diff --git a/ox-hugo.el b/ox-hugo.el
index f14cc05..afb274b 100644
--- a/ox-hugo.el
+++ b/ox-hugo.el
@@ -3904,12 +3904,17 @@ links."
                                         (org-export-resolve-fuzzy-link link info)
                                       (org-export-resolve-id-link link info)))
                        (source-path (org-hugo--get-element-path link info))
-                       (destination-path (org-hugo--get-element-path destination info)))
+                       (destination-path (org-hugo--get-element-path destination info))
+                       (destination-type (org-element-type destination)))
+                  ;; (message "[ox-hugo pre process DBG] destination type: %s" destination-type)
+
                   ;; Change the link if it points to a valid
                   ;; destination outside the subtree.
                   (unless (equal source-path destination-path)
-                    (let ((link-copy (org-element-copy link)))
-                      (apply #'org-element-adopt-elements link-copy (org-element-contents link))
+                    (let ((link-desc (org-element-contents link))
+                          (link-copy (org-element-copy link)))
+                      ;; (message "[ox-hugo pre process DBG] link desc: %s" link-desc)
+                      (apply #'org-element-adopt-elements link-copy link-desc)
                       (org-element-put-property link-copy :type "file")
                       (org-element-put-property
                        link-copy :path
@@ -3937,6 +3942,16 @@ links."
                         (t
                          (let ((anchor (org-hugo--get-anchor destination info)))
                            (concat destination-path ".org::#" anchor)))))
+                      ;; If the link destination is a heading and if
+                      ;; user hasn't set the link description, set the
+                      ;; description to the destination heading title.
+                      (when (and (null link-desc)
+                                 (equal 'headline destination-type))
+                        (let ((headline-title
+                               (org-hugo--sanitize-title
+                                info (org-element-property :title destination))))
+                          ;; (message "[ox-hugo pre process DBG] destination heading: %s" headline-title)
+                          (org-element-set-contents link-copy headline-title)))
                       (org-element-set-element link link-copy))))))))
 
         ;; Workaround to prevent exporting of empty special blocks.
diff --git a/test/site/content-org/all-posts.org b/test/site/content-org/all-posts.org
index 7d48bd8..6884403 100644
--- a/test/site/content-org/all-posts.org
+++ b/test/site/content-org/all-posts.org
@@ -3057,6 +3057,7 @@ resolved to the containing post.
 - Link to CUSTOM_ID outside the same post: [[#external-target]]
 - Link to ID outside the same post: [[id:de0df718-f9b4-4449-bb0a-eb4402fa5fcb]]
 - Link to target outside the same post: [[*External target]]
+- Another link to target outside the same post: [[* External target with *bold* and /italic/]]
 - Link to subtree by CUSTOM_ID: [[#link-destination]]
 - Link to subtree by ID: [[id:1e5e0bcd-caea-40ad-a75b-e488634c2678]]
 - Link to subtree by headline: [[*Link destination]]
@@ -3064,6 +3065,7 @@ resolved to the containing post.
 - [[#external-target][Link to CUSTOM_ID outside the same post]]
 - [[id:de0df718-f9b4-4449-bb0a-eb4402fa5fcb][Link to ID outside the same post]]
 - [[*External target][Link to target outside the same post]]
+- [[* External target with *bold* and /italic/][Another link to target outside the same post]]
 - [[#link-destination][Link to subtree by CUSTOM_ID]]
 - [[id:1e5e0bcd-caea-40ad-a75b-e488634c2678][Link to subtree by ID]]
 - [[*Link destination][Link to subtree by headline]]
@@ -3085,6 +3087,7 @@ resolved to the containing post.
 :ID:       de0df718-f9b4-4449-bb0a-eb4402fa5fcb
 :END:
 <<external-target>>
+**** External target with *bold* and /italic/
 * Equations                                               :equations:mathjax:
 ** Inline equations
 :PROPERTIES:
diff --git a/test/site/content/posts/link-destination.md b/test/site/content/posts/link-destination.md
index f5d1d56..c2a5aec 100644
--- a/test/site/content/posts/link-destination.md
+++ b/test/site/content/posts/link-destination.md
@@ -6,4 +6,7 @@ draft = false
 
