diff --git a/src/Mvc/Mvc.TagHelpers/src/PublicAPI.Unshipped.txt b/src/Mvc/Mvc.TagHelpers/src/PublicAPI.Unshipped.txt
index 7dc5c58110bf..46ac17a8733c 100644
--- a/src/Mvc/Mvc.TagHelpers/src/PublicAPI.Unshipped.txt
+++ b/src/Mvc/Mvc.TagHelpers/src/PublicAPI.Unshipped.txt
@@ -1 +1,3 @@
 #nullable enable
+*REMOVED*~override Microsoft.AspNetCore.Mvc.TagHelpers.ScriptTagHelper.Process(Microsoft.AspNetCore.Razor.TagHelpers.TagHelperContext context, Microsoft.AspNetCore.Razor.TagHelpers.TagHelperOutput output) -> void
+~override Microsoft.AspNetCore.Mvc.TagHelpers.ScriptTagHelper.ProcessAsync(Microsoft.AspNetCore.Razor.TagHelpers.TagHelperContext context, Microsoft.AspNetCore.Razor.TagHelpers.TagHelperOutput output) -> System.Threading.Tasks.Task
diff --git a/src/Mvc/Mvc.TagHelpers/src/ScriptTagHelper.cs b/src/Mvc/Mvc.TagHelpers/src/ScriptTagHelper.cs
index 64cc1be2f694..85952ce0865a 100644
--- a/src/Mvc/Mvc.TagHelpers/src/ScriptTagHelper.cs
+++ b/src/Mvc/Mvc.TagHelpers/src/ScriptTagHelper.cs
@@ -235,15 +235,29 @@ private StringWriter StringWriter
     }
 
     /// <inheritdoc />
-    public override void Process(TagHelperContext context, TagHelperOutput output)
+    public override async Task ProcessAsync(TagHelperContext context, TagHelperOutput output)
     {
         ArgumentNullException.ThrowIfNull(context);
         ArgumentNullException.ThrowIfNull(output);
 
         if (string.Equals(Type, "importmap", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase))
         {
-            // This is an importmap script, we'll write out the import map and
-            // stop processing.
+            // Do not update the content if another tag helper targeting this element has already done so.
+            if (output.IsContentModified)
+            {
+                return;
+            }
+
+            // This is an importmap script, check if there's existing content first.
+            var childContent = await output.GetChildContentAsync();
+            if (!childContent.IsEmptyOrWhiteSpace)
+            {
+                // User provided existing content; preserve it.
+                output.Content.SetHtmlContent(childContent);
+                return;
+            }
+
+            // No existing content, so we can apply import map logic.
             var importMap = ImportMap ?? ViewContext.HttpContext.GetEndpoint()?.Metadata.GetMetadata<ImportMapDefinition>();
             if (importMap == null)
             {
@@ -252,10 +266,10 @@ public override void Process(TagHelperContext context, TagHelperOutput output)
                 return;
             }
 
+            output.Content.SetHtmlContent(importMap.ToString());
             output.TagName = "script";
             output.TagMode = TagMode.StartTagAndEndTag;
             output.Attributes.SetAttribute("type", "importmap");
-            output.Content.SetHtmlContent(importMap.ToString());
             return;
         }
 
diff --git a/src/Mvc/Mvc.TagHelpers/test/ScriptTagHelperTest.cs b/src/Mvc/Mvc.TagHelpers/test/ScriptTagHelperTest.cs
index 18ffbc3cd10f..11fec3545440 100644
--- a/src/Mvc/Mvc.TagHelpers/test/ScriptTagHelperTest.cs
+++ b/src/Mvc/Mvc.TagHelpers/test/ScriptTagHelperTest.cs
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ public class ScriptTagHelperTest
     [InlineData("abcd.js", "test.js", "test.js")]
     [InlineData(null, "~/test.js", "virtualRoot/test.js")]
     [InlineData("abcd.js", "~/test.js", "virtualRoot/test.js")]
-    public void Process_SrcDefaultsToTagHelperOutputSrcAttributeAddedByOtherTagHelper(
+    public async Task ProcessAsync_SrcDefaultsToTagHelperOutputSrcAttributeAddedByOtherTagHelper(
         string src,
         string srcOutput,
         string expectedSrcPrefix)
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ public void Process_SrcDefaultsToTagHelperOutputSrcAttributeAddedByOtherTagHelpe
         helper.Src = src;
 
         // Act
-        helper.Process(context, output);
+        await helper.ProcessAsync(context, output);
 
