diff --git a/docs/tasks/task_types/ref.rst b/docs/tasks/task_types/ref.rst
index 0376d1c3b..e99eb543b 100644
--- a/docs/tasks/task_types/ref.rst
+++ b/docs/tasks/task_types/ref.rst
@@ -33,3 +33,9 @@ Available task options
 ----------------------
 
 ``ref`` tasks support all of the :doc:`standard task options <../options>` with the exception of ``use_exec``.
+
+
+Passing arguments
+-----------------
+
+By default any arguments passed to a ref task will be forwarded to the referenced task, allowing it to function as a task alias. If named arguments are configured for the ref task then additional arguments can still be passed to the referenced task after ``--`` on the command line.
diff --git a/poethepoet/app.py b/poethepoet/app.py
index afb0b6ac6..fed4ae145 100644
--- a/poethepoet/app.py
+++ b/poethepoet/app.py
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ def run_task(
         if context is None:
             context = self.get_run_context()
         try:
-            return task.run(context=context, extra_args=task.invocation[1:])
+            return task.run(context=context)
         except PoeException as error:
             self.print_help(error=error)
             return 1
@@ -175,9 +175,7 @@ def run_task_graph(self, task: "PoeTask") -> Optional[int]:
                     return self.run_task(stage_task, context)
 
                 try:
-                    task_result = stage_task.run(
-                        context=context, extra_args=stage_task.invocation[1:]
-                    )
+                    task_result = stage_task.run(context=context)
                     if task_result:
                         raise ExecutionError(
                             f"Task graph aborted after failed task {stage_task.name!r}"
diff --git a/poethepoet/task/args.py b/poethepoet/task/args.py
index aeaba47cb..ec32e91e2 100644
--- a/poethepoet/task/args.py
+++ b/poethepoet/task/args.py
@@ -298,13 +298,15 @@ def _get_argument_params(self, arg: ArgParams):
 
         return result
 
-    def parse(self, extra_args: Sequence[str]):
-        parsed_args = vars(self.build_parser().parse_args(extra_args))
+    def parse(self, args: Sequence[str]) -> Dict[str, str]:
+        parsed_args = vars(self.build_parser().parse_args(args))
+
         # Ensure positional args are still exposed by name even if they were parsed with
         # alternate identifiers
         for arg in self._args:
             if isinstance(arg.get("positional"), str):
                 parsed_args[arg["name"]] = parsed_args[arg["positional"]]
                 del parsed_args[arg["positional"]]
+
         # args named with dash case are converted to snake case before being exposed
         return {name.replace("-", "_"): value for name, value in parsed_args.items()}
diff --git a/poethepoet/task/base.py b/poethepoet/task/base.py
index 0e4cf3789..850fd5263 100644
--- a/poethepoet/task/base.py
+++ b/poethepoet/task/base.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import re
 import sys
+from os import environ
 from pathlib import Path
 from typing import (
     TYPE_CHECKING,
@@ -10,7 +11,6 @@
     List,
     NamedTuple,
     Optional,
-    Sequence,
     Tuple,
     Type,
     Union,
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ class PoeTask(metaclass=MetaPoeTask):
     content: TaskContent
     options: Dict[str, Any]
     inheritance: TaskInheritance
-    named_args: Optional[Dict[str, str]] = None
+    _parsed_args: Optional[Tuple[Dict[str, str], Tuple[str, ...]]] = None
 
     __options__: Dict[str, Union[Type, Tuple[Type, ...]]] = {}
     __content_type__: Type = str
@@ -216,42 +216,49 @@ def resolve_task_type(
 
         return None
 
-    def get_named_arg_values(self, env: "EnvVarsManager") -> Dict[str, str]:
-        try:
-            split_index = self.invocation.index("--")
-            parse_args = self.invocation[1:split_index]
-        except ValueError:
-            parse_args = self.invocation[1:]
+    def get_parsed_arguments(
+        self, env: "EnvVarsManager"
+    ) -> Tuple[Dict[str, str], Tuple[str, ...]]:
+        if self._parsed_args is None:
+            all_args = self.invocation[1:]
 
-        if self.named_args is None:
-            self.named_args = self._parse_named_args(parse_args, env)
-
-        if not self.named_args:
-            return {}
-
-        return self.named_args
+            if args_def := self.options.get("args"):
+                from .args import PoeTaskArgs
 
