diff --git a/src/calibre/ebooks/fb2/fb2ml.py b/src/calibre/ebooks/fb2/fb2ml.py
index 9d41111055..ed7a1a459e 100644
--- a/src/calibre/ebooks/fb2/fb2ml.py
+++ b/src/calibre/ebooks/fb2/fb2ml.py
@@ -435,7 +435,7 @@ class FB2MLizer(object):
 
                 # Start a new section if necessary
                 if newlevel:
-                    if not (newlevel > self.section_level):
+                    while newlevel <= self.section_level:
                         fb2_out.append('</section>')
                         self.section_level -= 1
                     fb2_out.append('<section>')