diff --git a/lib/util.php b/lib/util.php
index 267bb188df..1e30145558 100644
--- a/lib/util.php
+++ b/lib/util.php
@@ -590,6 +590,7 @@ function common_notice_form() {
 	common_element_start('form', array('id' => 'status_form',
 									   'method' => 'POST',
 									   'action' => common_local_url('newnotice')));
+	common_element_start('p');
 	common_element('label', array('for' => 'status_update',
 								  'id' => 'status_label'),
 				   _t('What\'s up, ').$user->nickname.'?');
@@ -597,6 +598,7 @@ function common_notice_form() {
 	common_element('input', array('id' => 'status_submit',
 								  'type' => 'submit',
 								  'value' => _t('Send')));
+	common_element_end('p');
 	common_element_end('form');
 }