diff --git a/lms/static/js/verify_student/views/pay_and_verify_view.js b/lms/static/js/verify_student/views/pay_and_verify_view.js
index 452b0cb731..4dd4d4d16f 100644
--- a/lms/static/js/verify_student/views/pay_and_verify_view.js
+++ b/lms/static/js/verify_student/views/pay_and_verify_view.js
@@ -126,7 +126,10 @@ var edx = edx || {};
             // Get or create the step container
             $stepEl = $('#current-step-container');
             if (!$stepEl.length) {
-                $stepEl = $('<div id="current-step-container"></div>').appendTo(this.el);
+                $stepEl = edx.HtmlUtils.append(
+                  $(this.el),
+                  edx.HtmlUtils.HTML('<div id="current-step-container"></div>').toString()
+                );
             }
 
             // Render the subview