diff --git a/etc/ORG-NEWS b/etc/ORG-NEWS
index 95358ca7b..bd27faec7 100644
--- a/etc/ORG-NEWS
+++ b/etc/ORG-NEWS
@@ -246,6 +246,9 @@ dynamic block in ~org-dynamic-block-alist~.
 It was unused throughout the code base.
 
 ** Miscellaneous
+*** Change signature for ~org-list-to-subtree~
+The function now accepts the level of the subtree as an optional
+argument.  It no longer deduces it from the current level.
 *** LaTeX preview is simplified
 
 Function ~org-latex-preview~, formerly known as
diff --git a/lisp/org-list.el b/lisp/org-list.el
index 9864b1824..f32a2035a 100644
--- a/lisp/org-list.el
+++ b/lisp/org-list.el
@@ -3153,10 +3153,14 @@ Point is left at list's end."
 (defun org-list-make-subtree ()
   "Convert the plain list at point into a subtree."
   (interactive)
-  (if (not (ignore-errors (goto-char (org-in-item-p))))
-      (error "Not in a list")
-    (let ((list (save-excursion (org-list-to-lisp t))))
-      (insert (org-list-to-subtree list) "\n"))))
+  (let ((item (org-in-item-p)))
+    (unless item (error "Not in a list"))
+    (goto-char item)
+    (let ((level (pcase (org-current-level)
+		   (`nil 1)
+		   (l (1+ (org-reduced-level l)))))
+	  (list (save-excursion (org-list-to-lisp t))))
+      (insert (org-list-to-subtree list level) "\n"))))
 
 (defun org-list-to-generic (list params)
   "Convert a LIST parsed through `org-list-to-lisp' to a custom format.
@@ -3465,21 +3469,22 @@ with overruling parameters for `org-list-to-generic'."
 		 :cbtrans "[-] ")))
     (org-list-to-generic list (org-combine-plists defaults params))))
 
-(defun org-list-to-subtree (list &optional params)
+(defun org-list-to-subtree (list &optional start-level params)
   "Convert LIST into an Org subtree.
-LIST is as returned by `org-list-to-lisp'.  PARAMS is a property
-list with overruling parameters for `org-list-to-generic'."
+LIST is as returned by `org-list-to-lisp'.  Subtree starts at
+START-LEVEL or level 1 if nil.  PARAMS is a property list with
+overruling parameters for `org-list-to-generic'."
   (let* ((blank (pcase (cdr (assq 'heading org-blank-before-new-entry))
 		  (`t t)
 		  (`auto (save-excursion
 			   (org-with-limited-levels (outline-previous-heading))
 			   (org-previous-line-empty-p)))))
-	 (level (org-reduced-level (or (org-current-level) 0)))
+	 (level (or start-level 1))
 	 (make-stars
 	  (lambda (_type depth &optional _count)
 	    ;; Return the string for the heading, depending on DEPTH
 	    ;; of current sub-list.
-	    (let ((oddeven-level (+ level depth)))
+	    (let ((oddeven-level (+ level (1- depth))))
 	      (concat (make-string (if org-odd-levels-only
 				       (1- (* 2 oddeven-level))
 				     oddeven-level)
diff --git a/lisp/org.el b/lisp/org.el
index c15de975e..7bf2b68fc 100644
--- a/lisp/org.el
+++ b/lisp/org.el
@@ -18154,7 +18154,12 @@ number of stars to add."
 		     (min (org-list-get-bottom-point struct) (1+ end))))
 	       (save-restriction
 		 (narrow-to-region (point) list-end)
-		 (insert (org-list-to-subtree (org-list-to-lisp t)) "\n")))
+		 (insert (org-list-to-subtree
+			  (org-list-to-lisp t)
+			  (pcase (org-current-level)
+			    (`nil 1)
+			    (l (1+ (org-reduced-level l)))))
+			 "\n")))
 	     (setq toggled t))
 	   (forward-line)))
 	;; Case 3. Started at normal text: make every line an heading,
@@ -18163,10 +18168,10 @@ number of stars to add."
 		   (make-string
 		    (if (numberp nstars) nstars (or (org-current-level) 0)) ?*))
 		  (add-stars
-		   (cond (nstars "")                ; stars from prefix only
-			 ((equal stars "") "*")     ; before first heading
+		   (cond (nstars "")	; stars from prefix only
+			 ((equal stars "") "*")	; before first heading
 			 (org-odd-levels-only "**") ; inside heading, odd
-			 (t "*")))                  ; inside heading, oddeven
+			 (t "*")))	; inside heading, oddeven
 		  (rpl (concat stars add-stars " "))
 		  (lend (when (listp nstars) (save-excursion (end-of-line) (point)))))
 	     (while (< (point) (if (equal nstars '(4)) lend end))