diff --git a/crates/docx/src/write/mod.rs b/crates/docx/src/write/mod.rs
index 83a54b079..b2a1aaf45 100644
--- a/crates/docx/src/write/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/docx/src/write/mod.rs
@@ -67,6 +67,8 @@ pub(crate) struct Writer<'d> {
     para_ids: HashMap<usize, String>,
     /// A note reference mark to put at the start of the next paragraph.
     pending_mark: Option<&'static str>,
+    /// The note being written (is footnote, part id): its reference to itself is the mark above.
+    current_note: Option<(bool, u32)>,
     /// Media keys actually referenced by a written drawing.
     used_media: std::collections::BTreeSet<String>,
 }
@@ -88,6 +90,7 @@ pub fn write(doc: &Document) -> Result<Vec<u8>, DocxError> {
         hf: Vec::new(),
         para_ids: HashMap::new(),
         pending_mark: None,
+        current_note: None,
         used_media: Default::default(),
     };
     wr.assign_media();
@@ -172,7 +175,7 @@ pub fn write(doc: &Document) -> Result<Vec<u8>, DocxError> {
             let nid = k.to_string();
             w.open(tag, &[("w:id", &nid)]);
             let blocks: Blocks = doc.parts.get(&pid).map(|p| p.blocks.clone()).unwrap_or_default();
-            wr.note_blocks(&mut w, &blocks, &mut prels, foot);
+            wr.note_blocks(&mut w, &blocks, &mut prels, foot, pid);
             w.close(tag);
         }
         w.close(root);
@@ -440,9 +443,11 @@ impl Writer<'_> {
     }
 
     /// Note stories: the first paragraph starts with the note's own reference mark.
-    fn note_blocks(&mut self, w: &mut W, blocks: &Blocks, rels: &mut PartRels, foot: bool) {
+    fn note_blocks(&mut self, w: &mut W, blocks: &Blocks, rels: &mut PartRels, foot: bool, part: u32) {
         self.pending_mark = Some(if foot { "w:footnoteRef" } else { "w:endnoteRef" });
+        self.current_note = Some((foot, part));
         self.blocks(w, blocks, rels, false, 0);
+        self.current_note = None;
         self.pending_mark = None;
     }
 }
diff --git a/crates/docx/src/write/story.rs b/crates/docx/src/write/story.rs
index 1bad0e9f9..c2036c8f8 100644
--- a/crates/docx/src/write/story.rs
+++ b/crates/docx/src/write/story.rs
@@ -279,6 +279,10 @@ impl Writer<'_> {
             InlineObject::Field { instr, result, locked } => self.field(w, instr, result, *locked, props),
             InlineObject::NoteRef { kind, id, custom } => {
                 let foot = *kind == NoteKind::Footnote;
+                if self.current_note == Some((foot, *id)) {
+                    // The note's own number: already written as the w:footnoteRef / w:endnoteRef mark.
+                    return;
+                }
                 let nid = self.note_id(*id, foot);
                 let mut p = props.clone();
                 if p.style.is_none() && p.vert_align.is_none() {
diff --git a/crates/docx/tests/roundtrip.rs b/crates/docx/tests/roundtrip.rs
index 0ac1a1291..ad84f1a6c 100644
--- a/crates/docx/tests/roundtrip.rs
+++ b/crates/docx/tests/roundtrip.rs
@@ -448,6 +448,33 @@ fn notes_round_trip() {
     assert_eq!(r.settings.endnote_format, NumFormat::UpperRoman);
 }
 
+/// `references.footnote` starts the note's own text with a reference to the note, so the editor shows
+/// its number. In the file that is the `w:footnoteRef` mark; a `w:footnoteReference` there would make
+/// the note cite itself, which LibreOffice refuses to open.
+#[test]
+fn note_never_references_itself() {
+    let mut d = Document::new();
+    let f = d.add_part(PartKind::Footnote, Vec::new());
+    let mut note = Paragraph::with_text(" The note.", CharProps::default());
+    note.insert_object(0, InlineObject::NoteRef { kind: NoteKind::Footnote, id: f, custom: String::new() }, &CharProps::default()).unwrap();
+    d.parts.get_mut(&f).unwrap().blocks = vec![para_block(note)];
+    let mut p = Paragraph::with_text("Text", CharProps::default());
+    p.insert_object(4, InlineObject::NoteRef { kind: NoteKind::Footnote, id: f, custom: String::new() }, &CharProps::default()).unwrap();
+    d.body = vec![para_block(p)];
+
+    let bytes = wordcraft_docx::write(&d).expect("write");
+    let mut zip = zip::ZipArchive::new(std::io::Cursor::new(&bytes)).unwrap();
+    let mut xml = String::new();
+    std::io::Read::read_to_string(&mut zip.by_name("word/footnotes.xml").unwrap(), &mut xml).unwrap();
+    assert!(!xml.contains("<w:footnoteReference"), "a footnote cites itself: {xml}");
+    assert_eq!(xml.matches("<w:footnoteRef/>").count(), 1, "{xml}");
+
+    let r = wordcraft_docx::read(&bytes).expect("read");
+    let got = paras(&r)[0];
+    let Some(InlineObject::NoteRef { id, .. }) = got.objects.first() else { panic!("{:?}", got.objects) };
+    assert_eq!(part_text(&r, Some(*id)).trim(), "The note.");
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn tracked_changes_round_trip() {
     let mut d = Document::new();