diff --git a/lms/static/coffee/src/staff_grading/staff_grading.coffee b/lms/static/coffee/src/staff_grading/staff_grading.coffee
index a70c33fdff..3bdefb455c 100644
--- a/lms/static/coffee/src/staff_grading/staff_grading.coffee
+++ b/lms/static/coffee/src/staff_grading/staff_grading.coffee
@@ -307,7 +307,7 @@ class StaffGrading
           @get_next_submission problem.location
 
   make_paragraphs: (text) ->
-    paragraph_split = text.split("\n")
+    paragraph_split = text.split(/\n\s*\n/)
     new_text = ''
     for paragraph in paragraph_split
       new_text += "<p>#{paragraph}</p>"