diff --git a/include/qpdf/JSON.hh b/include/qpdf/JSON.hh
index 79f2a25f..e711a2df 100644
--- a/include/qpdf/JSON.hh
+++ b/include/qpdf/JSON.hh
@@ -220,7 +220,10 @@ class JSON
         // The start/end methods are called when parsing of a
         // dictionary or array is started or ended. The item methods
         // are called when an item is added to a dictionary or array.
-        // See important notes in "Item methods" below.
+        // When adding a container to another container, the item
+        // method is called with an empty container before the lower
+        // container's start method is called. See important notes in
+        // "Item methods" below.
 
         // During parsing of a JSON string, the parser is operating on
         // a single object at a time. When a dictionary or array is
@@ -230,10 +233,10 @@ class JSON
         // following method calls
         //
         // dictionaryStart -- current object is the top-level dictionary
+        // dictionaryItem  -- called with "a" and an empty array
         // arrayStart      -- current object is the array
         // arrayItem       -- called with the "1" object
         // containerEnd    -- now current object is the dictionary again
-        // dictionaryItem  -- called with "a" and the just-completed array
         // containerEnd    -- current object is undefined
         //
         // If the top-level item in a JSON string is a scalar, the
@@ -261,8 +264,12 @@ class JSON
         // NOTE: When a dictionary or an array is added to a
         // container, the dictionaryItem or arrayItem method is called
         // when the child item's start delimiter is encountered, so
-        // the JSON object passed in at that time will always be
-        // in its initial, empty state.
+        // the JSON object passed in at that time will always be in
+        // its initial, empty state. Additionally, the child item's
+        // start method is not called until after the parent item's
+        // item method is called. This makes it possible to keep track
+        // of the current depth level by incrementing level on start
+        // methods and decrementing on end methods.
 
         QPDF_DLL
         virtual bool
diff --git a/libqpdf/JSON.cc b/libqpdf/JSON.cc
index 1c49f9ee..a2aff78b 100644
--- a/libqpdf/JSON.cc
+++ b/libqpdf/JSON.cc
@@ -949,17 +949,11 @@ JSONParser::handleToken()
         case '{':
             item = std::make_shared<JSON>(JSON::makeDictionary());
             item->setStart(offset - token.length());
-            if (reactor) {
-                reactor->dictionaryStart();
-            }
             break;
 
         case '[':
             item = std::make_shared<JSON>(JSON::makeArray());
             item->setStart(offset - token.length());
-            if (reactor) {
-                reactor->arrayStart();
-            }
             break;
 
         default:
@@ -1187,6 +1181,18 @@ JSONParser::handleToken()
             "JSONParser::handleToken: unexpected null item in transition");
     }
 
+    if (reactor && item.get()) {
+        // Calling container start method is postponed until after
+        // adding the containers to their parent containers, if any.
+        // This makes it much easier to keep track of the current
+        // nesting level.
+        if (item->isDictionary()) {
+            reactor->dictionaryStart();
+        } else if (item->isArray()) {
+            reactor->arrayStart();
+        }
+    }
+
     // Prepare for next token
     if (item.get()) {
         if (item->isDictionary()) {
diff --git a/libtests/qtest/json_parse/good-01-react.out b/libtests/qtest/json_parse/good-01-react.out
index d6167a6b..e3813bcc 100644
--- a/libtests/qtest/json_parse/good-01-react.out
+++ b/libtests/qtest/json_parse/good-01-react.out
@@ -1,14 +1,14 @@
 dictionary start
 dictionary item: a -> [6, 11): "bcd"
-array start
 dictionary item: e -> [18, 0): []
+array start
 array item: [19, 20): 1
 array item: [41, 42): 2
 array item: [44, 45): 3
 array item: [46, 47): 4
 array item: [48, 54): "five"
-dictionary start
 array item: [56, 0): {}
+dictionary start
 dictionary item: six -> [64, 65): 7
 dictionary item: 8 -> [72, 73): 9
 container end: [56, 74): {}
diff --git a/libtests/qtest/json_parse/good-04-react.out b/libtests/qtest/json_parse/good-04-react.out
index bd18ccfc..ded004b2 100644
--- a/libtests/qtest/json_parse/good-04-react.out
+++ b/libtests/qtest/json_parse/good-04-react.out
@@ -1,16 +1,16 @@
 array start
-array start
 array item: [1, 0): []
 array start
 array item: [2, 0): []
-dictionary start
+array start
 array item: [3, 0): {}
+dictionary start
 container end: [3, 5): {}
 container end: [2, 6): []
-dictionary start
 array item: [8, 0): {}
 dictionary start
 dictionary item:  -> [13, 0): {}
+dictionary start
 container end: [13, 15): {}
 container end: [8, 16): {}
 container end: [1, 17): []
diff --git a/libtests/qtest/json_parse/good-10-react.out b/libtests/qtest/json_parse/good-10-react.out
index 142d95d0..3cceeb2f 100644
--- a/libtests/qtest/json_parse/good-10-react.out
+++ b/libtests/qtest/json_parse/good-10-react.out
@@ -1,30 +1,30 @@
 dictionary start
-array start
 dictionary item: a -> [9, 0): []
+array start
 array item: [10, 11): 1
 array item: [13, 14): 2
-dictionary start
 array item: [16, 0): {}
+dictionary start
 dictionary item: x -> [22, 25): "y"
 container end: [16, 26): {}
 array item: [28, 29): 3
-dictionary start
 array item: [31, 0): {}
+dictionary start
 dictionary item: keep -> [40, 61): "not in final output"
 container end: [31, 62): {
   "keep": "not in final output"
 }
 container end: [9, 63): []
-array start
 dictionary item: keep -> [75, 0): []
+array start
 array item: [76, 77): 1
 array item: [79, 83): null
 array item: [85, 86): 2
 array item: [88, 93): false
 array item: [95, 101): "keep"
 array item: [103, 104): 3
-array start
 array item: [106, 0): []
+array start
 array item: [107, 113): "this"
 array item: [115, 121): "keep"
 array item: [123, 128): "not"