diff --git a/src/gmirator/generate.py b/src/gmirator/generate.py
index b56168d..5697b69 100644
--- a/src/gmirator/generate.py
+++ b/src/gmirator/generate.py
@@ -134,15 +134,18 @@ def process_file(ifile: TextIOWrapper):
     return contents, title
 
 def process_list(line: str, in_list: bool):
-    if in_list:
-        if line[0] == "*":
-            line = re.sub(r'^\* (.*)', r'<li>\1</li>', line)
-        else:
-            in_list = False
-            line = "</ul>\n\n"
-    elif line[0] == "*":
-        line = "<ul>\n" + re.sub(r'^\* (.*)', r'<li>\1</li>', line)
-        in_list = True
+    try:
+        if in_list:
+            if line[:2] == "* ":
+                line = re.sub(r'^\* (.*)', r'<li>\1</li>', line)
+            else:
+                in_list = False
+                line = f"</ul>\n\n{line}"
+        elif line[:2] == "* ":
+            line = "<ul>\n" + re.sub(r'^\* (.*)', r'<li>\1</li>', line)
+            in_list = True
+    except IndexError:
+        in_list = False
     return line, in_list
 
 def process_inline(line: str):
diff --git a/tests/test_generate.py b/tests/test_generate.py
index c69ca57..ae97e22 100644
--- a/tests/test_generate.py
+++ b/tests/test_generate.py
@@ -11,14 +11,22 @@ from gmirator.generate import (
 def test_process_file():
     pass
 
-def test_process_list():
-    test_str = "this is a line outside a list"
-    assert process_list(test_str, True) == ("</ul>\n\n", False)
-    assert process_list(test_str, False) == (test_str, False)
+def test_process_list_legit_item():
     test_str = "* this is a list item"
-    assert process_list(test_str, True) == ("<li>this is a list item</li>", True)
-    assert process_list(test_str, False) == ("<ul>\n<li>this is a list item</li>", True)
-    pass
+    assert process_list(test_str, True) == (f"<li>{test_str[2:]}</li>", True)
+    assert process_list(test_str, False) == (f"<ul>\n<li>{test_str[2:]}</li>", True)
+
+def test_process_list_not_list_items():
+    test_str = "this is a line outside a list"
+    assert process_list(test_str, True) == (f"</ul>\n\n{test_str}", False)
+    assert process_list(test_str, False) == (test_str, False)
+    test_str = "*this is NOT a list item*"
+    assert process_list(test_str, True) == (f"</ul>\n\n{test_str}", False)
+    assert process_list(test_str, False) == (f"{test_str}", False)
+
+def test_process_list_empty_line():
+    assert process_list("", True) == ("</ul>\n\n", False)
+    assert process_list("", False) == ("", False)
 
 def test_process_inline():
     assert process_inline("*Hello* ~~world~~!") == "<em>Hello</em> <s>world</s>!"
@@ -34,4 +42,17 @@ def test_repl_url_internal_gmi_url():
     assert new_url == '<a href="/gempage.html">=> title</a><br>\n'
 
 def test_repl_heading():
-    pass
+    line = "# this is h1 title"
+    html_h1 = re.sub(r'^(#+) (.*)', repl_heading, line)
+    line = "## this is h2 title"
+    html_h2 = re.sub(r'^(#+) (.*)', repl_heading, line)
+    line = "### this is h3 title"
+    html_h3 = re.sub(r'^(#+) (.*)', repl_heading, line)
+    assert html_h1 == "<h1># this is h1 title</h1>"
+    assert html_h2 == "<h2>## this is h2 title</h2>"
+    assert html_h3 == "<h3>### this is h3 title</h3>"
+
+def test_repl_heading_h4():
+    line = "#### this is h4 title"
+    html_h4 = re.sub(r'^(#+) (.*)', repl_heading, line)
+    assert html_h4 == "<h4>#### this is h4 title</h4>"