diff --git a/python/lib/sift_client/_internal/pytest_plugin/report.py b/python/lib/sift_client/_internal/pytest_plugin/report.py
index e0b3351d9..af28cfb84 100644
--- a/python/lib/sift_client/_internal/pytest_plugin/report.py
+++ b/python/lib/sift_client/_internal/pytest_plugin/report.py
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 
 from __future__ import annotations
 
+import inspect
 import logging
 import os
 import warnings
@@ -568,8 +569,11 @@ def step_impl(
     # erroring out a perfectly valid test. ``getattr``'s default only
     # suppresses ``AttributeError``; the try/except catches everything else
     # (RuntimeError from a misbehaving ``__doc__`` descriptor, etc.).
+    # ``inspect.getdoc`` cleans the docstring (dedents interior lines, trims
+    # surrounding blank lines) and walks inheritance.
     try:
-        existing_docstring = getattr(getattr(node, "obj", None), "__doc__", None) or None
+        obj = getattr(node, "obj", None)
+        existing_docstring = (inspect.getdoc(obj) or None) if obj is not None else None
     except Exception:
         existing_docstring = None
     # Attach the leaf under the parent ``_sift_parents`` resolved for this item
diff --git a/python/lib/sift_client/_internal/pytest_plugin/steps.py b/python/lib/sift_client/_internal/pytest_plugin/steps.py
index eb710bd79..0dfcb816c 100644
--- a/python/lib/sift_client/_internal/pytest_plugin/steps.py
+++ b/python/lib/sift_client/_internal/pytest_plugin/steps.py
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 
 from __future__ import annotations
 
+import inspect
 import logging
 import warnings
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, List, Optional, Tuple
@@ -422,9 +423,10 @@ def build_hierarchy_chain(
             node = node.parent
             continue
         try:
-            doc = (
-                (getattr(node, "obj", None) and getattr(node.obj, "__doc__", None)) or ""
-            ).strip() or None
+            obj = getattr(node, "obj", None)
+            # ``inspect.getdoc`` cleans the docstring (dedents interior lines,
+            # trims surrounding blank lines) and walks inheritance.
+            doc = (inspect.getdoc(obj) or None) if obj is not None else None
         except Exception:
             doc = None
         chain.append((node.nodeid, node.name, doc, rendered, scope))
diff --git a/python/lib/sift_client/_tests/util/test_test_results_utils.py b/python/lib/sift_client/_tests/util/test_test_results_utils.py
index c41587314..b682e6190 100644
--- a/python/lib/sift_client/_tests/util/test_test_results_utils.py
+++ b/python/lib/sift_client/_tests/util/test_test_results_utils.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import inspect
 from datetime import datetime, timezone
 
 import numpy as np
@@ -32,8 +33,22 @@ def test_docstring_description_setup(self, step):
         Args:
             step: The step to test.
         """
-        expected_description = self.test_docstring_description_setup.__doc__
+        # The plugin stores the cleaned docstring via ``inspect.getdoc``, not
+        # the raw ``__doc__``. The raw form keeps the source indentation (the
+        # ``step:`` line sits at 12 spaces); the stored form must be dedented
+        # (interior indentation reduced to 4) with the trailing blank trimmed.
+        raw_docstring = self.test_docstring_description_setup.__doc__
+        assert raw_docstring is not None
+        assert "\n            step: The step to test." in raw_docstring
+        expected_description = (
+            "Test that the description of a step is set to the docstring of the test function.\n"
+            "\n"
+            "Args:\n"
+            "    step: The step to test."
+        )
         assert step.current_step.description == expected_description
+        # Guard against a regression to raw ``__doc__``: cleaning must change it.
+        assert step.current_step.description != raw_docstring
 
         def helper_function(_step: NewStep):
             """Helper function description."""
@@ -45,7 +60,7 @@ def helper_function(_step: NewStep):
 
     def test_docstring_description_override(self, step):
         """This description can still be overridden."""
-        current_desc = self.test_docstring_description_override.__doc__
+        current_desc = inspect.getdoc(self.test_docstring_description_override)
         assert step.current_step.description == current_desc
         new_desc = "Manually updated description."
         step.current_step.update({"description": new_desc})