A system and method for mitigating nonlinearity in an optical communication link with multiple carriers uses mutual frequency referencing to stabilize at least a portion of the multiple carriers. Using at least one frequency-referenced signal, carrier nonlinearity can be determined and compensated within the link by pre-distortion, back-propagation, or a combination of both. Mutual frequency referencing may be performed at the emitting end of the link, at the receiving end, or a combination of both.