diff --git a/Scripts/Scratch Pad.py b/Scripts/Scratch Pad.py
index 61b98c24e5d..dedbc3b37f7 100644
--- a/Scripts/Scratch Pad.py	
+++ b/Scripts/Scratch Pad.py	
@@ -370,13 +370,12 @@ def __init__(self, error_value):
 # g = pnl.GatingMechanism(gating_signals=[{pnl.MECHANISM:m,
 #                                          pnl.NAME:pnl.DECISION_VARIABLE}])
 
-my_mech = pnl.TransferMechanism(default_variable=[[0],[0]])
-
-print(my_mech.input_states)
-
-print(my_mech.parameter_states)
-print(my_mech.output_states)
-
+# my_mech = pnl.TransferMechanism(default_variable=[[0],[0]])
+#
+# print(my_mech.input_states)
+#
+# print(my_mech.parameter_states)
+# print(my_mech.output_states)
 
 # mech_A = pnl.TransferMechanism(input_states=['MY INPUT'])
 # print(mech_A.input_states)
@@ -411,6 +410,27 @@ def __init__(self, error_value):
 # for projection in my_mech.output_states[0].efferents:
 #     print(projection.name)
 
+# FROM KEVIN: -------------------------------------
+
+# WORKING:
+# I = pnl.InputState(reference_value=[0,0,0])
+# pnl.TransferMechanism(input_states=[I])
+
+# p = pnl.MappingProjection()
+# T = pnl.TransferMechanism(input_states=[{pnl.VARIABLE: [0, 0, 0], pnl.PROJECTIONS:[p]}])
+#
+# p = pnl.MappingProjection()
+# T = pnl.TransferMechanism(default_variable=[0, 0], input_states=[p])
+
+#-------------
+# m = pnl.TransferMechanism()
+# i = pnl.InputState(owner=m, reference_value=[0, 0, 0])
+
+# m = pnl.TransferMechanism(default_variable=[0, 0, 0])
+# i = pnl.InputState(owner=m, reference_value=[0, 0, 0])
+
+
+# --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 # My_Transfer_Mech_A = TransferMechanism(
 #                            function=Logistic(
diff --git a/psyneulink/components/mechanisms/mechanism.py b/psyneulink/components/mechanisms/mechanism.py
index 88df442a152..4153d7100dd 100644
--- a/psyneulink/components/mechanisms/mechanism.py
+++ b/psyneulink/components/mechanisms/mechanism.py
@@ -707,12 +707,18 @@ class `UserList <https://docs.python.org/3.6/library/collections.html?highlight=
 import numpy as np
 import typecheck as tc
 
