diff --git a/lisp/org.el b/lisp/org.el
index 645d507a7..5bd129724 100644
--- a/lisp/org.el
+++ b/lisp/org.el
@@ -5821,7 +5821,7 @@ This should be called after the variable `org-link-parameters' has changed."
 		   (not (and (save-match-data (org-match-line "[ \t]*|"))
 			     (string-match-p "|" (match-string 4))))))
 	    (pcase-let ((`(,_ ,face ,_) (assoc marker org-emphasis-alist)))
-	      (font-lock-append-text-property
+	      (font-lock-prepend-text-property
 	       (match-beginning 2) (match-end 2) 'face face)
 	      (when verbatim?
 		(org-remove-flyspell-overlays-in