diff --git a/docs/changes/1.x/1.3.0.md b/docs/changes/1.x/1.3.0.md
index f55fc6d262..6157befb03 100644
--- a/docs/changes/1.x/1.3.0.md
+++ b/docs/changes/1.x/1.3.0.md
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
 - Template Processor : Fixed images with transparent backgrounds displaying a white background by [@ElwynVdb](https://github.com/ElwynVdb) in [#2638](https://github.com/PHPOffice/PHPWord/pull/2638)
 - HTML Writer : Fixed rowspan for tables by [@andomiell](https://github.com/andomiell) in [#2659](https://github.com/PHPOffice/PHPWord/pull/2659)
 - Word2007 Writer : Fixed StrikeThrough property by [@noec764](https://github.com/noec764) fixing [#1722](https://github.com/PHPOffice/PHPWord/issues/1722) & [#1693](https://github.com/PHPOffice/PHPWord/issues/1693) in [#2661](https://github.com/PHPOffice/PHPWord/pull/2661)
+- HTML Reader : Fixed link without href by [@asmundstavdahl](https://github.com/asmundstavdahl) fixing [#1562](https://github.com/PHPOffice/PHPWord/issues/1562) in [#2663](https://github.com/PHPOffice/PHPWord/pull/2663)
 
 ### Miscellaneous
 
diff --git a/src/PhpWord/Shared/Html.php b/src/PhpWord/Shared/Html.php
index 602b74ccbb..f65c67435b 100644
--- a/src/PhpWord/Shared/Html.php
+++ b/src/PhpWord/Shared/Html.php
@@ -1156,7 +1156,11 @@ protected static function parseLink($node, $element, &$styles)
         }
         $styles['font'] = self::parseInlineStyle($node, $styles['font']);
 
-        if (strpos($target, '#') === 0) {
+        if (empty($target)) {
+            $target = '#';
+        }
+
+        if (strpos($target, '#') === 0 && strlen($target) > 1) {
             return $element->addLink(substr($target, 1), $node->textContent, $styles['font'], $styles['paragraph'], true);
         }
 
diff --git a/tests/PhpWordTests/Shared/HtmlTest.php b/tests/PhpWordTests/Shared/HtmlTest.php
index 8144eb6f72..2d39701cd1 100644
--- a/tests/PhpWordTests/Shared/HtmlTest.php
+++ b/tests/PhpWordTests/Shared/HtmlTest.php
@@ -984,6 +984,27 @@ public function testParseLink2(): void
         self::assertEquals('bookmark', $doc->getElement('/w:document/w:body/w:p/w:hyperlink')->getAttribute('w:anchor'));
     }
 
+    public function testParseLinkAllowsAbsenceOfHref(): void
+    {
+        $phpWord = new \PhpOffice\PhpWord\PhpWord();
+        $section = $phpWord->addSection();
+        $html = '<p><a>text of href-less link</a></p>';
+        Html::addHtml($section, $html);
+        $doc = TestHelperDOCX::getDocument($phpWord, 'Word2007');
+
+        self::assertTrue($doc->elementExists('/w:document/w:body/w:p/w:hyperlink'));
+        self::assertEquals('text of href-less link', $doc->getElement('/w:document/w:body/w:p/w:hyperlink/w:r/w:t')->nodeValue);
+
+        $phpWord = new \PhpOffice\PhpWord\PhpWord();
+        $section = $phpWord->addSection();
+        $html = '<p><a href="">text of empty-href link</a></p>';
+        Html::addHtml($section, $html);
+        $doc = TestHelperDOCX::getDocument($phpWord, 'Word2007');
+
+        self::assertTrue($doc->elementExists('/w:document/w:body/w:p/w:hyperlink'));
+        self::assertEquals('text of empty-href link', $doc->getElement('/w:document/w:body/w:p/w:hyperlink/w:r/w:t')->nodeValue);
+    }
+
     public function testParseMalformedStyleIsIgnored(): void
     {
         $phpWord = new PhpWord();