diff --git a/stdlib/Markdown/src/render/plain.jl b/stdlib/Markdown/src/render/plain.jl
index 3bc0bbca7e693..f89ba78e0e797 100644
--- a/stdlib/Markdown/src/render/plain.jl
+++ b/stdlib/Markdown/src/render/plain.jl
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ end
 
 function plain(io::IO, list::List)
     for (i, item) in enumerate(list.items)
-        print(io, isordered(list) ? "$(i + list.ordered - 1). " : "  * ")
+        print(io, isordered(list) ? "$(i + list.ordered - 1). " : "* ")
         lines = split(rstrip(sprint(plain, item)), "\n")
         for (n, line) in enumerate(lines)
             print(io, (n == 1 || isempty(line)) ? "" : "    ", line)