diff --git a/routes/_actions/compose.js b/routes/_actions/compose.js
index d0c0a1b1..f221178e 100644
--- a/routes/_actions/compose.js
+++ b/routes/_actions/compose.js
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import { postStatus as postStatusToServer } from '../_api/statuses'
 import { addStatusOrNotification } from './addStatusOrNotification'
 import { database } from '../_database/database'
 import { emit } from '../_utils/eventBus'
+import { putMediaDescription } from '../_api/media'
 
 export async function insertHandleForReply (statusId) {
   let instanceName = store.get('currentInstance')
@@ -20,7 +21,8 @@ export async function insertHandleForReply (statusId) {
 }
 
 export async function postStatus (realm, text, inReplyToId, mediaIds,
-                                  sensitive, spoilerText, visibility) {
+                                  sensitive, spoilerText, visibility,
+                                  mediaDescriptions = []) {
   let instanceName = store.get('currentInstance')
   let accessToken = store.get('accessToken')
   let online = store.get('online')
@@ -34,6 +36,9 @@ export async function postStatus (realm, text, inReplyToId, mediaIds,
     postingStatus: true
   })
   try {
+    await Promise.all(mediaDescriptions.map(async (description, i) => {
+      return description && putMediaDescription(instanceName, accessToken, mediaIds[i], description)
+    }))
     let status = await postStatusToServer(instanceName, accessToken, text,
       inReplyToId, mediaIds, sensitive, spoilerText, visibility)
     addStatusOrNotification(instanceName, 'home', status)
diff --git a/routes/_actions/media.js b/routes/_actions/media.js
index 14bc322f..131f3938 100644
--- a/routes/_actions/media.js
+++ b/routes/_actions/media.js
@@ -36,9 +36,15 @@ export function deleteMedia (realm, i) {
   let composeText = store.getComposeData(realm, 'text') || ''
   composeText = composeText.replace(' ' + deletedMedia.data.text_url, '')
 
+  let mediaDescriptions = store.getComposeData(realm, 'mediaDescriptions') || []
+  if (mediaDescriptions[i]) {
+    mediaDescriptions[i] = null
+  }
+
   store.setComposeData(realm, {
     media: composeMedia,
-    text: composeText
+    text: composeText,
+    mediaDescriptions: mediaDescriptions
   })
   scheduleIdleTask(() => store.save())
 }
diff --git a/routes/_api/media.js b/routes/_api/media.js
index 13110615..aefc22f8 100644
--- a/routes/_api/media.js
+++ b/routes/_api/media.js
@@ -1,10 +1,17 @@
 import { auth, basename } from './utils'
-import { postWithTimeout } from '../_utils/ajax'
+import { postWithTimeout, putWithTimeout } from '../_utils/ajax'
 
 export async function uploadMedia (instanceName, accessToken, file, description) {
   let formData = new FormData()
   formData.append('file', file)
-  formData.append('description', description)
+  if (description) {
+    formData.append('description', description)
+  }
   let url = `${basename(instanceName)}/api/v1/media`
   return postWithTimeout(url, formData, auth(accessToken))
 }
+
+export async function putMediaDescription (instanceName, accessToken, mediaId, description) {
+  let url = `${basename(instanceName)}/api/v1/media/${mediaId}`
+  return putWithTimeout(url, {description}, auth(accessToken))
+}
diff --git a/routes/_components/compose/ComposeBox.html b/routes/_components/compose/ComposeBox.html
index 19a41132..b03e5a13 100644
--- a/routes/_components/compose/ComposeBox.html
+++ b/routes/_components/compose/ComposeBox.html
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
   <ComposeLengthGauge :length :overLimit />
   <ComposeToolbar :realm :postPrivacy :media :contentWarningShown :text />
   <ComposeLengthIndicator :length :overLimit />
-  <ComposeMedia :realm :media />
+  <ComposeMedia :realm :media :mediaDescriptions />
 </div>
 <div class="compose-box-button-sentinel {{hideAndFadeIn}}" ref:sentinel></div>
 <div class="compose-box-button-wrapper {{realm === 'home' ? 'compose-button-sticky' : ''}} {{hideAndFadeIn}}" >
@@ -170,7 +170,8 @@
       overLimit: (length) => length > CHAR_LIMIT,
       contentWarningShown: (composeData) => composeData.contentWarningShown,
       contentWarning: (composeData) => composeData.contentWarning || '',
-      timelineInitialized: ($timelineInitialized) => $timelineInitialized
+      timelineInitialized: ($timelineInitialized) => $timelineInitialized,
+      mediaDescriptions: (composeData) => composeData.mediaDescriptions || []
     },
     transitions: {
       slide
@@ -193,6 +194,7 @@
           let mediaIds = media.map(_ => _.data.id)
           let inReplyTo = (realm === 'home' || realm === 'dialog') ? null : realm
           let overLimit = this.get('overLimit')
+          let mediaDescriptions = this.get('mediaDescriptions')
 