-from psyneulink.components.component import Component, ExecutionStatus, function_type, method_type
+from psyneulink.components.component import Component, InitStatus, ExecutionStatus, function_type, method_type
 from psyneulink.components.shellclasses import Function, Mechanism, Projection, State
 from psyneulink.components.states.inputstate import InputState
 from psyneulink.components.states.state import _parse_state_spec
 from psyneulink.globals.defaults import timeScaleSystemDefault
-from psyneulink.globals.keywords import CHANGED, COMMAND_LINE, EVC_SIMULATION, EXECUTING, FUNCTION_PARAMS, INITIALIZING, INIT_FUNCTION_METHOD_ONLY, INIT__EXECUTE__METHOD_ONLY, INPUT_STATES, INPUT_STATE_PARAMS, MECHANISM_TIME_SCALE, MONITOR_FOR_CONTROL, MONITOR_FOR_LEARNING, NO_CONTEXT, OUTPUT_STATES, OUTPUT_STATE_PARAMS, PARAMETER_STATE_PARAMS, PROCESS_INIT, SEPARATOR_BAR, SET_ATTRIBUTE, SYSTEM_INIT, TIME_SCALE, UNCHANGED, VALIDATE, VARIABLE, kwMechanismComponentCategory, kwMechanismExecuteFunction
+from psyneulink.globals.keywords import \
+    CHANGED, COMMAND_LINE, EVC_SIMULATION, EXECUTING, FUNCTION_PARAMS, \
+    INITIALIZING, INIT_FUNCTION_METHOD_ONLY, INIT__EXECUTE__METHOD_ONLY, \
+    INPUT_STATES, INPUT_STATE_PARAMS, MECHANISM_TIME_SCALE, MONITOR_FOR_CONTROL, MONITOR_FOR_LEARNING, \
+    NO_CONTEXT, OUTPUT_STATES, OUTPUT_STATE_PARAMS, PARAMETER_STATE_PARAMS, PROCESS_INIT, SEPARATOR_BAR, \
+    SET_ATTRIBUTE, SYSTEM_INIT, TIME_SCALE, UNCHANGED, VALIDATE, VARIABLE, VALUE, REFERENCE_VALUE, \
+    kwMechanismComponentCategory, kwMechanismExecuteFunction
 from psyneulink.globals.preferences.preferenceset import PreferenceLevel
 from psyneulink.globals.registry import register_category
 from psyneulink.globals.utilities import AutoNumber, ContentAddressableList, append_type_to_name, convert_to_np_array, iscompatible, kwCompatibilityNumeric
@@ -1280,10 +1286,19 @@ def _parse_arg_input_states(self, input_states):
                     except KeyError:
                         pass
                 elif isinstance(parsed_spec, (Projection, Mechanism, State)):
-                    try:
-                        variable = parsed_spec.value
-                    except AttributeError:
-                        variable = parsed_spec.instance_defaults.variable
+                    if parsed_spec.init_status is InitStatus.DEFERRED_INITIALIZATION:
+                        args = parsed_spec.init_args
+                        if REFERENCE_VALUE in args:
+                            variable = args[REFERENCE_VALUE]
+                        elif VALUE in args:
+                            variable = args[VALUE]
+                        elif VARIABLE in args:
+                            variable = args[VARIABLE]
+                    else:
+                        try:
+                            variable = parsed_spec.value
+                        except AttributeError:
+                            variable = parsed_spec.instance_defaults.variable
                 else:
                     variable = parsed_spec.instance_defaults.variable
 
diff --git a/psyneulink/components/projections/pathway/pathwayprojection.py b/psyneulink/components/projections/pathway/pathwayprojection.py
index 7a936c6711f..01d75c81078 100644
--- a/psyneulink/components/projections/pathway/pathwayprojection.py
+++ b/psyneulink/components/projections/pathway/pathwayprojection.py
@@ -87,6 +87,9 @@ def __init__(self,
 
     def _assign_default_projection_name(self, state, sender_name=None, receiver_name=None):
 
+        from psyneulink.components.mechanisms.mechanism import Mechanism
+
+        # If the name is not a default name, leave intact
         if not self.className + '-' in self.name:
             return self.name
 
@@ -98,12 +101,13 @@ def _assign_default_projection_name(self, state, sender_name=None, receiver_name
             self.name = self.className + " from " + sender_name + " to " + receiver_name
 
         elif self.init_status is InitStatus.DEFERRED_INITIALIZATION:
-            if self.init_args[RECEIVER]:
+            if self.init_args[SENDER]:
                 sender = self.init_args[SENDER]
-                if sender.owner:
+                if isinstance(sender.owner, Mechanism):
                     sender_name = "{}[{}]".format(sender.owner.name, sender_name)
+            if self.init_args[RECEIVER]:
                 receiver = self.init_args[RECEIVER]
-                if receiver.owner:
+                if isinstance(receiver.owner, Mechanism):
                     receiver_name = "{}[{}]".format(receiver.owner.name, receiver_name)
             projection_name = self.className + " from " + sender_name + " to " + receiver_name
             self.init_args[NAME] = self.init_args[NAME] or projection_name