         // Assert
         Assert.Equal(
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ public void Process_SrcDefaultsToTagHelperOutputSrcAttributeAddedByOtherTagHelpe
 
     [Theory]
     [MemberData(nameof(LinkTagHelperTest.MultiAttributeSameNameData), MemberType = typeof(LinkTagHelperTest))]
-    public void HandlesMultipleAttributesSameNameCorrectly(TagHelperAttributeList outputAttributes)
+    public async Task HandlesMultipleAttributesSameNameCorrectly(TagHelperAttributeList outputAttributes)
     {
         // Arrange
         var allAttributes = new TagHelperAttributeList(
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ public void HandlesMultipleAttributesSameNameCorrectly(TagHelperAttributeList ou
         expectedAttributes.Add(new TagHelperAttribute("src", "/blank.js"));
 
         // Act
-        helper.Process(tagHelperContext, output);
+        await helper.ProcessAsync(tagHelperContext, output);
 
         // Assert
         Assert.Equal(expectedAttributes, output.Attributes);
@@ -268,7 +268,7 @@ public static TheoryData<TagHelperAttributeList, Action<ScriptTagHelper>> RunsWh
 
     [Theory]
     [MemberData(nameof(RunsWhenRequiredAttributesArePresent_Data))]
-    public void RunsWhenRequiredAttributesArePresent(
+    public async Task RunsWhenRequiredAttributesArePresent(
         TagHelperAttributeList attributes,
         Action<ScriptTagHelper> setProperties)
     {
@@ -287,7 +287,7 @@ public void RunsWhenRequiredAttributesArePresent(
         setProperties(helper);
 
         // Act
-        helper.Process(context, output);
+        await helper.ProcessAsync(context, output);
 
         // Assert
         Assert.NotNull(output.TagName);
@@ -355,7 +355,7 @@ public static TheoryData<TagHelperAttributeList, Action<ScriptTagHelper>> RunsWh
 
     [Theory]
     [MemberData(nameof(RunsWhenRequiredAttributesArePresent_NoSrc_Data))]
-    public void RunsWhenRequiredAttributesArePresent_NoSrc(
+    public async Task RunsWhenRequiredAttributesArePresent_NoSrc(
         TagHelperAttributeList attributes,
         Action<ScriptTagHelper> setProperties)
     {
@@ -374,7 +374,7 @@ public void RunsWhenRequiredAttributesArePresent_NoSrc(
         setProperties(helper);
 
         // Act
-        helper.Process(context, output);
+        await helper.ProcessAsync(context, output);
 
         // Assert
         Assert.Null(output.TagName);
@@ -449,7 +449,7 @@ public static TheoryData<TagHelperAttributeList, Action<ScriptTagHelper>> DoesNo
 
     [Theory]
     [MemberData(nameof(DoesNotRunWhenARequiredAttributeIsMissing_Data))]
-    public void DoesNotRunWhenARequiredAttributeIsMissing(
+    public async Task DoesNotRunWhenARequiredAttributeIsMissing(
         TagHelperAttributeList attributes,
         Action<ScriptTagHelper> setProperties)
     {
@@ -462,7 +462,7 @@ public void DoesNotRunWhenARequiredAttributeIsMissing(
         setProperties(helper);
 
         // Act
-        helper.Process(tagHelperContext, output);
+        await helper.ProcessAsync(tagHelperContext, output);
 
         // Assert
         Assert.NotNull(output.TagName);
@@ -472,7 +472,7 @@ public void DoesNotRunWhenARequiredAttributeIsMissing(
     }
 
     [Fact]
-    public void DoesNotRunWhenAllRequiredAttributesAreMissing()
+    public async Task DoesNotRunWhenAllRequiredAttributesAreMissing()
     {
         // Arrange
         var tagHelperContext = MakeTagHelperContext();
@@ -482,7 +482,7 @@ public void DoesNotRunWhenAllRequiredAttributesAreMissing()
         var helper = GetHelper();
 
         // Act
-        helper.Process(tagHelperContext, output);
+        await helper.ProcessAsync(tagHelperContext, output);
 
         // Assert
         Assert.Equal("script", output.TagName);
@@ -492,7 +492,7 @@ public void DoesNotRunWhenAllRequiredAttributesAreMissing()
     }
 
     [Fact]
-    public void PreservesOrderOfNonSrcAttributes()
+    public async Task PreservesOrderOfNonSrcAttributes()
     {
         // Arrange
         var tagHelperContext = MakeTagHelperContext(
@@ -518,7 +518,7 @@ public void PreservesOrderOfNonSrcAttributes()
         helper.Src = "/blank.js";
 
