diff --git a/poi-ooxml/src/test/java/org/apache/poi/xssf/usermodel/TestXSSFWorkbook.java b/poi-ooxml/src/test/java/org/apache/poi/xssf/usermodel/TestXSSFWorkbook.java
index 1087a4327e..de1e1cc312 100644
--- a/poi-ooxml/src/test/java/org/apache/poi/xssf/usermodel/TestXSSFWorkbook.java
+++ b/poi-ooxml/src/test/java/org/apache/poi/xssf/usermodel/TestXSSFWorkbook.java
@@ -1357,6 +1357,22 @@ public final class TestXSSFWorkbook extends BaseTestXWorkbook {
         }
     }
 
+    @Test
+    void checkNewFileForR1C1Refs() throws IOException {
+        try (
+                UnsynchronizedByteArrayOutputStream bos = new UnsynchronizedByteArrayOutputStream();
+                XSSFWorkbook wb = new XSSFWorkbook()
+        ) {
+            assertNull(wb.usesR1C1CellReferences());
+            wb.setUseR1C1CellReferences(true);
+            assertTrue(wb.usesR1C1CellReferences());
+            wb.write(bos);
+            try (XSSFWorkbook wb2 = new XSSFWorkbook(bos.toInputStream())) {
+                assertTrue(wb2.usesR1C1CellReferences());
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
     private static void expectFormattedContent(Cell cell, String value) {
         assertEquals(value, new DataFormatter().formatCellValue(cell),
                 "Cell " + ref(cell) + " has wrong formatted content.");
diff --git a/poi/src/main/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/usermodel/HSSFWorkbook.java b/poi/src/main/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/usermodel/HSSFWorkbook.java
index 139e19e2fe..a6080ff833 100644
--- a/poi/src/main/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/usermodel/HSSFWorkbook.java
+++ b/poi/src/main/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/usermodel/HSSFWorkbook.java
@@ -1769,6 +1769,16 @@ public final class HSSFWorkbook extends POIDocument implements Workbook {
         return null;
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Configure workbook to use R1C1 cell references (as opposed to A1 cell references).
+     * <p>
+     *     Note that HSSF format stores this information at sheet level - so if the workbook has no sheets,
+     *     this call will have no effect. It is recommended that you call this (possibly again) just before
+     *     writing HSSFWorkbook.
+     * </p>
+     * @param useR1C1CellReferences set to true if you want to configure workbook to use R1C1 cell references (as opposed to A1 cell references).
+     * @since POI 5.2.1
+     */
     @Override
     public void setUseR1C1CellReferences(boolean useR1C1CellReferences) {
         for (HSSFSheet hssfSheet : _sheets) {
diff --git a/poi/src/test/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/usermodel/TestHSSFWorkbook.java b/poi/src/test/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/usermodel/TestHSSFWorkbook.java
index d0a5129cc8..35caef0690 100644
--- a/poi/src/test/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/usermodel/TestHSSFWorkbook.java
+++ b/poi/src/test/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/usermodel/TestHSSFWorkbook.java
@@ -1194,6 +1194,24 @@ public final class TestHSSFWorkbook extends BaseTestWorkbook {
         }
     }
 
+    @Test
+    void checkNewFileForR1C1Refs() throws IOException {
+        try (
+                UnsynchronizedByteArrayOutputStream bos = new UnsynchronizedByteArrayOutputStream();
+                HSSFWorkbook wb = new HSSFWorkbook()
+        ) {
+            assertNull(wb.usesR1C1CellReferences());
+            HSSFSheet sheet = wb.createSheet();
+            assertFalse(wb.usesR1C1CellReferences());
+            wb.setUseR1C1CellReferences(true);
+            assertTrue(wb.usesR1C1CellReferences());
+            wb.write(bos);
+            try (HSSFWorkbook wb2 = new HSSFWorkbook(bos.toInputStream())) {
+                assertTrue(wb2.usesR1C1CellReferences());
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
     @Disabled
     void createDrawing() {
         // the dimensions for this image are different than for XSSF and SXSSF