diff --git a/src/_pytest/terminal.py b/src/_pytest/terminal.py
index 52c04a49c..a1e4b1562 100644
--- a/src/_pytest/terminal.py
+++ b/src/_pytest/terminal.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ This is a good source for looking at the various reporting hooks.
 import argparse
 import collections
 import datetime
+import inspect
 import platform
 import sys
 import time
@@ -707,9 +708,14 @@ class TerminalReporter:
                 indent = (len(stack) - 1) * "  "
                 self._tw.line("{}{}".format(indent, col))
                 if self.config.option.verbose >= 1:
-                    if hasattr(col, "_obj") and col._obj.__doc__:
-                        for line in col._obj.__doc__.strip().splitlines():
-                            self._tw.line("{}{}".format(indent + "  ", line.strip()))
+                    try:
+                        obj = col.obj  # type: ignore
+                    except AttributeError:
+                        continue
+                    doc = inspect.getdoc(obj)
+                    if doc:
+                        for line in doc.splitlines():
+                            self._tw.line("{}{}".format(indent + "  ", line))
 
     @pytest.hookimpl(hookwrapper=True)
     def pytest_sessionfinish(self, session: Session, exitstatus: ExitCode):
diff --git a/testing/test_terminal.py b/testing/test_terminal.py
index d2857ca77..0f5b4cb68 100644
--- a/testing/test_terminal.py
+++ b/testing/test_terminal.py
@@ -353,17 +353,33 @@ class TestCollectonly:
         result = testdir.runpytest("--collect-only", "-rs")
         result.stdout.fnmatch_lines(["*ERROR collecting*"])
 
-    def test_collectonly_display_test_description(self, testdir):
+    def test_collectonly_displays_test_description(
+        self, testdir: Testdir, dummy_yaml_custom_test
+    ) -> None:
+        """Used dummy_yaml_custom_test for an Item without ``obj``."""
         testdir.makepyfile(
             """
             def test_with_description():
-                \""" This test has a description.
-                \"""
-                assert True
-        """
+                '''  This test has a description.
+
+                  more1.
+                    more2.'''
+            """
         )
         result = testdir.runpytest("--collect-only", "--verbose")
-        result.stdout.fnmatch_lines(["    This test has a description."])
+        result.stdout.fnmatch_lines(
+            [
+                "<YamlFile test1.yaml>",
+                "  <YamlItem test1.yaml>",
+                "<Module test_collectonly_displays_test_description.py>",
+                "  <Function test_with_description>",
+                "    This test has a description.",
+                "    ",
+                "    more1.",
+                "      more2.",
+            ],
+            consecutive=True,
+        )
 
     def test_collectonly_failed_module(self, testdir):
         testdir.makepyfile("""raise ValueError(0)""")