diff --git a/lisp/wid-edit.el b/lisp/wid-edit.el
index dc481d4d0a5..9304002ff52 100644
--- a/lisp/wid-edit.el
+++ b/lisp/wid-edit.el
@@ -1757,8 +1757,16 @@ widget-default-create
        (goto-char value-pos)
        (widget-apply widget :value-create)))
    (let ((from (point-min-marker))
-	 (to (point-max-marker)))
-     (set-marker-insertion-type from t)
+	 (to (point-max-marker))
+         ;; Advancing the `:from' marker of a checklist or
+         ;; radio-button-choice widget on selecting a checkbox or a
+         ;; radio-button, which inserts "[X]" or "(*)", can result in
+         ;; misfontifying the first checkbox (bug#69941).  To ensure
+         ;; correct fontification, assign `:from' the marker insertion
+         ;; type `nil', so it does not advance.
+         (from-mit (not (memq (widget-type widget)
+                              '(checklist radio-button-choice)))))
+     (set-marker-insertion-type from from-mit)
      (set-marker-insertion-type to nil)
      (widget-put widget :from from)
      (widget-put widget :to to)))