diff --git a/src/wp-includes/widgets.php b/src/wp-includes/widgets.php
index dc6ce99322..467647c320 100644
--- a/src/wp-includes/widgets.php
+++ b/src/wp-includes/widgets.php
@@ -426,7 +426,7 @@ function wp_sidebar_description( $id ) {
 	global $wp_registered_sidebars;
 
 	if ( isset( $wp_registered_sidebars[ $id ]['description'] ) ) {
-		return esc_html( $wp_registered_sidebars[ $id ]['description'] );
+		return wp_kses( $wp_registered_sidebars[ $id ]['description'], 'sidebar_description' );
 	}
 }