diff --git a/lisp/org.el b/lisp/org.el
index 28628bd55..d81ec98d2 100644
--- a/lisp/org.el
+++ b/lisp/org.el
@@ -6947,6 +6947,7 @@ unconditionally."
 	 (when (equal arg '(16)) (org-up-heading-safe))
 	 (org-end-of-subtree)))
       (unless (bolp) (insert "\n"))
+      (unless level (backward-char))
       (unless (and blank? (org-previous-line-empty-p))
 	(org-N-empty-lines-before-current (if blank? 1 0)))
       (insert stars " ")