diff --git a/lms/static/sass/course/_rubric.scss b/lms/static/sass/course/_rubric.scss
index 9aa0ca2f2a..722a790e6d 100644
--- a/lms/static/sass/course/_rubric.scss
+++ b/lms/static/sass/course/_rubric.scss
@@ -35,7 +35,8 @@
     right:0px;
     margin:10px;
   }
-  .selected-grade {
+  .selected-grade,
+  .selected-grade .rubric-label {
     background: #666;
     color: white; 
   }
diff --git a/lms/templates/open_ended_rubric.html b/lms/templates/open_ended_rubric.html
index a2d8d6945c..eb3fc564b4 100644
--- a/lms/templates/open_ended_rubric.html
+++ b/lms/templates/open_ended_rubric.html
@@ -22,14 +22,14 @@
             <th>${category['description']}</th>
             % for j in range(len(category['options'])):
                 <% option = category['options'][j] %>
+            %if option['selected']:
+            <td class="selected-grade">
+            %else:
             <td>
+            % endif
                 % if view_only:
                     ## if this is the selected rubric block, show it highlighted
-                    % if option['selected']:
-                        <div class="rubric-label selected-grade">
-                    % else:
                         <div class="rubric-label">
-                    % endif
                         ${option['text']}
                         </div>
                 % else: