diff --git a/lib/diff.js b/lib/diff.js
index cefa14c..efc6b25 100644
--- a/lib/diff.js
+++ b/lib/diff.js
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ function diffDescriptors (lhs, rhs, options) {
 
   const isCircular = descriptor => lhsCircular.has(descriptor) || rhsCircular.has(descriptor)
 
-  const format = (builder, subject, circular) => {
+  const format = (builder, subject, circular, depthOffset = 0) => {
     if (diffIndex >= 0 && !diffStack[diffIndex].shouldFormat(subject)) return
 
     if (circular.has(subject)) {
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ function diffDescriptors (lhs, rhs, options) {
           const formatter = subject.formatShallow(themeUtils.applyModifiers(subject, theme), indent)
           const recursor = subject.createRecursor()
 
-          if (formatter.increaseIndent && maxDepth > 0 && indent.level === maxDepth) {
+          if (formatter.increaseIndent && maxDepth > 0 && indent.level === (maxDepth + depthOffset)) {
             const isEmpty = recursor() === null
             let formatted = !isEmpty && typeof formatter.maxDepth === 'function'
               ? formatter.maxDepth()
@@ -374,7 +374,7 @@ function diffDescriptors (lhs, rhs, options) {
         }
 
         do {
-          format(builder, subject, circular)
+          format(builder, subject, circular, indent.level)
           subject = stack[topIndex].recursor()
         } while (subject !== null)
       }
diff --git a/test/diff.js b/test/diff.js
index a99151f..8a3e7bb 100644
--- a/test/diff.js
+++ b/test/diff.js
@@ -485,3 +485,43 @@ test('inverted diffs', t => {
     baz: 'qux\ncorge\nquux',
   }, { invert: true }))
 })
+
+test('lists: effectively resets depth when formatting differences', t => {
+  const l1 = [
+    {
+      b: 'b',
+    },
+    {
+      d: 'bar',
+      e: {
+        f: 'f',
+      },
+    },
+  ]
+  const l2 = [
+    {
+      b: 'b',
+    },
+  ]
+  t.snapshot(_diff(l1, l2, { maxDepth: 1, theme }))
+})
+
+test('objects: effectively resets depth when formatting differences', t => {
+  const o1 = {
+    a: {
+      b: 'b',
+    },
+    c: {
+      d: 'bar',
+      e: {
+        f: 'f',
+      },
+    },
+  }
+  const o2 = {
+    a: {
+      b: 'b',
+    },
+  }
+  t.snapshot(_diff(o1, o2, { maxDepth: 1, theme }))
+})
diff --git a/test/snapshots/diff.js.md b/test/snapshots/diff.js.md
index 597ca63..e54fdc7 100644
--- a/test/snapshots/diff.js.md
+++ b/test/snapshots/diff.js.md
@@ -1146,3 +1146,27 @@ Generated by [AVA](https://avajs.dev).
     %diffGutters.actual#- %  foo%property.separator#: %%string.line.open#'%%string.diff.insertLine.open%BAR%string.diff.insertLine.close%%string.line.close#'%%property.after#,%␊
     %diffGutters.expected#+ %  foo%property.separator#: %%string.line.open#'%%string.diff.deleteLine.open%bar%string.diff.deleteLine.close%%string.line.close#'%%property.after#,%␊
     %diffGutters.padding#  %%object.closeBracket#}%`
+
+## lists: effectively resets depth when formatting differences
+
+> Snapshot 1
+
+    `%diffGutters.padding#  %%list.openBracket#[%␊
+    %diffGutters.padding#  %  %object.ctor.open%Object%object.ctor.close% %object.openBracket#{% %maxDepth#…% %object.closeBracket#}%%item.after#,%␊
+    %diffGutters.actual#- %  %object.openBracket#{%␊
+    %diffGutters.actual#- %    d%property.separator#: %%string.line.open#'%%string.open%bar%string.close%%string.line.close#'%%property.after#,%␊
+    %diffGutters.actual#- %    e%property.separator#: %%object.ctor.open%Object%object.ctor.close% %object.openBracket#{% %maxDepth#…% %object.closeBracket#}%%property.after#,%␊
+    %diffGutters.actual#- %  %object.closeBracket#}%%item.after#,%␊
+    %diffGutters.padding#  %%list.closeBracket#]%`
+
+## objects: effectively resets depth when formatting differences
+
+> Snapshot 1
+
+    `%diffGutters.padding#  %%object.openBracket#{%␊
+    %diffGutters.padding#  %  a%property.separator#: %%object.ctor.open%Object%object.ctor.close% %object.openBracket#{% %maxDepth#…% %object.closeBracket#}%%property.after#,%␊
+    %diffGutters.actual#- %  c%property.separator#: %%object.openBracket#{%␊
+    %diffGutters.actual#- %    d%property.separator#: %%string.line.open#'%%string.open%bar%string.close%%string.line.close#'%%property.after#,%␊
+    %diffGutters.actual#- %    e%property.separator#: %%object.ctor.open%Object%object.ctor.close% %object.openBracket#{% %maxDepth#…% %object.closeBracket#}%%property.after#,%␊
+    %diffGutters.actual#- %  %object.closeBracket#}%%property.after#,%␊
+    %diffGutters.padding#  %%object.closeBracket#}%`
diff --git a/test/snapshots/diff.js.snap b/test/snapshots/diff.js.snap
index c0f50db..7edc6c4 100644
Binary files a/test/snapshots/diff.js.snap and b/test/snapshots/diff.js.snap differ