-    def _parse_named_args(
-        self, extra_args: Sequence[str], env: "EnvVarsManager"
-    ) -> Optional[Dict[str, str]]:
-        if args_def := self.options.get("args"):
-            from .args import PoeTaskArgs
+                try:
+                    split_index = all_args.index("--")
+                    option_args = all_args[:split_index]
+                    extra_args = all_args[split_index + 1 :]
+                except ValueError:
+                    option_args = all_args
+                    extra_args = tuple()
+
+                self._parsed_args = (
+                    PoeTaskArgs(args_def, self.name, self._ui.program_name, env).parse(
+                        option_args
+                    ),
+                    extra_args,
+                )
 
-            return PoeTaskArgs(args_def, self.name, self._ui.program_name, env).parse(
-                extra_args
-            )
+            else:
+                self._parsed_args = ({}, all_args)
 
-        return None
+        return self._parsed_args
 
     def run(
         self,
         context: "RunContext",
-        extra_args: Sequence[str] = tuple(),
         parent_env: Optional["EnvVarsManager"] = None,
     ) -> int:
         """
         Run this task
         """
+
+        if environ.get("POE_DEBUG"):
+            task_type_key = self.__key__  # type: ignore[attr-defined]
+            print(f" * Running     {task_type_key}:{self.name}")
+            print(f" . Invocation  {self.invocation!r}")
+
         upstream_invocations = self._get_upstream_invocations(context)
 
         if context.dry and upstream_invocations.get("uses", {}):
@@ -265,21 +272,23 @@ def run(
             )
             return 0
 
-        return self._handle_run(
-            context,
-            extra_args,
-            context.get_task_env(
-                parent_env,
-                self.options.get("envfile"),
-                self.options.get("env"),
-                upstream_invocations["uses"],
-            ),
+        task_env = context.get_task_env(
+            parent_env,
+            self.options.get("envfile"),
+            self.options.get("env"),
+            upstream_invocations["uses"],
         )
 
+        if environ.get("POE_DEBUG"):
+            named_arg_values, extra_args = self.get_parsed_arguments(task_env)
+            print(f" . Parsed args {named_arg_values!r}")
+            print(f" . Extra args  {extra_args!r}")
+
+        return self._handle_run(context, task_env)
+
     def _handle_run(
         self,
         context: "RunContext",
-        extra_args: Sequence[str],
         env: "EnvVarsManager",
     ) -> int:
         """
@@ -288,11 +297,7 @@ def _handle_run(
         """
         raise NotImplementedError
 
-    def _get_executor(
-        self,
-        context: "RunContext",
-        env: "EnvVarsManager",
-    ):
+    def _get_executor(self, context: "RunContext", env: "EnvVarsManager"):
         return context.get_executor(
             self.invocation,
             env,
@@ -335,7 +340,7 @@ def _get_upstream_invocations(self, context: "RunContext"):
             env = context.get_task_env(
                 None, self.options.get("envfile"), self.options.get("env")
             )
-            env.update(self.get_named_arg_values(env))
+            env.update(self.get_parsed_arguments(env)[0])
 
             self.__upstream_invocations = {
                 "deps": [
diff --git a/poethepoet/task/cmd.py b/poethepoet/task/cmd.py
index 7db949a0e..22eb8a58e 100644
--- a/poethepoet/task/cmd.py
+++ b/poethepoet/task/cmd.py
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import shlex
-from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, Dict, Optional, Sequence, Tuple, Type, Union
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, Dict, Optional, Tuple, Type, Union
 
 from ..exceptions import PoeException
 from .base import PoeTask
@@ -25,22 +25,12 @@ class CmdTask(PoeTask):
     def _handle_run(
         self,
         context: "RunContext",
-        extra_args: Sequence[str],
         env: "EnvVarsManager",
     ) -> int:
-        named_arg_values = self.get_named_arg_values(env)
+        named_arg_values, extra_args = self.get_parsed_arguments(env)
         env.update(named_arg_values)
 
-        if named_arg_values:
-            # If named arguments are defined then pass only arguments following a double
-            # dash token: `--`
-            try:
-                split_index = extra_args.index("--")
-                extra_args = extra_args[split_index + 1 :]
-            except ValueError:
-                extra_args = tuple()
-
-        cmd = (*self._resolve_args(context, env), *extra_args)
+        cmd = (*self._resolve_commandline(context, env), *extra_args)
 
         self._print_action(shlex.join(cmd), context.dry)
 
