diff --git a/lisp/org.el b/lisp/org.el
index b1022fdde..a6451c14d 100644
--- a/lisp/org.el
+++ b/lisp/org.el
@@ -7714,7 +7714,8 @@ This is important for non-interactive uses of the command."
 	  (when respect-content
 	    (org-end-of-subtree nil t)
 	    (skip-chars-backward " \r\n")
-	    (and (looking-at "[ \t]+") (replace-match ""))
+	    (and (not (looking-back "^\*+"))
+		 (looking-at "[ \t]+") (replace-match ""))
 	    (unless (eobp) (forward-char 1))
 	    (when (looking-at "^\\*")
 	      (unless (bobp) (backward-char 1))