diff --git a/inc/template-tags.php b/inc/template-tags.php
index bc5fd31f28..fc99b76416 100644
--- a/inc/template-tags.php
+++ b/inc/template-tags.php
@@ -134,10 +134,14 @@ function _s_post_thumbnail() {
 
 		<a class="post-thumbnail" href="<?php the_permalink(); ?>" aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1">
 			<?php
-			the_post_thumbnail( 'post-thumbnail', array(
-				'alt' => the_title_attribute( array(
+			$post_thumbnail_alt = get_post_meta( get_post_thumbnail_id(), '_wp_attachment_image_alt', true );
+			if( empty( $post_thumbnail_alt ) ) {
+				$post_thumbnail_alt = the_title_attribute( array(
 					'echo' => false,
-				) ),
+				) );
+			}
+			the_post_thumbnail( 'post-thumbnail', array(
+				'alt' => sanitize_text_field( $post_thumbnail_alt ),
 			) );
 			?>
 		</a>