diff --git a/commonmark/src/main/java/org/commonmark/internal/ListBlockParser.java b/commonmark/src/main/java/org/commonmark/internal/ListBlockParser.java
index f160b10f..e6088c0a 100644
--- a/commonmark/src/main/java/org/commonmark/internal/ListBlockParser.java
+++ b/commonmark/src/main/java/org/commonmark/internal/ListBlockParser.java
@@ -211,7 +211,8 @@ public BlockStart tryStart(ParserState state, MatchedBlockParser matchedBlockPar
             }
             int markerIndex = state.getNextNonSpaceIndex();
             int markerColumn = state.getColumn() + state.getIndent();
-            boolean inParagraph = !matchedBlockParser.getParagraphLines().isEmpty();
+            // A paragraph that only has link reference definitions so far is still open
+            boolean inParagraph = matched.getBlock() instanceof Paragraph;
             ListData listData =
                     parseList(state.getLine().getContent(), markerIndex, markerColumn, inParagraph);
             if (listData == null) {
diff --git a/commonmark/src/test/java/org/commonmark/test/SpecialInputTest.java b/commonmark/src/test/java/org/commonmark/test/SpecialInputTest.java
index f8d03df9..59382b28 100644
--- a/commonmark/src/test/java/org/commonmark/test/SpecialInputTest.java
+++ b/commonmark/src/test/java/org/commonmark/test/SpecialInputTest.java
@@ -223,6 +223,20 @@ public void linkReferenceDefinitionWithUnbalancedParens() {
                 "[foo]: a(b) \"t\"\n\n[foo]", "<p><a href=\"a(b)\" title=\"t\">foo</a></p>\n");
     }
 
+    @Test
+    public void listCanNotInterruptParagraphWithOnlyLinkReferenceDefinitions() {
+        // The paragraph is still open, so the same rules apply as for a paragraph with text: an
+        // ordered list must start with 1 and an empty list item can not interrupt it
+        assertRendering(
+                "[foo]: /url\n2. a\n\n[foo]", "<p>2. a</p>\n<p><a href=\"/url\">foo</a></p>\n");
+        assertRendering("[foo]: /url\n-\n\n[foo]", "<p>-</p>\n<p><a href=\"/url\">foo</a></p>\n");
+        assertRendering("[foo]: /url \"t\"\n2. a", "<p>2. a</p>\n");
+        assertRendering("> [foo]: /url\n> 2. a", "<blockquote>\n<p>2. a</p>\n</blockquote>\n");
+        // These can interrupt it
+        assertRendering("[foo]: /url\n1. a", "<ol>\n<li>a</li>\n</ol>\n");
+        assertRendering("[foo]: /url\n- a", "<ul>\n<li>a</li>\n</ul>\n");
+    }
+
     @Test
     public void linkLabelLength() {
         String label1 = "a".repeat(999);