         // Act
-        helper.Process(tagHelperContext, output);
+        await helper.ProcessAsync(tagHelperContext, output);
 
         // Assert
         Assert.Equal("data-extra", output.Attributes[0].Name);
@@ -527,7 +527,7 @@ public void PreservesOrderOfNonSrcAttributes()
     }
 
     [Fact]
-    public void RendersScriptTagsForGlobbedSrcResults()
+    public async Task RendersScriptTagsForGlobbedSrcResults()
     {
         // Arrange
         var expectedContent = "<script src=\"HtmlEncode[[/js/site.js]]\"></script>" +
@@ -552,7 +552,7 @@ public void RendersScriptTagsForGlobbedSrcResults()
         helper.SrcInclude = "**/*.js";
 
         // Act
-        helper.Process(context, output);
+        await helper.ProcessAsync(context, output);
 
         // Assert
         Assert.Equal("script", output.TagName);
@@ -562,7 +562,7 @@ public void RendersScriptTagsForGlobbedSrcResults()
     }
 
     [Fact]
-    public void RendersScriptTagsForGlobbedSrcResults_EncodesAsExpected()
+    public async Task RendersScriptTagsForGlobbedSrcResults_EncodesAsExpected()
     {
         // Arrange
         var expectedContent =
@@ -605,7 +605,7 @@ public void RendersScriptTagsForGlobbedSrcResults_EncodesAsExpected()
         helper.SrcInclude = "**/*.js";
 
         // Act
-        helper.Process(context, output);
+        await helper.ProcessAsync(context, output);
 
         // Assert
         Assert.Equal("script", output.TagName);
@@ -615,7 +615,7 @@ public void RendersScriptTagsForGlobbedSrcResults_EncodesAsExpected()
     }
 
     [Fact]
-    public void RenderScriptTags_WithFileVersion()
+    public async Task RenderScriptTags_WithFileVersion()
     {
         // Arrange
         var context = MakeTagHelperContext(
@@ -631,7 +631,7 @@ public void RenderScriptTags_WithFileVersion()
         helper.AppendVersion = true;
 
         // Act
-        helper.Process(context, output);
+        await helper.ProcessAsync(context, output);
 
         // Assert
         Assert.Equal("script", output.TagName);
@@ -642,7 +642,7 @@ public void RenderScriptTags_WithFileVersion()
     [InlineData("~/js/site.js", "/js/site.fingerprint.js")]
     [InlineData("/js/site.js", "/js/site.fingerprint.js")]
     [InlineData("js/site.js", "js/site.fingerprint.js")]
-    public void RenderScriptTags_WithFileVersion_UsingResourceCollection(string src, string expected)
+    public async Task RenderScriptTags_WithFileVersion_UsingResourceCollection(string src, string expected)
     {
         // Arrange
         var context = MakeTagHelperContext(
@@ -661,7 +661,7 @@ public void RenderScriptTags_WithFileVersion_UsingResourceCollection(string src,
         helper.AppendVersion = true;
 
         // Act
-        helper.Process(context, output);
+        await helper.ProcessAsync(context, output);
 
         // Assert
         Assert.Equal("script", output.TagName);
@@ -671,7 +671,7 @@ public void RenderScriptTags_WithFileVersion_UsingResourceCollection(string src,
     [Theory]
     [InlineData("~/js/site.js")]
     [InlineData("/approot/js/site.js")]
-    public void RenderScriptTags_PathBase_WithFileVersion_UsingResourceCollection(string path)
+    public async Task RenderScriptTags_PathBase_WithFileVersion_UsingResourceCollection(string path)
     {
         // Arrange
         var context = MakeTagHelperContext(
@@ -699,7 +699,7 @@ public void RenderScriptTags_PathBase_WithFileVersion_UsingResourceCollection(st
         helper.AppendVersion = true;
 
         // Act
-        helper.Process(context, output);
+        await helper.ProcessAsync(context, output);
 
         // Assert
         Assert.Equal("script", output.TagName);
@@ -707,7 +707,7 @@ public void RenderScriptTags_PathBase_WithFileVersion_UsingResourceCollection(st
     }
 
     [Fact]
-    public void ScriptTagHelper_RendersProvided_ImportMap()
+    public async Task ScriptTagHelper_RendersProvided_ImportMap()
     {
         // Arrange
         var importMap = new ImportMapDefinition(
@@ -744,7 +744,7 @@ public void ScriptTagHelper_RendersProvided_ImportMap()
         helper.ImportMap = importMap;
 
         // Act
-        helper.Process(context, output);
+        await helper.ProcessAsync(context, output);
 
