diff --git a/db/migrate/20150509180749_convert_legacy_reference_notes.rb b/db/migrate/20150509180749_convert_legacy_reference_notes.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..b02605489be
--- /dev/null
+++ b/db/migrate/20150509180749_convert_legacy_reference_notes.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+# Convert legacy Markdown-emphasized notes to the current, non-emphasized format
+#
+#   _mentioned in 54f7727c850972f0401c1312a7c4a6a380de5666_
+#
+# becomes
+#
+#   mentioned in 54f7727c850972f0401c1312a7c4a6a380de5666
+class ConvertLegacyReferenceNotes < ActiveRecord::Migration
+  def up
+    execute %q{UPDATE notes SET note = trim(both '_' from note) WHERE system = true AND note LIKE '\_%\_'}
+  end
+
+  def down
+    # noop
+  end
+end
diff --git a/db/schema.rb b/db/schema.rb
index 04abf9bb9a6..199b959a8dc 100644
--- a/db/schema.rb
+++ b/db/schema.rb
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 #
 # It's strongly recommended that you check this file into your version control system.
 
-ActiveRecord::Schema.define(version: 20150502064022) do
+ActiveRecord::Schema.define(version: 20150509180749) do
 
   # These are extensions that must be enabled in order to support this database
   enable_extension "plpgsql"