diff --git a/src/js/select2/selection/multiple.js b/src/js/select2/selection/multiple.js
index 7c0e336bd0..aa0afe4557 100644
--- a/src/js/select2/selection/multiple.js
+++ b/src/js/select2/selection/multiple.js
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ define([
         formatted = Utils.entityDecode(formatted.trim());
       }
 
-      $selection.text(formatted);
+      $selection.append(formatted);
       $selection.prepend(removeItemTag);
       $selection.prop('title', selection.title || selection.text);
 
diff --git a/src/js/select2/selection/single.js b/src/js/select2/selection/single.js
index 6aba2c0183..20e74492d1 100644
--- a/src/js/select2/selection/single.js
+++ b/src/js/select2/selection/single.js
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ define([
     var $rendered = this.$selection.find('.select2-selection__rendered');
     var formatted = Utils.entityDecode(this.display(selection, $rendered));
 
-    $rendered.empty().text(formatted);
+    $rendered.empty().append(formatted);
     $rendered.prop('title', selection.title || selection.text);
   };