diff --git a/src/Text/Pandoc/Writers/Markdown.hs b/src/Text/Pandoc/Writers/Markdown.hs
index 11d8c39d7..ed4c27077 100644
--- a/src/Text/Pandoc/Writers/Markdown.hs
+++ b/src/Text/Pandoc/Writers/Markdown.hs
@@ -578,7 +578,10 @@ blockToMarkdown' opts (CodeBlock attribs str) = do
           tildes <> attrs <> cr <> literal str <> cr <> tildes <> blankline
      _ | variant == Markua -> blankline <> attrsToMarkua opts attribs <> cr <> backticks <> cr <>
                                 literal str <> cr <> backticks <> cr <> blankline
-       | otherwise -> nest (writerTabStop opts) (literal str) <> blankline
+       | otherwise -> -- don't use nest: see #11542
+           let addIndent "" = "\n"
+               addIndent x  = (T.replicate (writerTabStop opts) " ") <> x <> "\n"
+          in  literal (mconcat $ map addIndent (T.lines str)) $$ blankline
    where
      endlineLen c = maybe 3 ((+1) . maximum) $ nonEmpty
                         [T.length ln
@@ -862,8 +865,10 @@ definitionListItemToMarkdown opts (label, defs) = do
                         _ -> ":"
        let leadingChars = case tabStop of
                             -- Always use two leading characters for Markua
-                            n | n >= 2 && variant /= Markua -> n
-                            _ -> 2
+                            n | variant == Markua -> 2
+                              | isEnabled Ext_four_space_rule opts
+                              , n >= 2 -> n
+                              | otherwise -> 2
        let sps = literal $ T.replicate (leadingChars - 1) " "
        let isTight = case defs of
                         ((Plain _ : _): _) -> True
diff --git a/test/command/11542.md b/test/command/11542.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..793f65e53
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/command/11542.md
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+```
+% pandoc -f native -t markdown
+[ DefinitionList
+    [ ( [ Str "Input" ]
+      , [ [ CodeBlock ( "" , [] , [] ) "Term\n\n  : Def" ] ]
+      )
+    ]
+]
+^D
+Input
+
+:     Term
+
+        : Def
+```
+
+```
+% pandoc -f markdown -t native
+Input
+
+:     Term
+
+        : Def
+^D
+[ DefinitionList
+    [ ( [ Str "Input" ]
+      , [ [ CodeBlock ( "" , [] , [] ) "Term\n\n  : Def" ] ]
+      )
+    ]
+]
+```
+
+```
+% pandoc -f native -t markdown+four_space_rule
+[ DefinitionList
+    [ ( [ Str "Input" ]
+      , [ [ CodeBlock ( "" , [] , [] ) "Term\n\n  : Def" ] ]
+      )
+    ]
+]
+^D
+Input
+
+:       Term
+
+          : Def
+```
diff --git a/test/command/5543.md b/test/command/5543.md
index 6cae49e66..f3865d758 100644
--- a/test/command/5543.md
+++ b/test/command/5543.md
@@ -4,5 +4,5 @@
 :   description
 ^D
 1\. item
-:   description
+: description
 ```
diff --git a/test/command/6858.md b/test/command/6858.md
index 3428157ff..e59c2772b 100644
--- a/test/command/6858.md
+++ b/test/command/6858.md
@@ -27,13 +27,13 @@ Module FvwmAnimate \[ModuleAlias\]
 
 \*FvwmAnimate: Color color
 
-:   Tells **FvwmAnimate** what color to draw with. The color is
-    \"XOR\'ed\" (exclusive ORed) onto the background.
+: Tells **FvwmAnimate** what color to draw with. The color is
+  \"XOR\'ed\" (exclusive ORed) onto the background.
 
 \*FvwmAnimate: Pixmap pixmap
 
-:   Tells **FvwmAnimate** to use **pixmap** to draw with. This can be
-    useful if **\*FvwmAnimate: Color** gives poor results.
+: Tells **FvwmAnimate** to use **pixmap** to draw with. This can be
+  useful if **\*FvwmAnimate: Color** gives poor results.
 ```
 
 ```
diff --git a/test/command/9201.md b/test/command/9201.md
index 12c9aec9e..333f8e35e 100644
--- a/test/command/9201.md
+++ b/test/command/9201.md
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ This is line two.
 
 **\--help**
 
-:   This is line one.
+: This is line one.
 
-    This is line two.
+  This is line two.
 ```
diff --git a/test/writer.markdown b/test/writer.markdown
index 0345da7a1..ebcff0869 100644
--- a/test/writer.markdown
+++ b/test/writer.markdown
@@ -261,93 +261,93 @@ B. Williams
 Tight using spaces:
 
 apple
-:   red fruit
+: red fruit
 
 orange
-:   orange fruit
+: orange fruit
 
 banana
-:   yellow fruit
+: yellow fruit
 
 Tight using tabs:
 
 apple
-:   red fruit
+: red fruit
 
 orange
-:   orange fruit
+: orange fruit
 
 banana
-:   yellow fruit
+: yellow fruit
 
 Loose:
 
 apple
 
-:   red fruit
+: red fruit
 
 orange
 
-:   orange fruit
+: orange fruit
 
 banana
 
-:   yellow fruit
+: yellow fruit
 
 Multiple blocks with italics:
 
