diff --git a/src/docformatter/format.py b/src/docformatter/format.py
index 352aac3..584ff6a 100644
--- a/src/docformatter/format.py
+++ b/src/docformatter/format.py
@@ -381,16 +381,50 @@ def _get_function_docstring_newlines(  # noqa: PLR0911
     return 0
 
 
-def _get_module_docstring_newlines() -> int:
+def _get_module_docstring_newlines(
+    tokens: list[tokenize.TokenInfo],
+    index: int,
+) -> int:
     """Return number of newlines after a module docstring.
 
     docformatter_8.2: One blank line after a module docstring.
+    docformatter_8.4: Two blank lines after a module docstring if a top-level
+    function or class definition follows it (PEP 8: top-level definitions are
+    surrounded by two blank lines).
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    tokens : list
+        A list of tokens from the source code.
+    index : int
+        The index of the docstring token in the list of tokens.
 
     Returns
     -------
     newlines : int
         The number of newlines to insert after the docstring.
     """
+    j = index + 1
+
+    while j < len(tokens):
+        if tokens[j].type in (
+            tokenize.NL,
+            tokenize.NEWLINE,
+            tokenize.INDENT,
+            tokenize.DEDENT,
+        ):
+            j += 1
+            continue
+
+        # A decorated definition is still a definition; skip the decorator line.
+        if tokens[j].type == tokenize.OP and tokens[j].string == "@":
+            return 2
+
+        if _classify.is_definition_line(tokens[j]):
+            return 2
+
+        break
+
     return 1
 
 
@@ -419,7 +453,7 @@ def _get_newlines_by_type(
         return 0
     elif _classify.is_module_docstring(tokens, index):
         # print("Module")
-        return _get_module_docstring_newlines()
+        return _get_module_docstring_newlines(tokens, index)
     elif _classify.is_class_docstring(tokens, index):
         # print("Class")
         return _get_class_docstring_newlines(tokens, index)
diff --git a/tests/_data/string_files/format_functions.toml b/tests/_data/string_files/format_functions.toml
index 36e3a9e..a47522e 100644
--- a/tests/_data/string_files/format_functions.toml
+++ b/tests/_data/string_files/format_functions.toml
@@ -3,20 +3,72 @@
 # for creating a TokenInfo() object.
 
 [module_docstring_followed_by_string]
+source = '''"""Module docstring."""
+
+MY_CONSTANT = "a string"
+'''
 expected = 1
 
 [module_docstring_followed_by_code]
+source = '''"""Module docstring."""
+
+import os
+'''
 expected = 1
 
 [module_docstring_followed_by_comment_then_code]
+source = '''"""Module docstring."""
+
+# A comment.
+import os
+'''
 expected = 1
 
 [module_docstring_followed_by_comment_then_string]
+source = '''"""Module docstring."""
+
+# A comment.
+MY_CONSTANT = "a string"
+'''
 expected = 1
 
 [module_docstring_in_black]
+source = '''"""Module docstring."""
+
+import os
+'''
 expected = 1
 
+# PEP 8: top-level function and class definitions are surrounded by two blank
+# lines, so a module docstring that is followed by one gets two newlines.
+[module_docstring_followed_by_def]
+source = '''"""Module docstring."""
+
+
+def foo():
+    """Foo."""
+'''
+expected = 2
+
+[module_docstring_followed_by_class]
+source = '''"""Module docstring."""
+
+
+class Foo:
+    """Foo class."""
+'''
+expected = 2
+
+[module_docstring_followed_by_decorated_def]
+source = '''"""Module docstring."""
+
+
+@decorator
+def foo():
+    """Foo."""
+'''
+expected = 2
+
 [class_docstring_followed_by_statement]
 source = '''
 class MyClass:
diff --git a/tests/formatter/test_format_functions.py b/tests/formatter/test_format_functions.py
index 5afd39e..45e789c 100644
--- a/tests/formatter/test_format_functions.py
+++ b/tests/formatter/test_format_functions.py
@@ -71,12 +71,19 @@ def _get_docstring_token_and_index(tokens):
         "module_docstring_followed_by_comment_then_code",
         "module_docstring_followed_by_comment_then_string",
         "module_docstring_in_black",
+        "module_docstring_followed_by_def",
+        "module_docstring_followed_by_class",
+        "module_docstring_followed_by_decorated_def",
     ],
 )
 def test_module_docstring_newlines(test_key):
+    source = TEST_STRINGS[test_key]["source"]
     expected = TEST_STRINGS[test_key]["expected"]
 
-    result = _format._get_module_docstring_newlines()
+    tokens = _get_tokens(source)
+    index = _get_docstring_token_and_index(tokens)
+
+    result = _format._get_module_docstring_newlines(tokens, index)
     assert (
         result == expected
     ), f"\nFailed {test_key}:\nExpected {expected}\nGot {result}"