diff --git a/Framework/include/QualityControl/CheckInterface.h b/Framework/include/QualityControl/CheckInterface.h
index 394d9488c9..45d2884336 100644
--- a/Framework/include/QualityControl/CheckInterface.h
+++ b/Framework/include/QualityControl/CheckInterface.h
@@ -94,7 +94,12 @@ class CheckInterface : public core::UserCodeInterface
 
   /// \brief Retrieve a reference plot at the provided path, matching the give activity and for the provided run.
   /// the activity is the current one, while the run number is the reference run.
-  std::shared_ptr<MonitorObject> retrieveReference(std::string path, int referenceRun, Activity activity);
+  ///
+  /// \param path path to the object (no provenance)
+  /// \param referenceRun Run number of the reference data
+  /// \param activity Current activity (necessary for the provenance and the pass)
+  /// \return
+  std::shared_ptr<MonitorObject> retrieveReference(std::string path, size_t referenceRun, Activity activity);
 
  private:
   std::shared_ptr<o2::quality_control::repository::DatabaseInterface> mDatabase;
diff --git a/Framework/include/QualityControl/ReferenceUtils.h b/Framework/include/QualityControl/ReferenceUtils.h
index 97fc86f0bd..155b077841 100644
--- a/Framework/include/QualityControl/ReferenceUtils.h
+++ b/Framework/include/QualityControl/ReferenceUtils.h
@@ -33,24 +33,13 @@ namespace o2::quality_control::checker
 // Get the reference plot for a given MonitorObject path
 
 static std::shared_ptr<quality_control::core::MonitorObject> getReferencePlot(quality_control::repository::DatabaseInterface* qcdb, std::string& fullPath,
-                                                                              int referenceRun, quality_control::core::Activity activity)
+                                                                              size_t referenceRun, core::Activity activity)
 {
-  uint64_t timeStamp = 0;
-  activity.mId = referenceRun;
-  const auto filterMetadata = quality_control::core::activity_helpers::asDatabaseMetadata(activity, false);
-  const auto objectValidity = qcdb->getLatestObjectValidity(activity.mProvenance + "/" + fullPath, filterMetadata);
-  if (objectValidity.isValid()) {
-    timeStamp = objectValidity.getMax() - 1;
-  } else {
-    ILOG(Warning, Devel) << "Could not find the object '" << fullPath << "' for run " << activity.mId << ENDM;
-    return nullptr;
-  }
-
   auto [success, path, name] = o2::quality_control::core::RepoPathUtils::splitObjectPath(fullPath);
   if (!success) {
     return nullptr;
   }
-  return qcdb->retrieveMO(path, name, timeStamp, activity);
+  return qcdb->retrieveMO(path, name, repository::DatabaseInterface::Timestamp::Latest, activity);
 }
 
 } // namespace o2::quality_control::checker
diff --git a/Framework/src/CheckInterface.cxx b/Framework/src/CheckInterface.cxx
index aa6b11eba7..a3b5d62e98 100644
--- a/Framework/src/CheckInterface.cxx
+++ b/Framework/src/CheckInterface.cxx
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ void CheckInterface::endOfActivity(const Activity& activity)
   // noop, override it if you want.
 }
 
-shared_ptr<MonitorObject> CheckInterface::retrieveReference(std::string path, int referenceRun, Activity activity)
+shared_ptr<MonitorObject> CheckInterface::retrieveReference(std::string path, size_t referenceRun, Activity activity)
 {
   return o2::quality_control::checker::getReferencePlot(mDatabase.get(), path, referenceRun, activity);
 }