diff --git a/ts/numbering/abstract-numbering.ts b/ts/numbering/abstract-numbering.ts
index 370eb75e14..6e344df114 100644
--- a/ts/numbering/abstract-numbering.ts
+++ b/ts/numbering/abstract-numbering.ts
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ export class AbstractNumbering extends XmlComponent {
         this.root.push(level);
     }
 
-    public createLevel(num: number, format: string, text: string, align: string) {
+    public createLevel(num: number, format: string, text: string, align: string="start") {
         const level = new Level(num, format, text, align);
         this.addLevel(level);
         return level;
diff --git a/ts/tests/numberingTest.ts b/ts/tests/numberingTest.ts
index 4eeff4b41d..7b562567a8 100644
--- a/ts/tests/numberingTest.ts
+++ b/ts/tests/numberingTest.ts
@@ -86,7 +86,18 @@ describe("AbstractNumbering", () => {
     describe("#createLevel", () => {
         it("creates a level with the given characteristics", () => {
             const abstractNumbering = new AbstractNumbering(1);
-            const level = abstractNumbering.createLevel(3, "lowerLetter", "%1)", "start");
+            const level = abstractNumbering.createLevel(3, "lowerLetter", "%1)", "end");
+            const tree = new Formatter().format(level);
+            expect(tree['w:lvl']).to.include({_attr: {"w:ilvl": 3, "w15:tentative": 1}})
+            expect(tree['w:lvl']).to.include({"w:start": [{_attr: {"w:val": 1}}]})
+            expect(tree['w:lvl']).to.include({"w:lvlJc": [{_attr: {"w:val": "end"}}]})
+            expect(tree['w:lvl']).to.include({"w:numFmt": [{_attr: {"w:val": "lowerLetter"}}]})
+            expect(tree['w:lvl']).to.include({"w:lvlText": [{"_attr": {"w:val": "%1)"}}]})
+        });
+
+        it("uses 'start' as the default alignment", () => {
+            const abstractNumbering = new AbstractNumbering(1);
+            const level = abstractNumbering.createLevel(3, "lowerLetter", "%1)");
             const tree = new Formatter().format(level);
             expect(tree['w:lvl']).to.include({_attr: {"w:ilvl": 3, "w15:tentative": 1}})
             expect(tree['w:lvl']).to.include({"w:start": [{_attr: {"w:val": 1}}]})