diff --git a/common/static/coffee/src/xblock/core.coffee b/common/static/coffee/src/xblock/core.coffee
index 885d9af599..bafcff97c9 100644
--- a/common/static/coffee/src/xblock/core.coffee
+++ b/common/static/coffee/src/xblock/core.coffee
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@
 
     block.element = element
     block.name = $element.data("name")
+    block.type = $element.data("block-type")
 
     $element.trigger("xblock-initialized")
     $element.data("initialized", true)