         // Assert
         Assert.Equal("script", output.TagName);
@@ -752,7 +752,7 @@ public void ScriptTagHelper_RendersProvided_ImportMap()
     }
 
     [Fact]
-    public void ScriptTagHelper_RendersImportMap_FromEndpoint()
+    public async Task ScriptTagHelper_RendersImportMap_FromEndpoint()
     {
         // Arrange
         var importMap = new ImportMapDefinition(
@@ -787,13 +787,66 @@ public void ScriptTagHelper_RendersImportMap_FromEndpoint()
         helper.Type = "importmap";
 
         // Act
-        helper.Process(context, output);
+        await helper.ProcessAsync(context, output);
 
         // Assert
         Assert.Equal("script", output.TagName);
         Assert.Equal(importMap.ToJson(), output.Content.GetContent());
     }
 
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task ScriptTagHelper_PreservesExplicitImportMapContent_WhenUserProvidesContent()
+    {
+        // Arrange - this simulates the user's scenario where they provide explicit importmap content
+        var context = MakeTagHelperContext(attributes: [new TagHelperAttribute("type", "importmap")]);
+
+        // Simulate user providing explicit content
+        var childContent = new DefaultTagHelperContent();
+        childContent.SetHtmlContent(@"{""imports"":{""jquery"":""https://code.jquery.com/jquery.js""}}");
+
+        var output = MakeTagHelperOutput("script", attributes: [new TagHelperAttribute("type", "importmap")], childContent: childContent);
+
+        var helper = GetHelper();
+        helper.Type = "importmap";
+
+        // No endpoint with ImportMapDefinition - this should NOT suppress the output
+        // since user provided explicit content
+
+        // Act
+        await helper.ProcessAsync(context, output);
+
+        // Assert
+        Assert.Equal("script", output.TagName); // Tag should not be suppressed
+        Assert.Equal("importmap", output.Attributes["type"].Value);
+        // The user's explicit content should be preserved
+        Assert.Equal(@"{""imports"":{""jquery"":""https://code.jquery.com/jquery.js""}}", output.Content.GetContent());
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task ScriptTagHelper_SuppressesOutput_WhenNoContentAndNoImportMapDefinition()
+    {
+        // Arrange - this simulates an empty importmap script with no definition
+        var context = MakeTagHelperContext(
+            attributes: new TagHelperAttributeList
+            {
+                new TagHelperAttribute("type", "importmap"),
+            });
+        
+        var output = MakeTagHelperOutput("script", attributes: new TagHelperAttributeList());
+        // No content provided
+
+        var helper = GetHelper();
+        helper.Type = "importmap";
+        // No endpoint with ImportMapDefinition and no explicit content
+        // This should suppress the output since there's nothing to render
+
+        // Act
+        await helper.ProcessAsync(context, output);
+
+        // Assert - output should be suppressed when no content and no definition
+        Assert.Null(output.TagName); // Tag should be suppressed
+    }
+
     private Endpoint CreateEndpoint(ImportMapDefinition importMap = null)
     {
         return new Endpoint(
@@ -809,7 +862,7 @@ [new ResourceAssetCollection([
     }
 
     [Fact]
-    public void RenderScriptTags_WithFileVersion_AndRequestPathBase()
+    public async Task RenderScriptTags_WithFileVersion_AndRequestPathBase()
     {
         // Arrange
         var context = MakeTagHelperContext(
@@ -826,7 +879,7 @@ public void RenderScriptTags_WithFileVersion_AndRequestPathBase()
         helper.AppendVersion = true;
 
         // Act
-        helper.Process(context, output);
+        await helper.ProcessAsync(context, output);
 
         // Assert
         Assert.Equal("script", output.TagName);
@@ -834,7 +887,7 @@ public void RenderScriptTags_WithFileVersion_AndRequestPathBase()
     }
 
     [Fact]
-    public void RenderScriptTags_FallbackSrc_WithFileVersion()
+    public async Task RenderScriptTags_FallbackSrc_WithFileVersion()
     {
         // Arrange
         var context = MakeTagHelperContext(
@@ -854,7 +907,7 @@ public void RenderScriptTags_FallbackSrc_WithFileVersion()
         helper.Src = "/js/site.js";
 
         // Act
-        helper.Process(context, output);
+        await helper.ProcessAsync(context, output);
 
         // Assert
         Assert.Equal("script", output.TagName);
@@ -865,7 +918,7 @@ public void RenderScriptTags_FallbackSrc_WithFileVersion()
     }
 
