diff --git a/markdownify/__init__.py b/markdownify/__init__.py
index 148d340..28cdaf6 100644
--- a/markdownify/__init__.py
+++ b/markdownify/__init__.py
@@ -475,12 +475,12 @@ def _indent_for_blockquote(match):
 
     def convert_br(self, el, text, parent_tags):
         if '_inline' in parent_tags:
-            return ' '
+            return text + ' ' if text else ' '
 
         if self.options['newline_style'].lower() == BACKSLASH:
-            return '\\\n'
+            return '\\\n' + text
         else:
-            return '  \n'
+            return '  \n' + text
 
     def convert_code(self, el, text, parent_tags):
         if '_noformat' in parent_tags:
diff --git a/tests/test_conversions.py b/tests/test_conversions.py
index dd99dfb..c95483c 100644
--- a/tests/test_conversions.py
+++ b/tests/test_conversions.py
@@ -81,6 +81,9 @@ def test_br():
     assert md('a<br />b<br />c', newline_style=BACKSLASH) == 'a\\\nb\\\nc'
     assert md('<h1>foo<br />bar</h1>', heading_style=ATX) == '\n\n# foo bar\n\n'
     assert md('<td>foo<br />bar</td>', heading_style=ATX) == ' foo bar |'
+    # html.parser may nest text inside <br> when mixing <br> and <br />; text must not be lost
+    assert md('a<br>b<br />c') == 'a  \nb  \nc'
+    assert md('a<br>b<br />c', newline_style=BACKSLASH) == 'a\\\nb\\\nc'
 
 
 def test_code():