 ## External target {#external-target}
 
-<a id="org9e3fe16"></a>
+<a id="org371fa62"></a>
+
+
+## External target with **bold** and _italic_ {#external-target-with-bold-and-italic}
diff --git a/test/site/content/posts/links-outside-the-same-post.md b/test/site/content/posts/links-outside-the-same-post.md
index 9068ef8..338dd97 100644
--- a/test/site/content/posts/links-outside-the-same-post.md
+++ b/test/site/content/posts/links-outside-the-same-post.md
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ init file.
 -   [Link to CUSTOM\_ID within the same post](#internal-target)
 -   [Link to ID within the same post](#internal-target)
 -   [Link to headline within the same post](#internal-target)
--   [Link to target within the same post](#orgc42fc68)
+-   [Link to target within the same post](#org5518ced)
 
 
 ## Cross-post links {#cross-post-links}
@@ -46,12 +46,13 @@ resolved to the containing post.
 
 ### Links without descriptions {#links-without-descriptions}
 
--   Link to CUSTOM\_ID outside the same post: [{{< relref "link-destination#external-target" >}}]({{< relref "link-destination#external-target" >}})
--   Link to ID outside the same post: [{{< relref "link-destination#external-target" >}}]({{< relref "link-destination#external-target" >}})
--   Link to target outside the same post: [{{< relref "link-destination#external-target" >}}]({{< relref "link-destination#external-target" >}})
--   Link to subtree by CUSTOM\_ID: [{{< relref "link-destination" >}}]({{< relref "link-destination" >}})
--   Link to subtree by ID: [{{< relref "link-destination" >}}]({{< relref "link-destination" >}})
--   Link to subtree by headline: [{{< relref "link-destination" >}}]({{< relref "link-destination" >}})
+-   Link to CUSTOM\_ID outside the same post: [External target]({{< relref "link-destination#external-target" >}})
+-   Link to ID outside the same post: [External target]({{< relref "link-destination#external-target" >}})
+-   Link to target outside the same post: [External target]({{< relref "link-destination#external-target" >}})
+-   Another link to target outside the same post: [External target with bold and italic]({{< relref "link-destination#external-target-with-bold-and-italic" >}})
+-   Link to subtree by CUSTOM\_ID: [Link destination]({{< relref "link-destination" >}})
+-   Link to subtree by ID: [Link destination]({{< relref "link-destination" >}})
+-   Link to subtree by headline: [Link destination]({{< relref "link-destination" >}})
 
 
 ### Links with descriptions {#links-with-descriptions}
@@ -59,6 +60,7 @@ resolved to the containing post.
 -   [Link to CUSTOM\_ID outside the same post]({{< relref "link-destination#external-target" >}})
 -   [Link to ID outside the same post]({{< relref "link-destination#external-target" >}})
 -   [Link to target outside the same post]({{< relref "link-destination#external-target" >}})
+-   [Another link to target outside the same post]({{< relref "link-destination#external-target-with-bold-and-italic" >}})
 -   [Link to subtree by CUSTOM\_ID]({{< relref "link-destination" >}})
 -   [Link to subtree by ID]({{< relref "link-destination" >}})
 -   [Link to subtree by headline]({{< relref "link-destination" >}})
@@ -66,7 +68,7 @@ resolved to the containing post.
 
 ## Internal target {#internal-target}
 
-<a id="orgc42fc68"></a>
+<a id="org5518ced"></a>
 
 
 ## Link destination {#link-destination}
@@ -74,4 +76,7 @@ resolved to the containing post.
 
 ### External target {#external-target}
 
-<a id="org1458efe"></a>
+<a id="org1b9b4fd"></a>
+
+
+### External target with **bold** and _italic_ {#external-target-with-bold-and-italic}