diff --git a/lisp/org-docbook.el b/lisp/org-docbook.el
index 61c639f4b..ab2dfd6d9 100644
--- a/lisp/org-docbook.el
+++ b/lisp/org-docbook.el
@@ -1034,9 +1034,7 @@ publishing directory."
 	      (when (and (not (equal item-type "d"))
 			 (not (string-match "[^ \t]" line)))
 		;; Empty line.  Pretend indentation is large.
-		(setq ind (if org-empty-line-terminates-plain-lists
-			      0
-			    (1+ (or (car local-list-indent) 1)))))
+		(setq ind (1+ (or (car local-list-indent) 1))))
 	      (while (and in-local-list
 			  (or (and (= ind (car local-list-indent))
 				   (not starter))
diff --git a/lisp/org-html.el b/lisp/org-html.el
index da0af3e97..60b4b9664 100644
--- a/lisp/org-html.el
+++ b/lisp/org-html.el
@@ -1558,9 +1558,7 @@ lang=\"%s\" xml:lang=\"%s\">
 	      (when (and (not (equal item-type "d"))
 			 (not (string-match "[^ \t]" line)))
 		;; empty line.  Pretend indentation is large.
-		(setq ind (if org-empty-line-terminates-plain-lists
-			      0
-			    (1+ (or (car local-list-indent) 1)))))
+		(setq ind (1+ (or (car local-list-indent) 1))))
 	      (while (and in-local-list
 			  (or (and (= ind (car local-list-indent))
 				   (not starter))