diff --git a/backend/audit/intakelib/transforms/xform_resize_award_references.py b/backend/audit/intakelib/transforms/xform_resize_award_references.py
index 822ce8090..aa2f444b8 100644
--- a/backend/audit/intakelib/transforms/xform_resize_award_references.py
+++ b/backend/audit/intakelib/transforms/xform_resize_award_references.py
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
+AWARD_REFERENCE_PREFIX = "AWARD"
+
 
 def resize_award_reference(ir):
     references = get_range_by_name(ir, "award_reference")
@@ -19,9 +21,17 @@ def resize_award_reference(ir):
 
 
 def _format_reference(v):
+    """Format the award reference to have 5 digits, padding with zeros if necessary"""
+    if not v or len(v) >= AWARD_LEN_5_DIGITS:
+        return v
+
+    parts = v.split("-")
+    if len(parts) != 2 or not parts[0] or not parts[1]:
+        return v
+
+    prefix, number = parts
+    if prefix.upper() != AWARD_REFERENCE_PREFIX:
+        return v
 
-    if v and len(v) < AWARD_LEN_5_DIGITS:
-        parts = v.split("-")
-        padding = "0" * (AWARD_LEN_5_DIGITS - len(v))
-        return f"{parts[0]}-{padding}{parts[1]}"
-    return v
+    padding = "0" * (AWARD_LEN_5_DIGITS - len(v))
+    return f"{prefix}-{padding}{number}"
diff --git a/backend/audit/test_xform_resize_award_references.py b/backend/audit/test_xform_resize_award_references.py
index 90648c87a..da053da15 100644
--- a/backend/audit/test_xform_resize_award_references.py
+++ b/backend/audit/test_xform_resize_award_references.py
@@ -51,3 +51,10 @@ def test_format_reference(self):
         self.assertEqual(_format_reference("AWARD-12345"), "AWARD-12345")
         self.assertEqual(_format_reference(None), None)
         self.assertEqual(_format_reference(""), "")
+
+    def test_format_reference_malformed(self):
+        """Test the _format_reference function with malformed inputs"""
+        # Malformed cases should return as is, as the function does not raise exceptions
+        self.assertEqual(_format_reference("AWARD123"), "AWARD123")  # Missing dash
+        self.assertEqual(_format_reference("123-456"), "123-456")  # Incorrect prefix
+        self.assertEqual(_format_reference("AWARD-"), "AWARD-")  # Missing second part