in src/main/java/org/apache/sling/feature/cpconverter/features/DefaultFeaturesManager.java [558:567]
private static void checkReferences(@NotNull final Dictionary<String, Object> configurationProperties, @NotNull final String pid) throws ConverterException {
final String[] references = Converters.standardConverter().convert(configurationProperties.get("references")).to(String[].class);
if (references != null && references.length > 0) {
for (final String r : references) {
if (r != null && !r.trim().isEmpty()) {
throw new ConverterException("References are not supported for repoinit (configuration " + pid + ")");
}
}
}
}