diff --git a/node_reference/node_reference.module b/node_reference/node_reference.module
index 6a1aa70..5e319b4 100755
--- a/node_reference/node_reference.module
+++ b/node_reference/node_reference.module
@@ -849,10 +849,6 @@ function _node_reference_potential_references_standard($field, $options) {
             ->condition('n.nid', $own_unpublished, 'IN')
       );
     }
-    else {
-      // If not, restrict the query to published nodes.
-      $query->condition('n.status', NODE_PUBLISHED);
-    }
 
     $query->addTag('node_access');
   }