diff --git a/python/tests/unit/collectors/test_references.py b/python/tests/unit/collectors/test_references.py
index cec0ca2..c0345ff 100644
--- a/python/tests/unit/collectors/test_references.py
+++ b/python/tests/unit/collectors/test_references.py
@@ -1389,6 +1389,11 @@ class TestFootnoteReferences:
     @pytest.mark.parametrize(
         ("md", "expected_id"),
         [
+            pytest.param(
+                b"[^]",
+                b"",
+                id="footnote-ref-empty-id",
+            ),
             pytest.param(
                 b"[^1]",
                 b"1",
@@ -1419,11 +1424,6 @@ class TestFootnoteReferences:
     @pytest.mark.parametrize(
         ("md", "expected_id"),
         [
-            pytest.param(
-                b"[^]",
-                b"^",
-                id="link-ref",
-            ),
             pytest.param(
                 b"[^ ]",
                 b"^ ",
diff --git a/python/zensical/collectors/references/cursor.py b/python/zensical/collectors/references/cursor.py
index bc7f777..8db0550 100644
--- a/python/zensical/collectors/references/cursor.py
+++ b/python/zensical/collectors/references/cursor.py
@@ -871,10 +871,7 @@ def _scan_footnote_ref_or_def(
     if end >= cursor.end or cursor.data[end] != _RBRACKET:
         return None
 
-    # Skip if we didn't find an id
     id = cursor.span(start + 2, end)
-    if id.start == id.end:
-        return None
 
     # Validate id - non-empty, no internal spaces
     text = cursor.data[id.start : id.end]