diff --git a/docs/pages/resources/changelog.md b/docs/pages/resources/changelog.md
index 59251fa62e..487f79b7e7 100644
--- a/docs/pages/resources/changelog.md
+++ b/docs/pages/resources/changelog.md
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ New versions of Shoelace are released as-needed and generally occur when a criti
 
 - Added support for <kbd>Enter</kbd> to `<sl-split-panel>` to align with ARIA APG's [window splitter pattern](https://www.w3.org/WAI/ARIA/apg/patterns/windowsplitter/) [#2234]
 - Fixed a bug in `<sl-carousel>` that caused the navigation icons to be reversed
+- Fixed a bug in `<sl-select>` that prevented label changes in `<sl-option>` from updating the controller [#1971]
 
 ## 2.18.0
 
diff --git a/src/components/option/option.component.ts b/src/components/option/option.component.ts
index a9d35b50d6..27e1f09648 100644
--- a/src/components/option/option.component.ts
+++ b/src/components/option/option.component.ts
@@ -31,7 +31,6 @@ export default class SlOption extends ShoelaceElement {
   static styles: CSSResultGroup = [componentStyles, styles];
   static dependencies = { 'sl-icon': SlIcon };
 
-  private cachedTextLabel: string;
   // @ts-expect-error - Controller is currently unused
   private readonly localize = new LocalizeController(this);
 
@@ -58,19 +57,13 @@ export default class SlOption extends ShoelaceElement {
   }
 
   private handleDefaultSlotChange() {
-    const textLabel = this.getTextLabel();
-
-    // Ignore the first time the label is set
-    if (typeof this.cachedTextLabel === 'undefined') {
-      this.cachedTextLabel = textLabel;
-      return;
-    }
-
-    // When the label changes, emit a slotchange event so parent controls see it
-    if (textLabel !== this.cachedTextLabel) {
-      this.cachedTextLabel = textLabel;
-      this.emit('slotchange', { bubbles: true, composed: false, cancelable: false });
-    }
+    // When the label changes, tell the controller to update
+    customElements.whenDefined('sl-select').then(() => {
+      const controller = this.closest('sl-select');
+      if (controller) {
+        controller.handleDefaultSlotChange();
+      }
+    });
   }
 
   private handleMouseEnter() {
diff --git a/src/components/option/option.test.ts b/src/components/option/option.test.ts
index 2d5320a7ca..ac7f243a8a 100644
--- a/src/components/option/option.test.ts
+++ b/src/components/option/option.test.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 import '../../../dist/shoelace.js';
-import { aTimeout, expect, fixture, html, waitUntil } from '@open-wc/testing';
-import sinon from 'sinon';
+import { aTimeout, expect, fixture, html } from '@open-wc/testing';
 import type SlOption from './option.js';
 
 describe('<sl-option>', () => {
@@ -32,17 +31,6 @@ describe('<sl-option>', () => {
     expect(el.getAttribute('aria-disabled')).to.equal('true');
   });
 
-  it('emits the slotchange event when the label changes', async () => {
-    const el = await fixture<SlOption>(html` <sl-option>Text</sl-option> `);
-    const slotChangeHandler = sinon.spy();
-
-    el.addEventListener('slotchange', slotChangeHandler);
-    el.textContent = 'New Text';
-    await waitUntil(() => slotChangeHandler.calledOnce);
-
-    expect(slotChangeHandler).to.have.been.calledOnce;
-  });
-
   it('should convert non-string values to string', async () => {
     const el = await fixture<SlOption>(html` <sl-option>Text</sl-option> `);
 
diff --git a/src/components/select/select.component.ts b/src/components/select/select.component.ts
index 8698c7615e..d91adfb2a8 100644
--- a/src/components/select/select.component.ts
+++ b/src/components/select/select.component.ts
@@ -501,7 +501,8 @@ export default class SlSelect extends ShoelaceElement implements ShoelaceFormCon
     }
   }
 
-  private handleDefaultSlotChange() {
+  /* @internal - used by options to update labels */
+  public handleDefaultSlotChange() {
     if (!customElements.get('wa-option')) {
       customElements.whenDefined('wa-option').then(() => this.handleDefaultSlotChange());
     }