diff --git a/packages/core-data/src/footnotes/index.js b/packages/core-data/src/footnotes/index.js
index b80ba65d142edb..066c0ea37a8240 100644
--- a/packages/core-data/src/footnotes/index.js
+++ b/packages/core-data/src/footnotes/index.js
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ export function updateFootnotesFromMeta( blocks, meta ) {
 			const richTextValue =
 				typeof value === 'string'
 					? RichTextData.fromHTMLString( value )
-					: value;
+					: new RichTextData( value );
 
 			richTextValue.replacements.forEach( ( replacement ) => {
 				if ( replacement.type === 'core/footnote' ) {
diff --git a/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/footnotes.spec.js b/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/footnotes.spec.js
index 52dde38cac8136..01017b2d2ea2e6 100644
--- a/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/footnotes.spec.js
+++ b/test/e2e/specs/editor/various/footnotes.spec.js
@@ -60,6 +60,9 @@ test.describe( 'Footnotes', () => {
 			},
 		] );
 
+		// Check if the numbers in the editor content updated.
+		await expect( editor.canvas.locator( '.fn' ) ).toHaveText( '1' );
+
 		await editor.canvas.locator( 'p:text("first paragraph")' ).click();
 
 		await editor.showBlockToolbar();