diff --git a/lms/static/js/discovery/views/search_form.js b/lms/static/js/discovery/views/search_form.js
index fbbb598980..d467125273 100644
--- a/lms/static/js/discovery/views/search_form.js
+++ b/lms/static/js/discovery/views/search_form.js
@@ -62,9 +62,9 @@
 
             showErrorMessage: function(search) {
                 if (search && search.errorMessage) {
-                    this.$message.html(gettext(search.errorMessage));
+                    this.$message.text(gettext(search.errorMessage));
                 } else {
-                    this.$message.html(gettext('There was an error, try searching again.'));
+                    this.$message.text(gettext('There was an error, try searching again.'));
                 }
             }