diff --git a/markdown_it/rules_inline/image.py b/markdown_it/rules_inline/image.py
index 4bba0bdf..fc23a69d 100644
--- a/markdown_it/rules_inline/image.py
+++ b/markdown_it/rules_inline/image.py
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@
 
 def image(state: StateInline, silent: bool):
 
-    tokens: List[Token] = []
     label = None
     href = ""
     oldPos = state.pos
@@ -134,11 +133,13 @@ def image(state: StateInline, silent: bool):
     if not silent:
         content = state.src[labelStart:labelEnd]
 
+        tokens: List[Token] = []
         state.md.inline.parse(content, state.md, state.env, tokens)
 
         token = state.push("image", "img", 0)
         token.attrs = [["src", href], ["alt", ""]]
         token.children = tokens or None
+        token.content = content
 
         if title:
             token.attrs.append(["title", title])
diff --git a/tests/test_port/test_references.py b/tests/test_port/test_references.py
index 95761368..1f1eba1a 100644
--- a/tests/test_port/test_references.py
+++ b/tests/test_port/test_references.py
@@ -279,7 +279,7 @@ def test_store_labels():
                             hidden=False,
                         )
                     ],
-                    content="",
+                    content="a",
                     markup="",
                     info="",
                     meta={"label": "A"},