diff --git a/src/lib/editor/extensions/indent.ts b/src/lib/editor/extensions/indent.ts
index aa64da2..90e76c2 100644
--- a/src/lib/editor/extensions/indent.ts
+++ b/src/lib/editor/extensions/indent.ts
@@ -110,14 +110,10 @@ function clampFirst(cm: number): number {
   return Math.round(Math.max(-INDENT_MAX_CM, Math.min(INDENT_MAX_CM, cm)) * 100) / 100;
 }
 
+// Signed: a first-line indent may be negative (a hanging indent), and on a list the
+// value is the offset from the level's 1.27cm base, so a file whose list sits closer
+// to the margin than that imports a negative one.
 function parseIndent(value: string | null): number | null {
-  if (value == null || value === '') return null;
-  const n = parseFloat(value);
-  return Number.isFinite(n) && n > 0 ? n : null;
-}
-
-// A first-line indent may be negative (a hanging indent), unlike a left margin.
-function parseSignedIndent(value: string | null): number | null {
   if (value == null || value === '') return null;
   const n = parseFloat(value);
   return Number.isFinite(n) && n !== 0 ? n : null;
@@ -171,7 +167,7 @@ export const Indent = Extension.create({
           // `indent`, which is the whole block's left margin.
           indentFirst: {
             default: null,
-            parseHTML: (element: HTMLElement) => parseSignedIndent(element.getAttribute('data-indent-first')),
+            parseHTML: (element: HTMLElement) => parseIndent(element.getAttribute('data-indent-first')),
             renderHTML: (attributes: Record<string, unknown>) => {
               if (attributes.indentFirst == null) return {};
               const cm = Number(attributes.indentFirst);
diff --git a/src/lib/import/docx.ts b/src/lib/import/docx.ts
index b226596..c97728b 100644
--- a/src/lib/import/docx.ts
+++ b/src/lib/import/docx.ts
@@ -451,8 +451,10 @@ function makeListNode(ctx: Ctx, numId: number, ilvl: number): Node {
     if (def.start != null && def.start > 1) attrs.start = def.start;
   }
   if (ilvl === 0 && def.leftTwip != null) {
-    const extra = round2(twipToCm(def.leftTwip) - LIST_LEFT_STEP_CM);
-    if (extra > LIST_INDENT_EPS_CM) attrs.indent = extra;
+    // Signed: a level's w:ind w:left may sit left of the editor's 1.27cm base
+    // (w:left="360" is a common one). Floored there so the list stays in the text column.
+    const extra = round2(Math.max(-LIST_LEFT_STEP_CM, twipToCm(def.leftTwip) - LIST_LEFT_STEP_CM));
+    if (Math.abs(extra) > LIST_INDENT_EPS_CM) attrs.indent = extra;
   }
   const node: Node = { type: bullet ? 'bulletList' : 'orderedList', content: [] };
   if (Object.keys(attrs).length) node.attrs = attrs;
diff --git a/src/lib/import/odt.ts b/src/lib/import/odt.ts
index ae75943..3573905 100644
--- a/src/lib/import/odt.ts
+++ b/src/lib/import/odt.ts
@@ -1355,8 +1355,10 @@ function convertList(el: Element, ctx: Ctx, inheritedStyleName: string | null, d
   if (depth === 1) {
     const mlCm = listLevelMarginLeftCm(levelDef);
     if (mlCm != null) {
-      const extra = Math.round((mlCm - LIST_BASE_MARGIN_CM) * 100) / 100;
-      if (extra > LIST_INDENT_EPS_CM) indent = extra;
+      // Signed, floored at the base: a list may sit left of the editor's 1.27cm level
+      // margin, but never left of the text column.
+      const extra = Math.round(Math.max(-LIST_BASE_MARGIN_CM, mlCm - LIST_BASE_MARGIN_CM) * 100) / 100;
+      if (Math.abs(extra) > LIST_INDENT_EPS_CM) indent = extra;
     }
   }