diff --git a/common/static/js/capa/drag_and_drop/base_image.js b/common/static/js/capa/drag_and_drop/base_image.js
index 0c9c15fd2e..0b64a7fd65 100644
--- a/common/static/js/capa/drag_and_drop/base_image.js
+++ b/common/static/js/capa/drag_and_drop/base_image.js
@@ -35,6 +35,10 @@ define(['logme'], function (logme) {
             state.baseImageEl.appendTo(baseImageElContainer);
             baseImageElContainer.appendTo(state.containerEl);
 
+            state.baseImageEl.mousedown(function (event) {
+                event.preventDefault();
+            });
+
             state.baseImageLoaded = true;
         });
         state.baseImageEl.error(function () {
diff --git a/common/static/js/capa/drag_and_drop/scroller.js b/common/static/js/capa/drag_and_drop/scroller.js
index 505785086d..c1fe867006 100644
--- a/common/static/js/capa/drag_and_drop/scroller.js
+++ b/common/static/js/capa/drag_and_drop/scroller.js
@@ -113,6 +113,10 @@ define(['logme'], function (logme) {
         );
         state.sliderEl.appendTo(showEl);
 
+        state.sliderEl.mousedown(function (event) {
+            event.preventDefault();
+        });
+
         moveRightEl = $(
             '<div ' +
                 'style=" ' +
diff --git a/common/static/js/capa/drag_and_drop/targets.js b/common/static/js/capa/drag_and_drop/targets.js
index e00bfdb4b5..fdd6678269 100644
--- a/common/static/js/capa/drag_and_drop/targets.js
+++ b/common/static/js/capa/drag_and_drop/targets.js
@@ -43,6 +43,10 @@ define(['logme'], function (logme) {
 
             targetEl.appendTo(state.baseImageEl.parent());
 
+            targetEl.mousedown(function (event) {
+                event.preventDefault();
+            });
+
             state.targets.push({
                 'id': obj.id,