diff --git a/news/changelog-1.8.md b/news/changelog-1.8.md
index 8d8b3e20651..1813357f21b 100644
--- a/news/changelog-1.8.md
+++ b/news/changelog-1.8.md
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ All changes included in 1.8:
 - ([#12259](https://github.com/quarto-dev/quarto-cli/issues/12259)): Fix conflict between `html-math-method: katex` and crossref popups (author: @benkeks).
 - ([#12734](https://github.com/quarto-dev/quarto-cli/issues/12734)): `highlight-style` now correctly supports setting a different `light` and `dark`.
 - ([#12747](https://github.com/quarto-dev/quarto-cli/issues/12747)): Ensure `th` elements are properly restored when Quarto's HTML table processing is happening.
+- ([#12766](https://github.com/quarto-dev/quarto-cli/issues/12766)): Use consistent equation numbering display for `html-math-method` and `html-math-method.method` (MathJax and KaTeX)
 
 ### `revealjs`
 
diff --git a/src/resources/filters/crossref/equations.lua b/src/resources/filters/crossref/equations.lua
index 0ecb0e430b7..00431e11a16 100644
--- a/src/resources/filters/crossref/equations.lua
+++ b/src/resources/filters/crossref/equations.lua
@@ -63,6 +63,9 @@ function process_equations(blockEl)
         else
           local eqNumber = eqQquad
           local mathMethod = param("html-math-method", nil)
+          if type(mathMethod) == "table" and mathMethod["method"] then
+            mathMethod = mathMethod["method"]
+          end
           if _quarto.format.isHtmlOutput() and (mathMethod == "mathjax" or mathMethod == "katex") then
             eqNumber = eqTag
           end
diff --git a/tests/docs/smoke-all/2025/05/18/issue12766-1.qmd b/tests/docs/smoke-all/2025/05/18/issue12766-1.qmd
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..383df0c7016
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/docs/smoke-all/2025/05/18/issue12766-1.qmd
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+---
+format:
+  html:
+    html-math-method: mathjax
+_quarto:
+  tests:
+    html:
+      ensureFileRegexMatches:
+        - ['\\tag\{1\}'] 
+        - []
+---
+
+$$
+\alpha = \beta
+$$ {#eq-ab}
+
+This is @eq-ab.
diff --git a/tests/docs/smoke-all/2025/05/18/issue12766-2.qmd b/tests/docs/smoke-all/2025/05/18/issue12766-2.qmd
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..e7db4afe2a1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/docs/smoke-all/2025/05/18/issue12766-2.qmd
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+---
+format:
+  html:
+    html-math-method:
+      method: mathjax
+_quarto:
+  tests:
+    html:
+      ensureFileRegexMatches:
+        - ['\\tag\{1\}'] 
+        - []
+---
+
+$$
+\alpha = \beta
+$$ {#eq-ab}
+
+This is @eq-ab.
diff --git a/tests/docs/smoke-all/2025/05/18/issue12766-3.qmd b/tests/docs/smoke-all/2025/05/18/issue12766-3.qmd
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..56055291a60
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/docs/smoke-all/2025/05/18/issue12766-3.qmd
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+---
+format:
+  html:
+    html-math-method: katex
+_quarto:
+  tests:
+    html:
+      ensureFileRegexMatches:
+        - ['\\tag\{1\}'] 
+        - []
+---
+
+$$
+\alpha = \beta
+$$ {#eq-ab}
+
+This is @eq-ab.
diff --git a/tests/docs/smoke-all/2025/05/18/issue12766-4.qmd b/tests/docs/smoke-all/2025/05/18/issue12766-4.qmd
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..a1515313650
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/docs/smoke-all/2025/05/18/issue12766-4.qmd
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+---
+format:
+  html:
+    html-math-method:
+      method: katex
+_quarto:
+  tests:
+    html:
+      ensureFileRegexMatches:
+        - ['\\tag\{1\}'] 
+        - []
+---
+
+$$
+\alpha = \beta
+$$ {#eq-ab}
+
+This is @eq-ab.