diff --git a/docs/sphinx/qapidoc.py b/docs/sphinx/qapidoc.py
index 659e507353..f9683444b1 100644
--- a/docs/sphinx/qapidoc.py
+++ b/docs/sphinx/qapidoc.py
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ https://www.sphinx-doc.org/en/master/development/index.html
 
 import os
 import re
+import textwrap
 
 from docutils import nodes
 from docutils.parsers.rst import Directive, directives
@@ -53,6 +54,19 @@ else:
 __version__ = "1.0"
 
 
+def dedent(text: str) -> str:
+    # Adjust indentation to make description text parse as paragraph.
+
+    lines = text.splitlines(True)
+    if re.match(r"\s+", lines[0]):
+        # First line is indented; description started on the line after
+        # the name. dedent the whole block.
+        return textwrap.dedent(text)
+
+    # Descr started on same line. Dedent line 2+.
+    return lines[0] + textwrap.dedent("".join(lines[1:]))
+
+
 # Disable black auto-formatter until re-enabled:
 # fmt: off
 
@@ -164,7 +178,7 @@ class QAPISchemaGenRSTVisitor(QAPISchemaVisitor):
             term = self._nodes_for_one_member(section.member)
             # TODO drop fallbacks when undocumented members are outlawed
             if section.text:
-                defn = section.text
+                defn = dedent(section.text)
             else:
                 defn = [nodes.Text('Not documented')]
 
@@ -202,7 +216,7 @@ class QAPISchemaGenRSTVisitor(QAPISchemaVisitor):
                 termtext.extend(self._nodes_for_ifcond(section.member.ifcond))
             # TODO drop fallbacks when undocumented members are outlawed
             if section.text:
-                defn = section.text
+                defn = dedent(section.text)
             else:
                 defn = [nodes.Text('Not documented')]
 
@@ -237,7 +251,7 @@ class QAPISchemaGenRSTVisitor(QAPISchemaVisitor):
         dlnode = nodes.definition_list()
         for section in doc.features.values():
             dlnode += self._make_dlitem(
-                [nodes.literal('', section.member.name)], section.text)
+                [nodes.literal('', section.member.name)], dedent(section.text))
             seen_item = True
 
         if not seen_item:
@@ -260,9 +274,12 @@ class QAPISchemaGenRSTVisitor(QAPISchemaVisitor):
                 continue
             snode = self._make_section(section.tag)
             if section.tag and section.tag.startswith('Example'):
-                snode += self._nodes_for_example(section.text)
+                snode += self._nodes_for_example(dedent(section.text))
             else:
-                self._parse_text_into_node(section.text, snode)
+                self._parse_text_into_node(
+                    dedent(section.text) if section.tag else section.text,
+                    snode,
+                )
             nodelist.append(snode)
         return nodelist
 
diff --git a/scripts/qapi/parser.py b/scripts/qapi/parser.py
index 7b13a583ac..1ef1f85b02 100644
--- a/scripts/qapi/parser.py
+++ b/scripts/qapi/parser.py
@@ -448,7 +448,7 @@ class QAPISchemaParser:
         indent = must_match(r'\s*', line).end()
         if not indent:
             return line
-        doc.append_line(line[indent:])
+        doc.append_line(line)
         prev_line_blank = False
         while True:
             self.accept(False)
@@ -465,7 +465,7 @@ class QAPISchemaParser:
                     self,
                     "unexpected de-indent (expected at least %d spaces)" %
                     indent)
-            doc.append_line(line[indent:])
+            doc.append_line(line)
             prev_line_blank = True
 
     def get_doc_paragraph(self, doc: 'QAPIDoc') -> Optional[str]:
diff --git a/tests/qapi-schema/doc-good.out b/tests/qapi-schema/doc-good.out
index 716a9a4102..435f6e6d76 100644
--- a/tests/qapi-schema/doc-good.out
+++ b/tests/qapi-schema/doc-good.out
@@ -117,8 +117,8 @@ doc symbol=Base
     body=
 
     arg=base1
-description starts on a new line,
-minimally indented
+ description starts on a new line,
+ minimally indented
 doc symbol=Variant1
     body=
 A paragraph
@@ -145,8 +145,8 @@ doc symbol=Alternate
 
     arg=i
 description starts on the same line
-remainder indented the same
-@b is undocumented
+    remainder indented the same
+    @b is undocumented
     arg=b
 
     feature=alt-feat
@@ -158,11 +158,11 @@ doc symbol=cmd
     body=
 
     arg=arg1
-description starts on a new line,
-indented
+    description starts on a new line,
+    indented
     arg=arg2
 description starts on the same line
-remainder indented differently
+    remainder indented differently
     arg=arg3
 
     feature=cmd-feat1
@@ -178,16 +178,16 @@ some
     section=TODO
 frobnicate
     section=Notes
-- Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet
-- Ut enim ad minim veniam
+ - Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet
+ - Ut enim ad minim veniam
 
-Duis aute irure dolor
+ Duis aute irure dolor
     section=Example
--> in
-<- out
+ -> in
+ <- out
     section=Examples
-- *verbatim*
-- {braces}
+ - *verbatim*
+ - {braces}
     section=Since
 2.10
 doc symbol=cmd-boxed
@@ -198,9 +198,9 @@ a feature
     feature=cmd-feat2
 another feature
     section=Example
--> in
+ -> in
 
-<- out
+ <- out
 doc symbol=EVT_BOXED
     body=