 *apple*
 
-:   red fruit
+: red fruit
 
-    contains seeds, crisp, pleasant to taste
+  contains seeds, crisp, pleasant to taste
 
 *orange*
 
-:   orange fruit
+: orange fruit
 
-        { orange code block }
+      { orange code block }
 
-    > orange block quote
+  > orange block quote
 
 Multiple definitions, tight:
 
 apple
-:   red fruit
-:   computer
+: red fruit
+: computer
 
 orange
-:   orange fruit
-:   bank
+: orange fruit
+: bank
 
 Multiple definitions, loose:
 
 apple
 
-:   red fruit
+: red fruit
 
-:   computer
+: computer
 
 orange
 
-:   orange fruit
+: orange fruit
 
-:   bank
+: bank
 
 Blank line after term, indented marker, alternate markers:
 
 apple
 
-:   red fruit
+: red fruit
 
-:   computer
+: computer
 
 orange
 
-:   orange fruit
+: orange fruit
 
-    1.  sublist
-    2.  sublist
+  1.  sublist
+  2.  sublist
 
 # HTML Blocks
 
diff --git a/test/writer.opml b/test/writer.opml
index b2fef8fc8..9ccbb422b 100644
--- a/test/writer.opml
+++ b/test/writer.opml
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@
   <outline text="Fancy list markers" _note="(2) begins with 2&#10;&#10;(3) and now 3&#10;&#10;    with a continuation&#10;&#10;    iv. sublist with roman numerals, starting with 4&#10;    v.  more items&#10;        (A) a subsublist&#10;        (B) a subsublist&#10;&#10;Nesting:&#10;&#10;A.  Upper Alpha&#10;    I.  Upper Roman.&#10;        (6) Decimal start with 6&#10;            c)  Lower alpha with paren&#10;&#10;Autonumbering:&#10;&#10;1.  Autonumber.&#10;2.  More.&#10;    1.  Nested.&#10;&#10;Should not be a list item:&#10;&#10;M.A. 2007&#10;&#10;B. Williams&#10;&#10;--------------------------------------------------------------------------------">
   </outline>
 </outline>
-<outline text="Definition Lists" _note="Tight using spaces:&#10;&#10;apple&#10;:   red fruit&#10;&#10;orange&#10;:   orange fruit&#10;&#10;banana&#10;:   yellow fruit&#10;&#10;Tight using tabs:&#10;&#10;apple&#10;:   red fruit&#10;&#10;orange&#10;:   orange fruit&#10;&#10;banana&#10;:   yellow fruit&#10;&#10;Loose:&#10;&#10;apple&#10;&#10;:   red fruit&#10;&#10;orange&#10;&#10;:   orange fruit&#10;&#10;banana&#10;&#10;:   yellow fruit&#10;&#10;Multiple blocks with italics:&#10;&#10;*apple*&#10;&#10;:   red fruit&#10;&#10;    contains seeds, crisp, pleasant to taste&#10;&#10;*orange*&#10;&#10;:   orange fruit&#10;&#10;        { orange code block }&#10;&#10;    &gt; orange block quote&#10;&#10;Multiple definitions, tight:&#10;&#10;apple&#10;:   red fruit&#10;:   computer&#10;&#10;orange&#10;:   orange fruit&#10;:   bank&#10;&#10;Multiple definitions, loose:&#10;&#10;apple&#10;&#10;:   red fruit&#10;&#10;:   computer&#10;&#10;orange&#10;&#10;:   orange fruit&#10;&#10;:   bank&#10;&#10;Blank line after term, indented marker, alternate markers:&#10;&#10;apple&#10;&#10;:   red fruit&#10;&#10;:   computer&#10;&#10;orange&#10;&#10;:   orange fruit&#10;&#10;    1.  sublist&#10;    2.  sublist">
+<outline text="Definition Lists" _note="Tight using spaces:&#10;&#10;apple&#10;: red fruit&#10;&#10;orange&#10;: orange fruit&#10;&#10;banana&#10;: yellow fruit&#10;&#10;Tight using tabs:&#10;&#10;apple&#10;: red fruit&#10;&#10;orange&#10;: orange fruit&#10;&#10;banana&#10;: yellow fruit&#10;&#10;Loose:&#10;&#10;apple&#10;&#10;: red fruit&#10;&#10;orange&#10;&#10;: orange fruit&#10;&#10;banana&#10;&#10;: yellow fruit&#10;&#10;Multiple blocks with italics:&#10;&#10;*apple*&#10;&#10;: red fruit&#10;&#10;  contains seeds, crisp, pleasant to taste&#10;&#10;*orange*&#10;&#10;: orange fruit&#10;&#10;      { orange code block }&#10;&#10;  &gt; orange block quote&#10;&#10;Multiple definitions, tight:&#10;&#10;apple&#10;: red fruit&#10;: computer&#10;&#10;orange&#10;: orange fruit&#10;: bank&#10;&#10;Multiple definitions, loose:&#10;&#10;apple&#10;&#10;: red fruit&#10;&#10;: computer&#10;&#10;orange&#10;&#10;: orange fruit&#10;&#10;: bank&#10;&#10;Blank line after term, indented marker, alternate markers:&#10;&#10;apple&#10;&#10;: red fruit&#10;&#10;: computer&#10;&#10;orange&#10;&#10;: orange fruit&#10;&#10;  1.  sublist&#10;  2.  sublist">
 </outline>
 <outline text="HTML Blocks" _note="Simple block on one line:&#10;&#10;::: {}&#10;foo&#10;:::&#10;&#10;And nested without indentation:&#10;&#10;:::::: {}&#10;:::: {}&#10;::: {}&#10;foo&#10;:::&#10;::::&#10;&#10;::: {}&#10;bar&#10;:::&#10;::::::&#10;&#10;Interpreted markdown in a table:&#10;&#10;&lt;table&gt;&#10;&lt;tr&gt;&#10;&lt;td&gt;&#10;This is *emphasized*&#10;&lt;/td&gt;&#10;&lt;td&gt;&#10;And this is **strong**&#10;&lt;/td&gt;&#10;&lt;/tr&gt;&#10;&lt;/table&gt;&#10;&lt;script type=&quot;text/javascript&quot;&gt;document.write('This *should not* be interpreted as markdown');&lt;/script&gt;&#10;&#10;Here's a simple block:&#10;&#10;::: {}&#10;foo&#10;:::&#10;&#10;This should be a code block, though:&#10;&#10;    &lt;div&gt;&#10;        foo&#10;    &lt;/div&gt;&#10;&#10;As should this:&#10;&#10;    &lt;div&gt;foo&lt;/div&gt;&#10;&#10;Now, nested:&#10;&#10;::::: {}&#10;:::: {}&#10;::: {}&#10;foo&#10;:::&#10;::::&#10;:::::&#10;&#10;This should just be an HTML comment:&#10;&#10;&lt;!-- Comment --&gt;&#10;&#10;Multiline:&#10;&#10;&lt;!--&#10;Blah&#10;Blah&#10;--&gt;&#10;&lt;!--&#10;    This is another comment.&#10;--&gt;&#10;&#10;Code block:&#10;&#10;    &lt;!-- Comment --&gt;&#10;&#10;Just plain comment, with trailing spaces on the line:&#10;&#10;&lt;!-- foo --&gt;&#10;&#10;Code:&#10;&#10;    &lt;hr /&gt;&#10;&#10;Hr's:&#10;&#10;&lt;hr&gt;&#10;&lt;hr /&gt;&#10;&lt;hr /&gt;&#10;&lt;hr&gt;&#10;&lt;hr /&gt;&#10;&lt;hr /&gt;&#10;&lt;hr class=&quot;foo&quot; id=&quot;bar&quot; /&gt;&#10;&lt;hr class=&quot;foo&quot; id=&quot;bar&quot; /&gt;&#10;&lt;hr class=&quot;foo&quot; id=&quot;bar&quot;&gt;&#10;&#10;--------------------------------------------------------------------------------">
 </outline>
diff --git a/test/writer.plain b/test/writer.plain
index 814f40776..effe47eb7 100644
--- a/test/writer.plain
+++ b/test/writer.plain
@@ -257,93 +257,93 @@ Definition Lists
 Tight using spaces:
 
