diff --git a/markdownify/__init__.py b/markdownify/__init__.py
index 3bb345a..0fdbf5e 100644
--- a/markdownify/__init__.py
+++ b/markdownify/__init__.py
@@ -46,6 +46,9 @@ class MarkdownConverter(object):
         text = (text or '').rstrip()
         return '%s\n%s\n\n' % (text, pad_char * len(text)) if text else ''
 
+    def convert_em(self, el):
+        return '_%s_' % el.text if el.text else ''
+
     def convert_h1(self, el):
         return self.underline(el.text, '=')
 
diff --git a/tests.py b/tests.py
index 5cb370d..f3f8d38 100644
--- a/tests.py
+++ b/tests.py
@@ -16,6 +16,9 @@ class BasicTests(unittest.TestCase):
 
 class ConversionTests(unittest.TestCase):
 
+    def test_em(self):
+        self.assertEqual(md('<em>Hello</em>'), '_Hello_')
+
     def test_h1(self):
         self.assertEqual(md('<h1>Hello</h1>'), 'Hello\n=====\n\n')