diff --git a/crates/typst-library/src/math/mod.rs b/crates/typst-library/src/math/mod.rs
index c29ad29b4..1b5c27f87 100644
--- a/crates/typst-library/src/math/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/typst-library/src/math/mod.rs
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ use self::ctx::*;
 use self::fragment::*;
 use self::row::*;
 use self::spacing::*;
-use crate::layout::{HElem, ParElem, Spacing};
+use crate::layout::{BoxElem, HElem, ParElem, Spacing};
 use crate::meta::Supplement;
 use crate::meta::{
     Count, Counter, CounterUpdate, LocalName, Numbering, Outlinable, Refable,
@@ -480,8 +480,12 @@ impl LayoutMath for Content {
 
         let mut frame = ctx.layout_content(self)?;
         if !frame.has_baseline() {
-            let axis = scaled!(ctx, axis_height);
-            frame.set_baseline(frame.height() / 2.0 + axis);
+            if self.is::<BoxElem>() {
+                frame.set_baseline(frame.height());
+            } else {
+                let axis = scaled!(ctx, axis_height);
+                frame.set_baseline(frame.height() / 2.0 + axis);
+            }
         }
         ctx.push(FrameFragment::new(ctx, frame).with_spaced(true));
 
diff --git a/tests/ref/math/content.png b/tests/ref/math/content.png
index a5f5f1378..4fbd46705 100644
Binary files a/tests/ref/math/content.png and b/tests/ref/math/content.png differ
diff --git a/tests/typ/math/content.typ b/tests/typ/math/content.typ
index 5a51901a9..49f39733f 100644
--- a/tests/typ/math/content.typ
+++ b/tests/typ/math/content.typ
@@ -17,3 +17,17 @@ $ x := #table(columns: 2)[x][y]/mat(1, 2, 3)
 // Test font switch.
 #let here = text.with(font: "Noto Sans")
 $#here[f] := #here[Hi there]$.
+
+---
+// Test boxes without a baseline act as if the baseline is at the base
+#{
+     box(stroke: 0.2pt, $a #box(stroke: 0.2pt, $a$)$)
+     h(12pt)
+     box(stroke: 0.2pt, $a #box(stroke: 0.2pt, $g$)$)
+     h(12pt)
+     box(stroke: 0.2pt, $g #box(stroke: 0.2pt, $g$)$)
+}
+
+---
+// Test boxes with a baseline are respected
+#box(stroke: 0.2pt, $a #box(baseline:0.5em, stroke: 0.2pt, $a$)$)