diff --git a/src/intermediate/registry.rs b/src/intermediate/registry.rs
index a835283..9631268 100644
--- a/src/intermediate/registry.rs
+++ b/src/intermediate/registry.rs
@@ -82,13 +82,21 @@ pub(crate) async fn get_footnote_reference_id<'orig, 'parse>(
         }
         Ok(existing_id)
     } else {
-        let contents = convert_reference_contents(registry.clone(), definition).await?;
-        let pos = {
+        let existing_id = {
             let mut registry = registry.lock().unwrap();
-            registry.footnote_ids.push((label, contents));
+            registry.footnote_ids.push((label, Vec::new()));
             registry.footnote_ids.len() - 1
         };
-        Ok(pos)
+        let contents = convert_reference_contents(registry.clone(), definition).await?;
+        {
+            let mut registry = registry.lock().unwrap();
+            let entry = registry
+                .footnote_ids
+                .get_mut(existing_id)
+                .expect("If-statement proves this to be Some.");
+            entry.1 = contents;
+        }
+        Ok(existing_id)
     }
 }
 
@@ -163,9 +171,20 @@ pub(crate) async fn promote_footnote_definition<'orig, 'parse>(
         definition
     };
     if let Some(elements) = definition {
+        let existing_id = {
+            let mut registry = registry.lock().unwrap();
+            registry.footnote_ids.push((Some(label), Vec::new()));
+            registry.footnote_ids.len() - 1
+        };
         let contents = convert_definition_contents(registry.clone(), elements).await?;
-        let mut registry = registry.lock().unwrap();
-        registry.footnote_ids.push((Some(label), contents));
+        {
+            let mut registry = registry.lock().unwrap();
+            let entry = registry
+                .footnote_ids
+                .get_mut(existing_id)
+                .expect("If-statement proves this to be Some.");
+            entry.1 = contents;
+        }
     }
     Ok(())
 }