Index: modules/nodereference/nodereference.module
===================================================================
--- modules/nodereference/nodereference.module	(revision 22062)
+++ modules/nodereference/nodereference.module	(working copy)
@@ -206,6 +206,10 @@
       return $addition;
 
     case 'validate':
+      global $user;
+      if (module_exists('content_permissions') && !content_permissions_field_access('edit', $field, $user)) {
+        return $items;
+      }
       // Extract nids to check.
       $ids = array();
       foreach ($items as $delta => $item) {