diff --git a/src/wp-includes/class-wp-xmlrpc-server.php b/src/wp-includes/class-wp-xmlrpc-server.php
index a41810305d..ae9a658718 100644
--- a/src/wp-includes/class-wp-xmlrpc-server.php
+++ b/src/wp-includes/class-wp-xmlrpc-server.php
@@ -1067,6 +1067,7 @@ class wp_xmlrpc_server extends IXR_Server {
 			'description'      => $media_item->post_content,
 			'metadata'         => wp_get_attachment_metadata( $media_item->ID ),
 			'type'             => $media_item->post_mime_type,
+			'alt'              => get_post_meta( $media_item->ID, '_wp_attachment_image_alt', true ),
 		);
 
 		$thumbnail_src = image_downsize( $media_item->ID, $thumbnail_size );
diff --git a/tests/phpunit/tests/xmlrpc/wp/getMediaItem.php b/tests/phpunit/tests/xmlrpc/wp/getMediaItem.php
index fe1cd13f20..16eec13284 100644
--- a/tests/phpunit/tests/xmlrpc/wp/getMediaItem.php
+++ b/tests/phpunit/tests/xmlrpc/wp/getMediaItem.php
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ class Tests_XMLRPC_wp_getMediaItem extends WP_XMLRPC_UnitTestCase {
 
 		$this->attachment_id   = $this->_make_attachment( $upload, self::$post_id );
 		$this->attachment_data = get_post( $this->attachment_id, ARRAY_A );
+		update_post_meta( $this->attachment_id, '_wp_attachment_image_alt', 'Waffle has alt text' );
 
 		set_post_thumbnail( self::$post_id, $this->attachment_id );
 	}
@@ -60,6 +61,7 @@ class Tests_XMLRPC_wp_getMediaItem extends WP_XMLRPC_UnitTestCase {
 		$this->assertIsString( $result['link'] );
 		$this->assertIsString( $result['thumbnail'] );
 		$this->assertIsArray( $result['metadata'] );
+		$this->assertIsString( $result['alt'] );
 
 		// Check expected values.
 		$this->assertStringMatchesFormat( '%d', $result['attachment_id'] );