diff --git a/src/fold.c b/src/fold.c
index be20991..5c41ed1 100644
--- a/src/fold.c
+++ b/src/fold.c
@@ -3362,7 +3362,9 @@
 		  break;
 
 	// "<1", "<2", .. : end a fold with a certain level
-	case '<': flp->lvl_next = n - 1;
+	case '<': // To prevent an unexpected start of a new fold, the next
+		  // level must not exceed the level of the current fold.
+		  flp->lvl_next = MIN(flp->lvl, n - 1);
 		  flp->end = n;
 		  break;