diff --git a/wp-includes/media.php b/wp-includes/media.php
index bfd71cdcb3..804a34f6ac 100644
--- a/wp-includes/media.php
+++ b/wp-includes/media.php
@@ -1962,6 +1962,12 @@ function wp_img_tag_add_loading_attr( $image, $context ) {
  * @return string Converted `img` tag with `decoding` attribute added.
  */
 function wp_img_tag_add_decoding_attr( $image, $context ) {
+	// Only apply the decoding attribute to images that have a src attribute that
+	// starts with a double quote, ensuring escaped JSON is also excluded.
+	if ( false === strpos( $image, ' src="' ) ) {
+		return $image;
+	}
+
 	/**
 	 * Filters the `decoding` attribute value to add to an image. Default `async`.
 	 *
diff --git a/wp-includes/version.php b/wp-includes/version.php
index f6aa7808a3..d9579c03ba 100644
--- a/wp-includes/version.php
+++ b/wp-includes/version.php
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
  *
  * @global string $wp_version
  */
-$wp_version = '6.1.1-alpha-54806';
+$wp_version = '6.1.1-alpha-54807';
 
 /**
  * Holds the WordPress DB revision, increments when changes are made to the WordPress DB schema.