           if (!text || overLimit) {
             return // do nothing if invalid
@@ -200,7 +202,7 @@
 
           /* no await */
           postStatus(realm, text, inReplyTo, mediaIds,
-            sensitive, contentWarning, postPrivacyKey)
+            sensitive, contentWarning, postPrivacyKey, mediaDescriptions)
         }
       },
       setupStickyObserver() {
diff --git a/routes/_components/compose/ComposeInput.html b/routes/_components/compose/ComposeInput.html
index 5a17b1f5..f00043a1 100644
--- a/routes/_components/compose/ComposeInput.html
+++ b/routes/_components/compose/ComposeInput.html
@@ -67,13 +67,13 @@
         })
       },
       setupSyncToStore() {
-        const saveText = debounce(() => scheduleIdleTask(() => this.store.save()), 1000)
+        const saveStore = debounce(() => scheduleIdleTask(() => this.store.save()), 1000)
 
         this.observe('rawText', rawText => {
           mark('observe rawText')
           let realm = this.get('realm')
           this.store.setComposeData(realm, {text: rawText})
-          saveText()
+          saveStore()
           stop('observe rawText')
         }, {init: false})
       },
diff --git a/routes/_components/compose/ComposeMedia.html b/routes/_components/compose/ComposeMedia.html
index 2a5d93cf..03371cab 100644
--- a/routes/_components/compose/ComposeMedia.html
+++ b/routes/_components/compose/ComposeMedia.html
@@ -1,23 +1,7 @@
 {{#if media.length}}
   <div class="compose-media-container" style="grid-template-columns: repeat({{media.length}}, 1fr);">
-    {{#each media as mediaItem, i}}
-      <div class="compose-media">
-        <img src="{{mediaItem.data.preview_url}}" alt="{{mediaItem.file.name}}"/>
-        <div class="compose-media-delete">
-          <button class="compose-media-delete-button"
-                  aria-label="Delete {{mediaItem.file.name}}"
-                  on:click="onDeleteMedia(i)" >
-            <svg class="compose-media-delete-button-svg">
-              <use xlink:href="#fa-times" />
-            </svg>
-          </button>
-        </div>
-        <div class="compose-media-alt">
-          <input type="text"
-                 placeholder="Description"
-                 aria-label="Describe {{mediaItem.file.name}} for the visually impaired">
-        </div>
-      </div>
+    {{#each media as mediaItem, index}}
+      <ComposeMediaItem :realm :mediaItem :index :mediaDescriptions />
     {{/each}}
   </div>
 {{/if}}
@@ -33,72 +17,15 @@
     padding: 5px;
     border-radius: 4px;
   }
-  .compose-media {
-    height: 200px;
-    overflow: hidden;
-    flex-direction: column;
-    position: relative;
-    display: flex;
-    background: var(--main-bg);
-  }
-  .compose-media img {
-    object-fit: contain;
-    object-position: center center;
-    flex: 1;
-    height: 100%;
-    width: 100%;
-  }
-  .compose-media-alt {
-    z-index: 10;
-    position: absolute;
-    bottom: 0;
-    left: 0;
-    right: 0;
-    display: flex;
-    justify-content: center;
-  }
-  .compose-media-alt input {
-    width: 100%;
-    font-size: 1.2em;
-    background: var(--alt-input-bg);
-  }
-  .compose-media-alt input:focus {
-    background: var(--main-bg);
-  }
-  .compose-media-delete {
-    position: absolute;
-    z-index: 10;
-    top: 0;
-    right: 0;
-    left: 0;
-    display: flex;
-    justify-content: flex-end;
-    margin: 2px;
-  }
-  .compose-media-delete-button {
-    padding: 10px;
-    background: none;
-    border: none;
-  }
-  .compose-media-delete-button:hover {
-    background: var(--toast-border);
-  }
-  .compose-media-delete-button-svg {
-    fill: var(--button-text);
-    width: 18px;
-    height: 18px;
-  }
 </style>
 <script>
   import { store } from '../../_store/store'
-  import { deleteMedia } from '../../_actions/media'
+  import ComposeMediaItem from './ComposeMediaItem.html'
 