     [Fact]
-    public void RenderScriptTags_FallbackSrc_AppendVersion_WithStaticAssets()
+    public async Task RenderScriptTags_FallbackSrc_AppendVersion_WithStaticAssets()
     {
         // Arrange
         var context = MakeTagHelperContext(
@@ -886,7 +939,7 @@ public void RenderScriptTags_FallbackSrc_AppendVersion_WithStaticAssets()
         helper.Src = "/js/site.js";
 
         // Act
-        helper.Process(context, output);
+        await helper.ProcessAsync(context, output);
 
         // Assert
         Assert.Equal("script", output.TagName);
@@ -897,7 +950,7 @@ public void RenderScriptTags_FallbackSrc_AppendVersion_WithStaticAssets()
     }
 
     [Fact]
-    public void RenderScriptTags_FallbackSrc_WithFileVersion_EncodesAsExpected()
+    public async Task RenderScriptTags_FallbackSrc_WithFileVersion_EncodesAsExpected()
     {
         // Arrange
         var expectedContent =
@@ -939,7 +992,7 @@ public void RenderScriptTags_FallbackSrc_WithFileVersion_EncodesAsExpected()
         helper.Src = "/js/site.js";
 
         // Act
-        helper.Process(context, output);
+        await helper.ProcessAsync(context, output);
 
         // Assert
         Assert.Equal("script", output.TagName);
@@ -949,7 +1002,7 @@ public void RenderScriptTags_FallbackSrc_WithFileVersion_EncodesAsExpected()
     }
 
     [Fact]
-    public void RenderScriptTags_GlobbedSrc_WithFileVersion()
+    public async Task RenderScriptTags_GlobbedSrc_WithFileVersion()
     {
         // Arrange
         var expectedContent = "<script " +
@@ -977,7 +1030,7 @@ public void RenderScriptTags_GlobbedSrc_WithFileVersion()
         helper.Src = "/js/site.js";
 
         // Act
-        helper.Process(context, output);
+        await helper.ProcessAsync(context, output);
 
         // Assert
         Assert.Equal("script", output.TagName);
@@ -987,7 +1040,7 @@ public void RenderScriptTags_GlobbedSrc_WithFileVersion()
     }
 
     [Fact]
-    public void RenderScriptTags_GlobbedSrc_WithFileVersion_WithStaticAssets()
+    public async Task RenderScriptTags_GlobbedSrc_WithFileVersion_WithStaticAssets()
     {
         // Arrange
         var expectedContent = "<script " +
@@ -1016,7 +1069,7 @@ public void RenderScriptTags_GlobbedSrc_WithFileVersion_WithStaticAssets()
         helper.Src = "/js/site.js";
 
         // Act
-        helper.Process(context, output);
+        await helper.ProcessAsync(context, output);
 
         // Assert
         Assert.Equal("script", output.TagName);
@@ -1028,7 +1081,7 @@ public void RenderScriptTags_GlobbedSrc_WithFileVersion_WithStaticAssets()
     [Theory]
     [InlineData("~/js/site.js")]
     [InlineData("/approot/js/site.js")]
-    public void RenderScriptTags_PathBase_WithFileVersion_UsingResourceCollection_PreservesModule(string path)
+    public async Task RenderScriptTags_PathBase_WithFileVersion_UsingResourceCollection_PreservesModule(string path)
     {
         // Arrange
         var context = MakeTagHelperContext(
@@ -1055,7 +1108,7 @@ public void RenderScriptTags_PathBase_WithFileVersion_UsingResourceCollection_Pr
         helper.AppendVersion = true;
 
         // Act
-        helper.Process(context, output);
+        await helper.ProcessAsync(context, output);
 
         // Assert
         Assert.Equal("script", output.TagName);
@@ -1121,15 +1174,15 @@ private static ViewContext MakeViewContext(string requestPathBase = null)
         return viewContext;
     }
 
-    private TagHelperOutput MakeTagHelperOutput(string tagName, TagHelperAttributeList attributes = null)
+    private TagHelperOutput MakeTagHelperOutput(string tagName, TagHelperAttributeList attributes = null, TagHelperContent childContent = null)
     {
-        attributes = attributes ?? new TagHelperAttributeList();
+        attributes ??= [];
+        childContent ??= new DefaultTagHelperContent();
 
         return new TagHelperOutput(
             tagName,
             attributes,
-            getChildContentAsync: (useCachedResult, encoder) => Task.FromResult<TagHelperContent>(
-                new DefaultTagHelperContent()));
+            getChildContentAsync: (useCachedResult, encoder) => Task.FromResult(childContent));
     }
 
     private static IWebHostEnvironment MakeHostingEnvironment()