diff --git a/rfg_vna_viewer.py b/rfg_vna_viewer.py
index ed2e796..1555bb3 100644
--- a/rfg_vna_viewer.py
+++ b/rfg_vna_viewer.py
@@ -134,13 +134,12 @@ def process_main(main_ch1, main_ch2, ref_amplitude, ref_phase_aligned):
     z_main = ch1_v + 1j * ch2_v
     main_amp = np.abs(z_main)
 
-    # Normalize ch1/ch2 individually by ref amplitude
+    # Normalize by ref amplitude and subtract ref phase
     ref_amp_safe = np.where(ref_amplitude > 1e-12, ref_amplitude, 1e-12)
-    norm_ch1 = ch1_v / ref_amp_safe
-    norm_ch2 = ch2_v / ref_amp_safe
+    z_norm = (ch1_v / ref_amp_safe + 1j * ch2_v / ref_amp_safe) * np.exp(-1j * ref_phase_aligned)
 
-    # Build normalized complex signal and subtract ref phase
-    z_norm = (norm_ch1 + 1j * norm_ch2) * np.exp(-1j * ref_phase_aligned)
+    norm_ch1 = np.real(z_norm)
+    norm_ch2 = np.imag(z_norm)
 
     amp_norm = np.abs(z_norm)
     phase_norm = np.unwrap(np.angle(z_norm))