diff --git a/lib/pleroma/web/common_api/utils.ex b/lib/pleroma/web/common_api/utils.ex
index e60dff7dc..2b359dd72 100644
--- a/lib/pleroma/web/common_api/utils.ex
+++ b/lib/pleroma/web/common_api/utils.ex
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ def add_user_links(text, mentions) do
 
     Enum.reduce(mentions, step_one, fn ({match, %User{ap_id: ap_id}, uuid}, text) ->
       short_match = String.split(match, "@") |> tl() |> hd()
-      String.replace(text, uuid, "<a href='#{ap_id}'>@#{short_match}</a>")
+      String.replace(text, uuid, "<span><a href='#{ap_id}'>@<span>#{short_match}</span></a></span>")
     end)
   end