diff --git a/Lib/test/test_clinic.py b/Lib/test/test_clinic.py
index 8ed7e214742d50..4ce188dd2b1b57 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_clinic.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_clinic.py
@@ -834,8 +834,8 @@ def expect_failure(self, block, err, *, filename=None, lineno=None):
 
     def checkDocstring(self, fn, expected):
         self.assertTrue(hasattr(fn, "docstring"))
-        self.assertEqual(fn.docstring.strip(),
-                         dedent(expected).strip())
+        self.assertEqual(dedent(expected).strip(),
+                         fn.docstring.strip())
 
     def test_trivial(self):
         parser = DSLParser(_make_clinic())
@@ -999,8 +999,12 @@ def test_function_docstring(self):
 
                path: str
                    Path to be examined
+                   Ensure that multiple lines are indented correctly.
 
             Perform a stat system call on the given path.
+
+            Ensure that multiple lines are indented correctly.
+            Ensure that multiple lines are indented correctly.
         """)
         self.checkDocstring(function, """
             stat($module, /, path)
@@ -1010,6 +1014,10 @@ def test_function_docstring(self):
 
               path
                 Path to be examined
+                Ensure that multiple lines are indented correctly.
+
+            Ensure that multiple lines are indented correctly.
+            Ensure that multiple lines are indented correctly.
         """)
 
     def test_docstring_trailing_whitespace(self):
diff --git a/Tools/clinic/clinic.py b/Tools/clinic/clinic.py
index 16f31717080e1f..44b31ffa8b3b41 100755
--- a/Tools/clinic/clinic.py
+++ b/Tools/clinic/clinic.py
@@ -2775,6 +2775,13 @@ def get_displayname(self, i: int) -> str:
         else:
             return f'"argument {i}"'
 
+    def render_docstring(self) -> str:
+        add, out = text_accumulator()
+        add(f"  {self.name}\n")
+        for line in self.docstring.split("\n"):
+            add(f"    {line}\n")
+        return out().rstrip()
+
 
 CConverterClassT = TypeVar("CConverterClassT", bound=type["CConverter"])
 
@@ -5681,23 +5688,11 @@ def add_parameter(text: str) -> None:
     @staticmethod
     def format_docstring_parameters(params: list[Parameter]) -> str:
         """Create substitution text for {parameters}"""
-        text, add, output = _text_accumulator()
-        spacer_line = False
-        for param in params:
-            docstring = param.docstring.strip()
-            if not docstring:
-                continue
-            if spacer_line:
+        add, output = text_accumulator()
+        for p in params:
+            if p.docstring:
+                add(p.render_docstring())
                 add('\n')
-            else:
-                spacer_line = True
-            add("  ")
-            add(param.name)
-            add('\n')
-            stripped = rstrip_lines(docstring)
-            add(textwrap.indent(stripped, "    "))
-        if text:
-            add('\n')
         return output()
 
     def format_docstring(self) -> str: