diff --git a/extended-toc.php b/extended-toc.php
index 57501c7..317cd71 100644
--- a/extended-toc.php
+++ b/extended-toc.php
@@ -455,6 +455,7 @@ if( !class_exists('ExToC') ) {
         $this->minLevel = $matches[0][2];          // lowest level e.g. h3
         
       $currentLevel   =   $this->minLevel; // $minLevel;
+      $this->counter[$currentLevel] = 0;
 
     	for( $i = 0; $i < count($matches); $i++ ) {
     		/** get anchor and add to find and replace arrays **/
@@ -477,7 +478,7 @@ if( !class_exists('ExToC') ) {
         /** Check if header lower current header, then add level and update current header */
         if( $matches[$i][2] > $currentLevel && $this->options['show_hierarchy'] == true) {
           $currentLevel = $matches[$i][2];
-          $this->counter[$currentLevel] = 1;
+          $this->counter[$currentLevel] += 1;
         }
         else if( $matches[$i][2] < $currentLevel && $matches[$i][2] >= $this->minLevel && $this->options['show_hierarchy'] == true) {
           $currentLevel = $matches[$i][2];