   export default {
     store: () => store,
-    methods: {
-      onDeleteMedia(i) {
-        deleteMedia(this.get('realm'), i)
-      }
+    components: {
+      ComposeMediaItem
     }
   }
 </script>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/routes/_components/compose/ComposeMediaItem.html b/routes/_components/compose/ComposeMediaItem.html
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c56caead
--- /dev/null
+++ b/routes/_components/compose/ComposeMediaItem.html
@@ -0,0 +1,126 @@
+<div class="compose-media">
+  <img src="{{mediaItem.data.preview_url}}" alt="{{mediaItem.file.name}}"/>
+  <div class="compose-media-delete">
+    <button class="compose-media-delete-button"
+            aria-label="Delete {{mediaItem.file.name}}"
+            on:click="onDeleteMedia()" >
+      <svg class="compose-media-delete-button-svg">
+        <use xlink:href="#fa-times" />
+      </svg>
+    </button>
+  </div>
+  <div class="compose-media-alt">
+    <input type="text"
+           placeholder="Description"
+           aria-label="Describe {{mediaItem.file.name}} for the visually impaired"
+           bind:value=rawText
+    >
+  </div>
+</div>
+<style>
+  .compose-media {
+    height: 200px;
+    overflow: hidden;
+    flex-direction: column;
+    position: relative;
+    display: flex;
+    background: var(--main-bg);
+  }
+  .compose-media img {
+    object-fit: contain;
+    object-position: center center;
+    flex: 1;
+    height: 100%;
+    width: 100%;
+  }
+  .compose-media-alt {
+    z-index: 10;
+    position: absolute;
+    bottom: 0;
+    left: 0;
+    right: 0;
+    display: flex;
+    justify-content: center;
+  }
+  .compose-media-alt input {
+    width: 100%;
+    font-size: 1.2em;
+    background: var(--alt-input-bg);
+  }
+  .compose-media-alt input:focus {
+    background: var(--main-bg);
+  }
+  .compose-media-delete {
+    position: absolute;
+    z-index: 10;
+    top: 0;
+    right: 0;
+    left: 0;
+    display: flex;
+    justify-content: flex-end;
+    margin: 2px;
+  }
+  .compose-media-delete-button {
+    padding: 10px;
+    background: none;
+    border: none;
+  }
+  .compose-media-delete-button:hover {
+    background: var(--toast-border);
+  }
+  .compose-media-delete-button-svg {
+    fill: var(--button-text);
+    width: 18px;
+    height: 18px;
+  }
+</style>
+<script>
+  import { store } from '../../_store/store'
+  import { deleteMedia } from '../../_actions/media'
+  import debounce from 'lodash-es/debounce'
+  import { scheduleIdleTask } from '../../_utils/scheduleIdleTask'
+
+  export default {
+    oncreate() {
+      this.setupSyncFromStore()
+      this.setupSyncToStore()
+    },
+    data: () => ({
+      rawText: ''
+    }),
+    store: () => store,
+    methods: {
+      setupSyncFromStore() {
+        this.observe('mediaDescriptions', mediaDescriptions => {
+          mediaDescriptions = mediaDescriptions || []
+          let index = this.get('index')
+          let text = mediaDescriptions[index] || ''
+          if (this.get('rawText') !== text) {
+            this.set({rawText: text})
+          }
+        })
+      },
+      setupSyncToStore() {
+        const saveStore = debounce(() => scheduleIdleTask(() => this.store.save()), 1000)
+
+        this.observe('rawText', rawText => {
+          let realm = this.get('realm')
+          let index = this.get('index')
+          let mediaDescriptions = store.getComposeData(realm, 'mediaDescriptions') || []
+          if (mediaDescriptions[index] === rawText) {
+            return
+          }
+          while (mediaDescriptions.length <= index) {
+            mediaDescriptions.push(null)
+          }
+          mediaDescriptions[index] = rawText
+          store.setComposeData(realm, {mediaDescriptions})
+          saveStore()
+        }, {init: false})
+      },
+      onDeleteMedia() {
+        deleteMedia(this.get('realm'), this.get('index'))
+      }
+    }
+  }
+</script>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/routes/_components/dialog/helpers/createDialogId.js b/routes/_components/dialog/helpers/createDialogId.js
index 12f63daf..3dfd0cce 100644
--- a/routes/_components/dialog/helpers/createDialogId.js
+++ b/routes/_components/dialog/helpers/createDialogId.js
@@ -2,4 +2,4 @@ let count = -1
 