@@ -48,7 +38,7 @@ def _handle_run(
             cmd, use_exec=self.options.get("use_exec", False)
         )
 
-    def _resolve_args(self, context: "RunContext", env: "EnvVarsManager"):
+    def _resolve_commandline(self, context: "RunContext", env: "EnvVarsManager"):
         from ..helpers.command import parse_poe_cmd, resolve_command_tokens
         from ..helpers.command.ast_core import ParseError
 
diff --git a/poethepoet/task/expr.py b/poethepoet/task/expr.py
index 450e020c2..ae5a5e0f5 100644
--- a/poethepoet/task/expr.py
+++ b/poethepoet/task/expr.py
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@
     Iterable,
     Mapping,
     Optional,
-    Sequence,
     Tuple,
     Type,
     Union,
@@ -38,20 +37,21 @@ class ExprTask(PoeTask):
     def _handle_run(
         self,
         context: "RunContext",
-        extra_args: Sequence[str],
         env: "EnvVarsManager",
     ) -> int:
         from ..helpers.python import format_class
 
-        named_arg_values = self.get_named_arg_values(env)
+        named_arg_values, extra_args = self.get_parsed_arguments(env)
         env.update(named_arg_values)
 
+        # TODO: do something about extra_args, error?
+
         imports = self.options.get("imports", tuple())
 
         expr, env_values = self.parse_content(named_arg_values, env, imports)
         argv = [
             self.name,
-            *(env.fill_template(token) for token in extra_args),
+            *(env.fill_template(token) for token in self.invocation[1:]),
         ]
 
         script = [
diff --git a/poethepoet/task/ref.py b/poethepoet/task/ref.py
index 0612ba82e..d637cff89 100644
--- a/poethepoet/task/ref.py
+++ b/poethepoet/task/ref.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, Dict, Optional, Sequence, Tuple, Type, Union
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, Dict, Optional, Tuple, Type, Union
 
 from .base import PoeTask, TaskInheritance
 
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@ class RefTask(PoeTask):
     def _handle_run(
         self,
         context: "RunContext",
-        extra_args: Sequence[str],
         env: "EnvVarsManager",
     ) -> int:
         """
@@ -29,26 +28,34 @@ def _handle_run(
         """
         import shlex
 
-        invocation = tuple(shlex.split(env.fill_template(self.content.strip())))
-        extra_args = [*invocation[1:], *extra_args]
+        named_arg_values, extra_args = self.get_parsed_arguments(env)
+        env.update(named_arg_values)
+
+        ref_invocation = (
+            *(
+                env.fill_template(token)
+                for token in shlex.split(env.fill_template(self.content.strip()))
+            ),
+            *extra_args,
+        )
+
         task = self.from_config(
-            invocation[0],
+            ref_invocation[0],
             self._config,
             self._ui,
-            invocation,
+            invocation=ref_invocation,
             inheritance=TaskInheritance.from_task(self),
         )
 
         if task.has_deps():
-            return self._run_task_graph(task, context, extra_args, env)
+            return self._run_task_graph(task, context, env)
 
-        return task.run(context=context, extra_args=extra_args, parent_env=env)
+        return task.run(context=context, parent_env=env)
 
     def _run_task_graph(
         self,
         task: "PoeTask",
         context: "RunContext",
-        extra_args: Sequence[str],
         env: "EnvVarsManager",
     ) -> int:
         from ..exceptions import ExecutionError
@@ -60,13 +67,9 @@ def _run_task_graph(
             for stage_task in stage:
                 if stage_task == task:
                     # The final sink task gets special treatment
-                    return task.run(
-                        context=context, extra_args=extra_args, parent_env=env
-                    )
+                    return task.run(context=context, parent_env=env)
 
