diff --git a/d2graph/d2graph.go b/d2graph/d2graph.go
index 8379d184b..df9d12a9a 100644
--- a/d2graph/d2graph.go
+++ b/d2graph/d2graph.go
@@ -57,6 +57,9 @@ type Graph struct {
 	Steps     []*Graph `json:"steps,omitempty"`
 
 	Theme *d2themes.Theme `json:"theme,omitempty"`
+
+	// Object.Level uses the location of a nested graph
+	RootLevel int `json:"rootLevel,omitempty"`
 }
 
 func NewGraph() *Graph {
@@ -529,7 +532,7 @@ func (obj *Object) GetStroke(dashGapSize interface{}) string {
 
 func (obj *Object) Level() ContainerLevel {
 	if obj.Parent == nil {
-		return 0
+		return ContainerLevel(obj.Graph.RootLevel)
 	}
 	return 1 + obj.Parent.Level()
 }
diff --git a/d2graph/layout.go b/d2graph/layout.go
index 4d50efc1d..51b3206b9 100644
--- a/d2graph/layout.go
+++ b/d2graph/layout.go
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ func (g *Graph) ExtractAsNestedGraph(obj *Object) *Graph {
 	descendantObjects, edges := pluckObjAndEdges(g, obj)
 
 	tempGraph := NewGraph()
+	tempGraph.RootLevel = int(obj.Level()) - 1
 	tempGraph.Root.ChildrenArray = []*Object{obj}
 	tempGraph.Root.Children[strings.ToLower(obj.ID)] = obj