 export function createDialogId () {
   return ++count
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/routes/_utils/ajax.js b/routes/_utils/ajax.js
index 85896aaf..00b12f64 100644
--- a/routes/_utils/ajax.js
+++ b/routes/_utils/ajax.js
@@ -41,6 +41,26 @@ async function _post (url, body, headers, timeout) {
   return throwErrorIfInvalidResponse(response)
 }
 
+async function _put (url, body, headers, timeout) {
+  let fetchFunc = timeout ? fetchWithTimeout : fetch
+  let opts = {
+    method: 'PUT'
+  }
+  if (body) {
+    opts.headers = Object.assign(headers, {
+      'Accept': 'application/json',
+      'Content-Type': 'application/json'
+    })
+    opts.body = JSON.stringify(body)
+  } else {
+    opts.headers = Object.assign(headers, {
+      'Accept': 'application/json'
+    })
+  }
+  let response = await fetchFunc(url, opts)
+  return throwErrorIfInvalidResponse(response)
+}
+
 async function _get (url, headers, timeout) {
   let fetchFunc = timeout ? fetchWithTimeout : fetch
   let response = await fetchFunc(url, {
@@ -63,6 +83,14 @@ async function _delete (url, headers, timeout) {
   return throwErrorIfInvalidResponse(response)
 }
 
+export async function put (url, body, headers = {}) {
+  return _put(url, body, headers, false)
+}
+
+export async function putWithTimeout (url, body, headers = {}) {
+  return _put(url, body, headers, true)
+}
+
 export async function post (url, body, headers = {}) {
   return _post(url, body, headers, false)
 }
diff --git a/tests/spec/013-compose-media.js b/tests/spec/013-compose-media.js
index 361d7e05..8d5d282e 100644
--- a/tests/spec/013-compose-media.js
+++ b/tests/spec/013-compose-media.js
@@ -1,4 +1,7 @@
-import { composeInput, getNthDeleteMediaButton, getNthMedia, mediaButton, uploadKittenImage } from '../utils'
+import {
+  composeInput, getNthDeleteMediaButton, getNthMedia, mediaButton,
+  uploadKittenImage
+} from '../utils'
 import { foobarRole } from '../roles'
 