 apple
-    red fruit
+  red fruit
 
 orange
-    orange fruit
+  orange fruit
 
 banana
-    yellow fruit
+  yellow fruit
 
 Tight using tabs:
 
 apple
-    red fruit
+  red fruit
 
 orange
-    orange fruit
+  orange fruit
 
 banana
-    yellow fruit
+  yellow fruit
 
 Loose:
 
 apple
 
-    red fruit
+  red fruit
 
 orange
 
-    orange fruit
+  orange fruit
 
 banana
 
-    yellow fruit
+  yellow fruit
 
 Multiple blocks with italics:
 
 apple
 
-    red fruit
+  red fruit
 
-    contains seeds, crisp, pleasant to taste
+  contains seeds, crisp, pleasant to taste
 
 orange
 
-    orange fruit
+  orange fruit
 
-        { orange code block }
+      { orange code block }
 
-      orange block quote
+    orange block quote
 
 Multiple definitions, tight:
 
 apple
-    red fruit
-    computer
+  red fruit
+  computer
 
 orange
-    orange fruit
-    bank
+  orange fruit
+  bank
 
 Multiple definitions, loose:
 
 apple
 
-    red fruit
+  red fruit
 
-    computer
+  computer
 
 orange
 
-    orange fruit
+  orange fruit
 
-    bank
+  bank
 
 Blank line after term, indented marker, alternate markers:
 
 apple
 
-    red fruit
+  red fruit
 
-    computer
+  computer
 
 orange
 
-    orange fruit
+  orange fruit
 
-    1.  sublist
-    2.  sublist
+  1.  sublist
+  2.  sublist
 
 HTML Blocks