diff --git a/core/modules/parsers/wikiparser/rules/transcludeblock.js b/core/modules/parsers/wikiparser/rules/transcludeblock.js
index c033c2440..d6dad6df3 100644
--- a/core/modules/parsers/wikiparser/rules/transcludeblock.js
+++ b/core/modules/parsers/wikiparser/rules/transcludeblock.js
@@ -81,6 +81,9 @@ exports.parse = function() {
 			}
 			return [tiddlerNode];
 		} else {
+			// No template or text reference is provided, so we'll use a blank target. Otherwise we'll generate
+			// a transclude widget that transcludes the current tiddler, often leading to recursion errors
+			transcludeNode.attributes["$tiddler"] = {name: "$tiddler", type: "string", value: ""};
 			return [transcludeNode];
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/core/modules/parsers/wikiparser/rules/transcludeinline.js b/core/modules/parsers/wikiparser/rules/transcludeinline.js
index 3ce9dc78e..87529ca8d 100644
--- a/core/modules/parsers/wikiparser/rules/transcludeinline.js
+++ b/core/modules/parsers/wikiparser/rules/transcludeinline.js
@@ -79,6 +79,9 @@ exports.parse = function() {
 			}
 			return [tiddlerNode];
 		} else {
+			// No template or text reference is provided, so we'll use a blank target. Otherwise we'll generate
+			// a transclude widget that transcludes the current tiddler, often leading to recursion errors
+			transcludeNode.attributes["$tiddler"] = {name: "$tiddler", type: "string", value: ""};
 			return [transcludeNode];
 		}
 	}