 fixture`013-compose-media.js`
diff --git a/tests/spec/108-compose-dialog.js b/tests/spec/108-compose-dialog.js
index 0218a885..951d078f 100644
--- a/tests/spec/108-compose-dialog.js
+++ b/tests/spec/108-compose-dialog.js
@@ -48,4 +48,4 @@ test('can use emoji dialog within compose dialog', async t => {
     .expect(showMoreButton.innerText).contains('Show 1 more')
     .click(showMoreButton)
   await t.expect(getNthStatus(0).find('img[alt=":blobpats:"]').exists).ok({timeout: 20000})
-})
\ No newline at end of file
+})
diff --git a/tests/spec/109-compose-media.js b/tests/spec/109-compose-media.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..fbc8f164
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/spec/109-compose-media.js
@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+import {
+  composeButton, getNthDeleteMediaButton, getNthMedia, getNthMediaAltInput, getNthStatusAndImage, getUrl,
+  homeNavButton,
+  mediaButton, notificationsNavButton,
+  uploadKittenImage
+} from '../utils'
+import { foobarRole } from '../roles'
+
+fixture`109-compose-media.js`
+  .page`http://localhost:4002`
+
+async function uploadTwoKittens (t) {
+  await (uploadKittenImage(1)())
+  await t.expect(getNthMedia(1).getAttribute('alt')).eql('kitten1.jpg')
+  await (uploadKittenImage(2)())
+  await t.expect(getNthMedia(1).getAttribute('alt')).eql('kitten1.jpg')
+    .expect(getNthMedia(2).getAttribute('alt')).eql('kitten2.jpg')
+}
+
+test('uploads alts for media', async t => {
+  await t.useRole(foobarRole)
+    .expect(mediaButton.hasAttribute('disabled')).notOk()
+  await uploadTwoKittens(t)
+  await t.typeText(getNthMediaAltInput(2), 'kitten 2')
+    .typeText(getNthMediaAltInput(1), 'kitten 1')
+    .click(composeButton)
+    .expect(getNthStatusAndImage(0, 0).getAttribute('alt')).eql('kitten 1')
+    .expect(getNthStatusAndImage(0, 1).getAttribute('alt')).eql('kitten 2')
+})
+
+test('uploads alts when deleting and re-uploading media', async t => {
+  await t.useRole(foobarRole)
+    .expect(mediaButton.hasAttribute('disabled')).notOk()
+  await (uploadKittenImage(1)())
+  await t.typeText(getNthMediaAltInput(1), 'this will be deleted')
+    .click(getNthDeleteMediaButton(1))
+    .expect(getNthMedia(1).exists).notOk()
+  await (uploadKittenImage(2)())
+  await t.expect(getNthMediaAltInput(1).value).eql('')
+    .expect(getNthMedia(1).getAttribute('alt')).eql('kitten2.jpg')
+    .typeText(getNthMediaAltInput(1), 'this will not be deleted')
+    .click(composeButton)
+    .expect(getNthStatusAndImage(0, 0).getAttribute('alt')).eql('this will not be deleted')
+})
+
+test('uploads alts mixed with no-alts', async t => {
+  await t.useRole(foobarRole)
+    .expect(mediaButton.hasAttribute('disabled')).notOk()
+  await uploadTwoKittens(t)
+  await t.typeText(getNthMediaAltInput(2), 'kitten numero dos')
+    .click(composeButton)
+    .expect(getNthStatusAndImage(0, 0).getAttribute('alt')).eql('')
+    .expect(getNthStatusAndImage(0, 1).getAttribute('alt')).eql('kitten numero dos')
+})
+
+test('saves alts to local storage', async t => {
+  await t.useRole(foobarRole)
+    .expect(mediaButton.hasAttribute('disabled')).notOk()
+  await uploadTwoKittens(t)
+  await t.typeText(getNthMediaAltInput(1), 'kitten numero uno')
+    .typeText(getNthMediaAltInput(2), 'kitten numero dos')
+    .click(notificationsNavButton)
+    .expect(getUrl()).contains('/notifications')
+    .click(homeNavButton)
+    .expect(getUrl()).eql('http://localhost:4002/')
+    .expect(getNthMedia(1).getAttribute('alt')).eql('kitten1.jpg')
+    .expect(getNthMedia(2).getAttribute('alt')).eql('kitten2.jpg')
+    .expect(getNthMediaAltInput(1).value).eql('kitten numero uno')
+    .expect(getNthMediaAltInput(2).value).eql('kitten numero dos')
+    .click(composeButton)
+    .expect(getNthStatusAndImage(0, 0).getAttribute('alt')).eql('kitten numero uno')
+    .expect(getNthStatusAndImage(0, 1).getAttribute('alt')).eql('kitten numero dos')
+})
diff --git a/tests/utils.js b/tests/utils.js
index 25f3fb64..d628bf01 100644
--- a/tests/utils.js
+++ b/tests/utils.js
@@ -96,6 +96,10 @@ export const uploadKittenImage = i => (exec(() => {
   }
 }))
 
+export function getNthMediaAltInput (n) {
+  return $(`.compose-box .compose-media:nth-child(${n}) .compose-media-alt input`)
+}
+
 export function getNthComposeReplyInput (n) {
   return getNthStatus(n).find('.compose-box-input')
 }
@@ -128,6 +132,10 @@ export function getNthStatus (n) {
   return $(`div[aria-hidden="false"] > article[aria-posinset="${n}"]`)
 }
 
+export function getNthStatusAndImage (nStatus, nImage) {
+  return getNthStatus(nStatus).find(`.status-media .show-image-button:nth-child(${nImage + 1}) img`)
+}
+
 export function getLastVisibleStatus () {
   return $(`div[aria-hidden="false"] > article[aria-posinset]`).nth(-1)
 }