diff --git a/src/wp-admin/js/dashboard.js b/src/wp-admin/js/dashboard.js
index f88be70fd9..4d4eb50d0c 100644
--- a/src/wp-admin/js/dashboard.js
+++ b/src/wp-admin/js/dashboard.js
@@ -159,9 +159,9 @@ jQuery(document).ready( function($) {
 		editor.on('focus input propertychange', function() {
 			var $this = $(this),
 				//   is to ensure that the height of a final trailing newline is included.
-				textareaContent = $this.val().replace(/\n/g, '<br>') + '&nbsp;',
+				textareaContent = $this.val() + '&nbsp;',
 				// 2px is for border-top & border-bottom
-				cloneHeight = clone.css('width', $this.css('width')).html(textareaContent).outerHeight() + 2;
+				cloneHeight = clone.css('width', $this.css('width')).text(textareaContent).outerHeight() + 2;
 
 			// Default to having scrollbars
 			editor.css('overflow-y', 'auto');