diff --git a/forgetest/forgetest/manifest.py b/forgetest/forgetest/manifest.py
index ff17b21..57e517a 100644
--- a/forgetest/forgetest/manifest.py
+++ b/forgetest/forgetest/manifest.py
@@ -511,9 +511,10 @@ def workflow_steps(text):
     it; comments, whole lines and from ' #' to the end of a line, are not
     read. Anything outside a step (a trigger's paths, a job's name) is not
     a step. A key with one stray quote (`if":`, `"run:`) at the top level,
-    at a job's name or a job's key, or at a step's key is no key the lint
-    reads: every step of the workflow then carries "unread" and counts as
-    no step."""
+    at a job's name or a job's key, at a step's key, or as the first key of
+    any list item (a step's first key is on its dash line: `- run": make`)
+    is no key the lint reads: every step of the workflow then carries
+    "unread" and counts as no step."""
     lines = _lines(text)
     steps, i = [], 0
     in_jobs, job_at, key_at, job = False, None, None, None
@@ -534,6 +535,11 @@ def workflow_steps(text):
             ind = _indent(lines[i])
             stray = stray or ind == 0 or (in_jobs and (job_at is None or ind == job_at or (
                 ind > job_at and (key_at is None or ind == key_at))))
+        # A list item's first key is on its dash line, where _STEP_RX reads no
+        # key with a stray quote: the dash and the spaces after it become spaces.
+        item = re.match(r"^\s*-\s+", lines[i])
+        if item and _stray_key(" " * item.end() + lines[i][item.end():]):
+            stray = True
         m = _STEP_RX.match(lines[i])
         if not m:
             i += 1
diff --git a/forgetest/tests/test_manifest.py b/forgetest/tests/test_manifest.py
index 832b85c..ba7df1a 100644
--- a/forgetest/tests/test_manifest.py
+++ b/forgetest/tests/test_manifest.py
@@ -330,10 +330,11 @@ class CoverageReportTests(unittest.TestCase):
         # however the step is spelled: more than one space after its dash, or a quoted key
         self.assertFalse(self._runs("steps:\n  -   run: ./build/tray_test\n      if: false\n", test))
         self.assertFalse(self._runs(step % "    \"if\": false\n", test))
-        # a key with one stray quote is no key the lint reads: at a step's key, a job's key or
-        # the top level, no step of the workflow counts
+        # a key with one stray quote is no key the lint reads: at a step's key (its first one on
+        # its dash line too), a job's key or the top level, no step of the workflow counts
         self.assertFalse(self._runs(step % "    if\": false\n", test))
         self.assertFalse(self._runs("steps:\n  - name: x\n    run\": ./build/tray_test\n", test))
+        self.assertFalse(self._runs("steps:\n  - run\": make\n  - run: ./build/tray_test\n", test))
         self.assertFalse(self._runs("jobs:\n  t:\n    if\": false\n    steps:\n      - run: ./build/tray_test\n",
                                     test))
         self.assertFalse(self._runs("jobs\":\n  t:\n    if: false\n    steps:\n      - run: ./build/tray_test\n",