diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/utils.py b/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/utils.py
index 305f3d0929..476d5b0a6a 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/utils.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/django_comment_client/utils.py
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ def initialize_discussion_info(course):
                                                       "sort_key": entry["sort_key"],
                                                       "start_date": entry["start_date"]}
 
-    default_topics = {'General': course.location.html_id()}
+    default_topics = {'General': {'id' :course.location.html_id()}}
     discussion_topics = course.metadata.get('discussion_topics', default_topics)
     for topic, entry in discussion_topics.items():
         category_map['entries'][topic] = {"id": entry["id"],