diff --git a/lms/static/coffee/src/discussion/views/discussion_thread_list_view.coffee b/lms/static/coffee/src/discussion/views/discussion_thread_list_view.coffee
index b77e76d29d..58ae88dd31 100644
--- a/lms/static/coffee/src/discussion/views/discussion_thread_list_view.coffee
+++ b/lms/static/coffee/src/discussion/views/discussion_thread_list_view.coffee
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 if Backbone?
   class @DiscussionThreadListView extends Backbone.View
-    template: _.template($("#thread-list-template").html())
     events:
       "click .search": "showSearch"
       "click .browse": "toggleTopicDrop"
@@ -17,6 +16,7 @@ if Backbone?
       @sidebar_padding = 10
       @sidebar_header_height = 87
       @boardName
+      @template = _.template($("#thread-list-template").html())
 
     reloadDisplayedCollection: (thread) =>
       thread_id = thread.get('id')