diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index f5eaab08c..491d60302 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -2,6 +2,9 @@
 
 ## Master (unreleased)
 
+* Fix unintentional regression change in `NestedGroups` reported in #270. ([@backus][])
+* Change `MaxNesting` for `NestedGroups` from 2 to 3. ([@backus][])
+
 ## 1.9.0 (2016-12-29)
 
 * Add `MessageSpies` cop for enforcing consistent style of either `expect(...).to have_received` or `expect(...).to receive`, intended as a replacement for the `MessageExpectation` cop. ([@bquorning][])
diff --git a/config/default.yml b/config/default.yml
index 997ff0485..2d331dc30 100644
--- a/config/default.yml
+++ b/config/default.yml
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ RSpec/NamedSubject:
 RSpec/NestedGroups:
   Description: Checks for nested example groups.
   Enabled: true
-  MaxNesting: 2
+  MaxNesting: 3
 
 RSpec/NotToNot:
   Description: Checks for consistent method usage for negating expectations.
diff --git a/lib/rubocop/cop/rspec/nested_groups.rb b/lib/rubocop/cop/rspec/nested_groups.rb
index fb246661a..826be1d98 100644
--- a/lib/rubocop/cop/rspec/nested_groups.rb
+++ b/lib/rubocop/cop/rspec/nested_groups.rb
@@ -91,11 +91,8 @@ class NestedGroups < Cop
 
         def_node_search :find_contexts, ExampleGroups::ALL.block_pattern
 
-        def on_block(node)
-          describe, = described_constant(node)
-          return unless describe
-
-          find_nested_contexts(node) do |context|
+        def on_top_level_describe(node, _)
+          find_nested_contexts(node.parent) do |context|
             add_offense(context.children.first, :expression)
           end
         end
@@ -113,7 +110,7 @@ def find_nested_contexts(node, nesting: 1, &block)
         end
 
         def max_nesting
-          Integer(cop_config.fetch('MaxNesting', 2))
+          Integer(cop_config.fetch('MaxNesting', 3))
         end
       end
     end
diff --git a/spec/rubocop/cop/rspec/nested_groups_spec.rb b/spec/rubocop/cop/rspec/nested_groups_spec.rb
index 25c90d88f..629c6c46c 100644
--- a/spec/rubocop/cop/rspec/nested_groups_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/rubocop/cop/rspec/nested_groups_spec.rb
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@
       describe MyClass do
         context 'when foo' do
           context 'when bar' do
-          ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Maximum example group nesting exceeded
             context 'when baz' do
             ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Maximum example group nesting exceeded
             end
@@ -17,7 +16,6 @@
 
         context 'when qux' do
           context 'when norf' do
-          ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Maximum example group nesting exceeded
           end
         end
       end
@@ -35,14 +33,15 @@ class MyThingy
     RUBY
   end
 
-  context 'when MaxNesting is configured as 3' do
-    let(:cop_config) { { 'MaxNesting' => '3' } }
+  context 'when MaxNesting is configured as 2' do
+    let(:cop_config) { { 'MaxNesting' => '2' } }
 
-    it 'only flags third level of nesting' do
+    it 'flags two levels of nesting' do
       expect_violation(<<-RUBY)
         describe MyClass do
           context 'when foo' do
             context 'when bar' do
+            ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Maximum example group nesting exceeded
               context 'when baz' do
               ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Maximum example group nesting exceeded
               end