diff --git a/markdownify/__init__.py b/markdownify/__init__.py
index 40f6e8e..82f72f7 100644
--- a/markdownify/__init__.py
+++ b/markdownify/__init__.py
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ class MarkdownConverter(object):
         return self.convert_strong(el)
 
     def convert_em(self, el):
-        return '_%s_' % el.text if el.text else ''
+        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 5c4eeca..ac97e33 100644
--- a/tests.py
+++ b/tests.py
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ class ConversionTests(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(md('<b>Hello</b>'), '**Hello**')
 
     def test_em(self):
-        self.assertEqual(md('<em>Hello</em>'), '_Hello_')
+        self.assertEqual(md('<em>Hello</em>'), '*Hello*')
 
     def test_h1(self):
         self.assertEqual(md('<h1>Hello</h1>'), 'Hello\n=====\n\n')
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ class ConversionTests(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(md('<h6>Hello</h6>'), '###### Hello\n\n')
 
     def test_i(self):
-        self.assertEqual(md('<i>Hello</i>'), '_Hello_')
+        self.assertEqual(md('<i>Hello</i>'), '*Hello*')
 
     def test_strong(self):
         self.assertEqual(md('<strong>Hello</strong>'), '**Hello**')