diff --git a/docling/backend/html_backend.py b/docling/backend/html_backend.py
index b802605..7fd69cf 100644
--- a/docling/backend/html_backend.py
+++ b/docling/backend/html_backend.py
@@ -180,11 +180,6 @@ class HTMLDocumentBackend(DeclarativeDocumentBackend):
                 parent=self.parents[0], label=DocItemLabel.TITLE, text=text
             )
 
-        elif hlevel == self.level:
-            self.parents[hlevel] = doc.add_text(
-                parent=self.parents[hlevel - 1], label=label, text=text
-            )
-
         elif hlevel > self.level:
 
             # add invisible group
@@ -194,10 +189,6 @@ class HTMLDocumentBackend(DeclarativeDocumentBackend):
                     label=GroupLabel.SECTION,
                     parent=self.parents[i - 1],
                 )
-
-            self.parents[hlevel] = doc.add_text(
-                parent=self.parents[hlevel - 1], label=label, text=text
-            )
             self.level = hlevel
 
         elif hlevel < self.level:
@@ -206,12 +197,14 @@ class HTMLDocumentBackend(DeclarativeDocumentBackend):
             for key, val in self.parents.items():
                 if key > hlevel:
                     self.parents[key] = None
-
-            self.parents[hlevel] = doc.add_text(
-                parent=self.parents[hlevel - 1], label=label, text=text
-            )
             self.level = hlevel
 
+        self.parents[hlevel] = doc.add_heading(
+            parent=self.parents[hlevel - 1],
+            text=text,
+            level=hlevel,
+        )
+
     def handle_paragraph(self, element, idx, doc):
         """Handles paragraph tags (p)."""
         if element.text is None:
diff --git a/docling/backend/msword_backend.py b/docling/backend/msword_backend.py
index 5b166d5..08529ea 100644
--- a/docling/backend/msword_backend.py
+++ b/docling/backend/msword_backend.py
@@ -294,13 +294,7 @@ class MsWordDocumentBackend(DeclarativeDocumentBackend):
         level = self.get_level()
         if isinstance(curr_level, int):
 
-            if curr_level == level:
-
-                self.parents[level] = doc.add_heading(
-                    parent=self.parents[level - 1], text=text
-                )
-
-            elif curr_level > level:
+            if curr_level > level:
 
                 # add invisible group
                 for i in range(level, curr_level):
@@ -310,10 +304,6 @@ class MsWordDocumentBackend(DeclarativeDocumentBackend):
                         name=f"header-{i}",
                     )
 
-                self.parents[curr_level] = doc.add_heading(
-                    parent=self.parents[curr_level - 1], text=text
-                )
-
             elif curr_level < level:
 
                 # remove the tail
@@ -321,13 +311,17 @@ class MsWordDocumentBackend(DeclarativeDocumentBackend):
                     if key >= curr_level:
                         self.parents[key] = None
 
-                self.parents[curr_level] = doc.add_heading(
-                    parent=self.parents[curr_level - 1], text=text
-                )
+            self.parents[curr_level] = doc.add_heading(
+                parent=self.parents[curr_level - 1],
+                text=text,
+                level=curr_level,
+            )
 
         else:
             self.parents[self.level] = doc.add_heading(
-                parent=self.parents[self.level - 1], text=text
+                parent=self.parents[self.level - 1],
+                text=text,
+                level=1,
             )
         return
 
diff --git a/tests/test_backend_html.py b/tests/test_backend_html.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f5ec035
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_backend_html.py
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+from pathlib import Path
+
+from docling.backend.html_backend import HTMLDocumentBackend
+from docling.datamodel.base_models import InputFormat
+from docling.datamodel.document import InputDocument, SectionHeaderItem
+
+
+def test_heading_levels():
+    in_path = Path("tests/data/wiki_duck.html")
+    in_doc = InputDocument(
+        path_or_stream=in_path,
+        format=InputFormat.HTML,
+        backend=HTMLDocumentBackend,
+    )
+    backend = HTMLDocumentBackend(
+        in_doc=in_doc,
+        path_or_stream=in_path,
+    )
+    doc = backend.convert()
+
+    found_lvl_2 = found_lvl_3 = False
+    for item, _ in doc.iterate_items():
+        if isinstance(item, SectionHeaderItem):
+            if item.text == "Etymology":
+                found_lvl_2 = True
+                assert item.level == 2
+            elif item.text == "Feeding":
+                found_lvl_3 = True
+                assert item.level == 3
+    assert found_lvl_2 and found_lvl_3
diff --git a/tests/test_backend_msword.py b/tests/test_backend_msword.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4544e71
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_backend_msword.py
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+from pathlib import Path
+
+from docling.backend.msword_backend import MsWordDocumentBackend
+from docling.datamodel.base_models import InputFormat
+from docling.datamodel.document import InputDocument, SectionHeaderItem
+
+
+def test_heading_levels():
+    in_path = Path("tests/data/word_sample.docx")
+    in_doc = InputDocument(
+        path_or_stream=in_path,
+        format=InputFormat.DOCX,
+        backend=MsWordDocumentBackend,
+    )
+    backend = MsWordDocumentBackend(
+        in_doc=in_doc,
+        path_or_stream=in_path,
+    )
+    doc = backend.convert()
+
+    found_lvl_1 = found_lvl_2 = False
+    for item, _ in doc.iterate_items():
+        if isinstance(item, SectionHeaderItem):
+            if item.text == "Let\u2019s swim!":
+                found_lvl_1 = True
+                assert item.level == 1
+            elif item.text == "Let\u2019s eat":
+                found_lvl_2 = True
+                assert item.level == 2
+    assert found_lvl_1 and found_lvl_2