_inconsistency.txt b/tests/roots/test-intl/refs_inconsistency.txt
index c65c5b458..b16623a28 100644
--- a/tests/roots/test-intl/refs_inconsistency.txt
+++ b/tests/roots/test-intl/refs_inconsistency.txt
@@ -3,11 +3,11 @@
 i18n with refs inconsistency
 =============================
 
-* [100]_ for [#]_ footnote [ref2]_.
+* [100]_ for [#]_ citation [ref2]_.
 * for reference_.
 * normal text.
 
 .. [#] This is a auto numbered footnote.
-.. [ref2] This is a named footnote.
+.. [ref2] This is a citation.
 .. [100] This is a numbered footnote.
 .. _reference: http://www.example.com
diff --git a/tests/test_intl.py b/tests/test_intl.py
index 413276e44..f4f1ecc1e 100644
--- a/tests/test_intl.py
+++ b/tests/test_intl.py
@@ -182,11 +182,11 @@ def test_text_inconsistency_warnings(app, warning):
     result = (app.outdir / 'refs_inconsistency.txt').text(encoding='utf-8')
     expect = (u"I18N WITH REFS INCONSISTENCY"
               u"\n****************************\n"
-              u"\n* FOR FOOTNOTE [ref2].\n"
+              u"\n* FOR CITATION [ref3].\n"
               u"\n* reference FOR reference.\n"
               u"\n* ORPHAN REFERENCE: I18N WITH REFS INCONSISTENCY.\n"
               u"\n[1] THIS IS A AUTO NUMBERED FOOTNOTE.\n"
-              u"\n[ref2] THIS IS A NAMED FOOTNOTE.\n"
+              u"\n[ref2] THIS IS A CITATION.\n"
               u"\n[100] THIS IS A NUMBERED FOOTNOTE.\n")
     assert result == expect
 
@@ -199,6 +199,10 @@ def test_text_inconsistency_warnings(app, warning):
         warning_fmt % 'references')
     assert_re_search(expected_warning_expr, warnings)
 
+    expected_citation_warning_expr = (
+        u'.*/refs_inconsistency.txt:\\d+: WARNING: Citation \[ref2\] is not referenced.\n' +
+        u'.*/refs_inconsistency.txt:\\d+: WARNING: citation not found: ref3')
+    assert_re_search(expected_citation_warning_expr, warnings)
 
 @sphinx_intl
 @pytest.mark.sphinx('text')