diff --git a/release-notes/VERSION-2.x b/release-notes/VERSION-2.x
index 8a4404e8f..66f733d15 100644
--- a/release-notes/VERSION-2.x
+++ b/release-notes/VERSION-2.x
@@ -6,6 +6,9 @@ Project: jackson-dataformat-xml
 
 2.11.1 (not yet released)
 
+#86: Can not deserialize unwrapped list when `@JacksonXmlProperty` localName
+   matches `@JacksonXmlRootElement` localName
+  (reported by Eric S)
 #294: XML parser error with nested same element names
  (reported by Alexei V)
 #393: `MismatchedInputException` for nested repeating element name in `List`
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/fasterxml/jackson/dataformat/xml/deser/FromXmlParser.java b/src/main/java/com/fasterxml/jackson/dataformat/xml/deser/FromXmlParser.java
index 10846e771..1334ff0d9 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/fasterxml/jackson/dataformat/xml/deser/FromXmlParser.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/fasterxml/jackson/dataformat/xml/deser/FromXmlParser.java
@@ -324,10 +324,15 @@ public void addVirtualWrapping(Set<String> namesToWrap)
 //System.out.println("addVirtualWrapping("+namesToWrap+")");
         // 17-Sep-2012, tatu: Not 100% sure why, but this is necessary to avoid
         //   problems with Lists-in-Lists properties
-        String name = _xmlTokens.getLocalName();
-        if (name != null && namesToWrap.contains(name)) {
+        // 12-May-2020, tatu: But as per [dataformat-xml#86] NOT for root element
+        //   (would still like to know why work-around needed ever, but...)
+        if (_parsingContext.inObject()
+                 && !_parsingContext.getParent().inRoot()) {
+            String name = _xmlTokens.getLocalName();
+            if ((name != null) && namesToWrap.contains(name)) {
 //System.out.println("REPEAT from addVirtualWrapping()");
-            _xmlTokens.repeatStartElement();
+                _xmlTokens.repeatStartElement();
+            }
         }
         _parsingContext.setNamesToWrap(namesToWrap);
     }
diff --git a/src/test/java/com/fasterxml/jackson/dataformat/xml/failing/TestUnwrappedDeserIssue86.java b/src/test/java/com/fasterxml/jackson/dataformat/xml/failing/TestUnwrappedDeserIssue86.java
index 862809994..ac1f80169 100644
--- a/src/test/java/com/fasterxml/jackson/dataformat/xml/failing/TestUnwrappedDeserIssue86.java
+++ b/src/test/java/com/fasterxml/jackson/dataformat/xml/failing/TestUnwrappedDeserIssue86.java
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 import java.util.Arrays;
 import java.util.List;
+import java.util.Objects;
 
 import com.fasterxml.jackson.annotation.JsonInclude.Include;
 import com.fasterxml.jackson.dataformat.xml.XmlMapper;
@@ -39,7 +40,8 @@ public boolean equals(final Object other) {
           }
 
           final Issue86 otherIssue86 = (Issue86) other;
-          return otherIssue86.id.equals(id) && otherIssue86.children.equals(children);
+          return Objects.equals(id, otherIssue86.id)
+                  && Objects.equals(children, otherIssue86.children);
       }
     }