diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 9af3fa4..f3ae274 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -201,6 +201,7 @@ Adding a cover image to your post is simple and there are two options when you e
   * Resulting in `https://www.yourpage.com/path/to/absolute/img.jpg`
 * Use `cover = "img.jpg"` and `useRelativeCover = true` to link the image relative to the blog post folder
   * Resulting in `https://www.yourpage.com/posts/blog-entry-xy/img.jpg`
+* Use `coverAlt = "description of image"` to add custom alt text to the cover image (defaults to post or page title as alt text)
 * Use `coverCaption = "Image Credit to [Barry Bluejeans](https://unsplash.com/)"` to add a caption for the cover image.
 
 ## How to display the Last Modified Date in your posts
diff --git a/layouts/_default/index.html b/layouts/_default/index.html
index 739f38c..d349856 100644
--- a/layouts/_default/index.html
+++ b/layouts/_default/index.html
@@ -45,9 +45,9 @@
       {{ if .Params.Cover }}
         <figure class="post-cover">
           {{ if .Params.UseRelativeCover }}
-            <img src="{{ (printf "%s%s" .Permalink .Params.Cover ) }}" alt="{{ .Title | plainify | default " " }}"/>
+            <img src="{{ (printf "%s%s" .Permalink .Params.Cover ) }}" alt="{{ .Params.CoverAlt | plainify | default .Title }}"/>
           {{ else }}
-            <img src="{{ .Params.Cover | absURL }}" alt="{{ .Title | plainify | default " " }}"/>
+            <img src="{{ .Params.Cover | absURL }}" alt="{{ .Params.CoverAlt | plainify | default .Title }}"/>
           {{ end }}
 
           {{ if .Params.CoverCaption }}
diff --git a/layouts/_default/list.html b/layouts/_default/list.html
index 39a6be0..c60d853 100644
--- a/layouts/_default/list.html
+++ b/layouts/_default/list.html
@@ -30,9 +30,9 @@
       {{ if .Params.Cover }}
         <figure class="post-cover">
           {{ if .Params.UseRelativeCover }}
-            <img src="{{ (printf "%s%s" .Permalink .Params.Cover ) }}" alt="{{ .Title | plainify | default " " }}" />
+            <img src="{{ (printf "%s%s" .Permalink .Params.Cover ) }}" alt="{{ .Params.CoverAlt | plainify | default .Title }}" />
           {{ else }}
-            <img src="{{ .Params.Cover | absURL }}" alt="{{ .Title | plainify | default " " }}" />
+            <img src="{{ .Params.Cover | absURL }}" alt="{{ .Params.CoverAlt | plainify | default .Title }}" />
           {{ end }}
 
           {{ if .Params.CoverCaption }}
diff --git a/layouts/_default/single.html b/layouts/_default/single.html
index 1e766ca..e94ef00 100644
--- a/layouts/_default/single.html
+++ b/layouts/_default/single.html
@@ -34,9 +34,9 @@
     {{ if .Params.Cover }}
       <figure class="post-cover">
         {{ if .Params.UseRelativeCover }}
-          <img src="{{ (printf "%s%s" .Permalink .Params.Cover ) }}" alt="{{ .Title | plainify | default " " }}" />
+          <img src="{{ (printf "%s%s" .Permalink .Params.Cover ) }}" alt="{{ .Params.CoverAlt | plainify | default .Title }}" />
         {{ else }}
-          <img src="{{ .Params.Cover | absURL }}" alt="{{ .Title | plainify | default " " }}" />
+          <img src="{{ .Params.Cover | absURL }}" alt="{{ .Params.CoverAlt | plainify | default .Title }}" />
         {{ end }}
 
         {{ if .Params.CoverCaption }}