diff --git a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/js/src/selfassessment/display.coffee b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/js/src/selfassessment/display.coffee
index 9f10357234..a16a6b3d58 100644
--- a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/js/src/selfassessment/display.coffee
+++ b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/js/src/selfassessment/display.coffee
@@ -59,10 +59,10 @@ class @SelfAssessment
   save_answer: (event) =>
     event.preventDefault()
     if @state == 'initial'
-      @answer_area.attr("disabled",true)
       data = {'student_answer' : @answer_area.val()}
       $.postWithPrefix "#{@ajax_url}/save_answer", data, (response) =>
         if response.success
+          @answer_area.attr("disabled",true)
           @rubric_wrapper.html(response.rubric_html)
           @state = 'assessing'
           @find_assessment_elements()