-                task_result = stage_task.run(
-                    context=context, extra_args=stage_task.invocation[1:]
-                )
+                task_result = stage_task.run(context=context)
                 if task_result:
                     raise ExecutionError(
                         f"Task graph aborted after failed task {stage_task.name!r}"
diff --git a/poethepoet/task/script.py b/poethepoet/task/script.py
index 3f4b84730..5ff6dc9ed 100644
--- a/poethepoet/task/script.py
+++ b/poethepoet/task/script.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import re
 import shlex
-from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, Dict, Optional, Sequence, Tuple, Type, Union
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, Dict, Optional, Tuple, Type, Union
 
 from ..exceptions import ExpressionParseError
 from .base import PoeTask
@@ -27,20 +27,21 @@ class ScriptTask(PoeTask):
     def _handle_run(
         self,
         context: "RunContext",
-        extra_args: Sequence[str],
         env: "EnvVarsManager",
     ) -> int:
         from ..helpers.python import format_class
 
-        named_arg_values = self.get_named_arg_values(env)
+        named_arg_values, extra_args = self.get_parsed_arguments(env)
         env.update(named_arg_values)
 
+        # TODO: do something about extra_args, error?
+
         target_module, function_call = self.parse_content(named_arg_values)
         function_ref = function_call[: function_call.index("(")]
 
         argv = [
             self.name,
-            *(env.fill_template(token) for token in extra_args),
+            *(env.fill_template(token) for token in self.invocation[1:]),
         ]
 
         # TODO: check whether the project really does use src layout, and don't do
diff --git a/poethepoet/task/sequence.py b/poethepoet/task/sequence.py
index 09999e2c0..805ed1a5e 100644
--- a/poethepoet/task/sequence.py
+++ b/poethepoet/task/sequence.py
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@
     Dict,
     List,
     Optional,
-    Sequence,
     Tuple,
     Type,
     Union,
@@ -69,13 +68,12 @@ def __init__(
     def _handle_run(
         self,
         context: "RunContext",
-        extra_args: Sequence[str],
         env: "EnvVarsManager",
     ) -> int:
-        named_arg_values = self.get_named_arg_values(env)
+        named_arg_values, extra_args = self.get_parsed_arguments(env)
         env.update(named_arg_values)
 
-        if not named_arg_values and any(arg.strip() for arg in extra_args):
+        if not named_arg_values and any(arg.strip() for arg in self.invocation[1:]):
             raise PoeException(f"Sequence task {self.name!r} does not accept arguments")
 
         if len(self.subtasks) > 1:
@@ -85,9 +83,7 @@ def _handle_run(
         ignore_fail = self.options.get("ignore_fail")
         non_zero_subtasks: List[str] = list()
         for subtask in self.subtasks:
-            task_result = subtask.run(
-                context=context, extra_args=tuple(), parent_env=env
-            )
+            task_result = subtask.run(context=context, parent_env=env)
             if task_result and not ignore_fail:
                 raise ExecutionError(
                     f"Sequence aborted after failed subtask {subtask.name!r}"
diff --git a/poethepoet/task/shell.py b/poethepoet/task/shell.py
index f447737f4..4feb1380d 100644
--- a/poethepoet/task/shell.py
+++ b/poethepoet/task/shell.py
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@
     Dict,
     List,
     Optional,
-    Sequence,
     Tuple,
     Type,
     Union,
@@ -34,13 +33,12 @@ class ShellTask(PoeTask):
     def _handle_run(
         self,
         context: "RunContext",
-        extra_args: Sequence[str],
         env: "EnvVarsManager",
     ) -> int:
-        named_arg_values = self.get_named_arg_values(env)
+        named_arg_values, extra_args = self.get_parsed_arguments(env)
         env.update(named_arg_values)
 
-        if not named_arg_values and any(arg.strip() for arg in extra_args):
+        if not named_arg_values and any(arg.strip() for arg in self.invocation[1:]):
             raise PoeException(f"Shell task {self.name!r} does not accept arguments")
 
         interpreter_cmd = self.resolve_interpreter_cmd()
diff --git a/poethepoet/task/switch.py b/poethepoet/task/switch.py
index 719728c3a..977508dcd 100644
--- a/poethepoet/task/switch.py
+++ b/poethepoet/task/switch.py
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@
     List,
     MutableMapping,
     Optional,
-    Sequence,
     Tuple,
     Type,
     Union,
@@ -94,23 +93,18 @@ def __init__(
     def _handle_run(
         self,
         context: "RunContext",
-        extra_args: Sequence[str],
         env: "EnvVarsManager",
     ) -> int:
-        named_arg_values = self.get_named_arg_values(env)
+        named_arg_values, extra_args = self.get_parsed_arguments(env)
         env.update(named_arg_values)
 
-        if not named_arg_values and any(arg.strip() for arg in extra_args):
+        if not named_arg_values and any(arg.strip() for arg in self.invocation[1:]):
             raise PoeException(f"Switch task {self.name!r} does not accept arguments")
 
         # Indicate on the global context that there are multiple stages to this task
         context.multistage = True
 
-        task_result = self.control_task.run(
-            context=context,
-            extra_args=extra_args if self.options.get("args") else tuple(),
-            parent_env=env,
-        )
+        task_result = self.control_task.run(context=context, parent_env=env)
         if task_result:
             raise ExecutionError(
                 f"Switch task {self.name!r} aborted after failed control task"
@@ -135,7 +129,7 @@ def _handle_run(
                 f"switch task {self.name!r}."
             )
 
-        return case_task.run(context=context, extra_args=extra_args, parent_env=env)
+        return case_task.run(context=context, parent_env=env)
 
     @classmethod
     def _get_case_keys(cls, task_def: Dict[str, Any]) -> List[Any]:
diff --git a/tests/fixtures/refs_project/pyproject.toml b/tests/fixtures/refs_project/pyproject.toml
index a15407b5f..2c2f3a302 100644
--- a/tests/fixtures/refs_project/pyproject.toml
+++ b/tests/fixtures/refs_project/pyproject.toml
@@ -10,3 +10,14 @@ ref = "greet lol!"
 
 [tool.poe.tasks.greet-dave]
 ref = "greet-subject --subject dave"
+
+[tool.poe.tasks.apologize]
+cmd  = "echo \"I'm sorry ${name}, ${explain}\""
+args = ["name", "explain"]
+
+[tool.poe.tasks.say-sorry]
+ref = "apologize"
+
+[tool.poe.tasks.sorry-dave]
+ref  = "apologize --name=Dave --explain='${explain}'"
+args = [{ name = "explain", positional = true, multiple = true }]
diff --git a/tests/test_ref_task.py b/tests/test_ref_task.py
index 15ab36210..82f986109 100644
--- a/tests/test_ref_task.py
+++ b/tests/test_ref_task.py
@@ -10,3 +10,61 @@ def test_ref_passes_extra_args_in_definition(run_poe_subproc):
     assert result.capture == "Poe => poe_test_echo hi 'lol!'\n"
     assert result.stdout == "hi lol!\n"
     assert result.stderr == ""
+
+
+def test_ref_parses_named_args(run_poe_subproc):
+    result = run_poe_subproc(
+        "apologize", "--name=Davey", "--explain=Ah cannae dae that", project="refs"
+    )
+    assert (
+        result.capture == """Poe => echo 'I'"'"'m sorry Davey, Ah cannae dae that'\n"""
+    )
+    assert result.stdout == "I'm sorry Davey, Ah cannae dae that\n"
+    assert result.stderr == ""
+
+
+def test_ref_forwards_arguments_if_none_defined(run_poe_subproc):
+    result = run_poe_subproc(
+        "say-sorry",
+        "--name=Davey",
+        "--explain=Ah cannae dae that",
+        "--",
+        ",",
+        "anything",
+        "else?",
+        project="refs",
+    )
+    assert result.capture == (
+        """Poe => echo 'I'"'"'m sorry Davey, Ah cannae dae that'"""
+        """ , anything 'else?'\n"""
+    )
+    assert result.stdout == "I'm sorry Davey, Ah cannae dae that , anything else?\n"
+    assert result.stderr == ""
+
+
+def test_ref_forwards_arguments(run_poe_subproc):
+    result = run_poe_subproc(
+        "sorry-dave",
+        "I",
+        "cant",
+        "do",
+        "that",
+        "--",
+        "--",
+        ",",
+        "anything",
+        "else?",
+        project="refs",
+    )
+    assert (
+        result.capture
+        == """Poe => echo 'I'"'"'m sorry Dave, I cant do that' , anything 'else?'\n"""
+    )
+    assert result.stdout == "I'm sorry Dave, I cant do that , anything else?\n"
+    assert result.stderr == ""
+
+    # Pass extra args including -- if no args defined
+    result = run_poe_subproc("greet-funny", "OK", project="refs")
+    assert result.capture == "Poe => poe_test_echo hi 'lol!' OK\n"
+    assert result.stdout == "hi lol! OK\n"
+    assert result.stderr == ""