diff --git a/src/Text/Pandoc/Writers/Markdown.hs b/src/Text/Pandoc/Writers/Markdown.hs
index 222a2dd4a..f10290ec0 100644
--- a/src/Text/Pandoc/Writers/Markdown.hs
+++ b/src/Text/Pandoc/Writers/Markdown.hs
@@ -684,15 +684,15 @@ bulletListItemToMarkdown opts bs = do
   variant <- asks envVariant
   let exts = writerExtensions opts
   contents <- blockListToMarkdown opts $ taskListItemToAscii exts bs
-  let sps = T.replicate (writerTabStop opts - 2) " "
   let start = case variant of
-              Markua -> literal "* "
-              _      -> literal $ "- " <> sps
+              Markua -> "* "
+              Commonmark -> "- "
+              _ -> "- " <> T.replicate (writerTabStop opts - 2) " "
   -- remove trailing blank line if item ends with a tight list
   let contents' = if itemEndsWithTightList bs
                      then chomp contents <> cr
                      else contents
-  return $ hang (writerTabStop opts) start contents'
+  return $ hang (T.length start) (literal start) contents'
 
 -- | Convert ordered list item (a list of blocks) to markdown.
 orderedListItemToMarkdown :: PandocMonad m
diff --git a/test/command/8011.md b/test/command/8011.md
index 0a79ed9e2..552ad2abc 100644
--- a/test/command/8011.md
+++ b/test/command/8011.md
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 </listitem>
 </itemizedlist>
 ^D
--   [ ] a
+- [ ] a
 
--   [x] b
+- [x] b
 ```
diff --git a/test/command/gfm.md b/test/command/gfm.md
index 78736b2d6..12bd09094 100644
--- a/test/command/gfm.md
+++ b/test/command/gfm.md
@@ -217,6 +217,6 @@ hi
 - [ ] foo
 - [x] bar
 ^D
--   [ ] foo
--   [x] bar
+- [ ] foo
+- [x] bar
 ```
diff --git a/test/writer.markua b/test/writer.markua
index 1c5b44cc2..bc9668a06 100644
--- a/test/writer.markua
+++ b/test/writer.markua
@@ -202,8 +202,8 @@ Multiple paragraphs:
 ## Nested
 
 * Tab
+  * Tab
     * Tab
-        * Tab
 
 Here’s another:
 
@@ -233,9 +233,9 @@ Same thing but with paragraphs:
 
 * this is a list item indented with spaces
 
-    * this is an example list item indented with tabs
+  * this is an example list item indented with tabs
 
-    * this is an example list item indented with spaces
+  * this is an example list item indented with spaces
 
 {id: fancy-list-markers}
 ## Fancy list markers
@@ -492,17 +492,17 @@ Ellipses…and…and….
 * `p`$-Tree
 * Here’s some display math:
 
-    {format: latex}
-    ```
-    \frac{d}{dx}f(x)=\lim_{h\to 0}\frac{f(x+h)-f(x)}{h}
-    ```
+  {format: latex}
+  ```
+  \frac{d}{dx}f(x)=\lim_{h\to 0}\frac{f(x+h)-f(x)}{h}
+  ```
 * Here’s one that has a line break in it: `\alpha + \omega \times x^2`$.
 
 These shouldn’t be math:
 
 * To get the famous equation, write `$e = mc^2$`.
 * $22,000 is a *lot* of money. So is $34,000. (It worked if "lot" is
-    emphasized.)
+  emphasized.)
 * Shoes ($20) and socks ($5).
 * Escaped `$`: $73 *this should be emphasized* 23$.