diff --git a/pagure/static/issue_ev.js b/pagure/static/issue_ev.js
index 0cab57a..09cd13a 100644
--- a/pagure/static/issue_ev.js
+++ b/pagure/static/issue_ev.js
@@ -41,24 +41,38 @@ remove_tags = function(data, _issues_url) {
 }
 
 assigne_issue = function(data, _issues_url) {
-  console.log('assigning ' + data.assigned);
-  var field = $('#assigneduser');
-  var _url = _issues_url + '?assignee=' + data.assigned.name + '">' + data.assigned.name + '</a>';
+  console.log('assigning ' + data.assigned.name);
+
+  var $select = $('#assignee').selectize();
+  var selectize = $select[0].selectize;
+  selectize.settings.create = true;
+  selectize.createItem(data.assigned.name);
+  selectize.settings.create = false;
+
+  var field = $('#assignee_plain');
+  var _url = '\n<a href="'
+        + _issues_url + '?assignee=' + data.assigned.name + '">'
+        + data.assigned.name + '</a>';
   field.html(_url);
-  field = $('#assignee');
-  field.val(data.assigned.name);
 }
 
 unassigne_issue = function(data) {
   console.log('un-assigning ');
-  var field = $('#assigneduser');
-  field.html(' ');
-  field = $('#assignee');
-  field.val('');
+
+  var $select = $('#assignee').selectize();
+  var selectize = $select[0].selectize;
+  selectize.setValue(null);
+
+  var field = $('#assignee_plain');
+  field.html('unassigned');
 }
 
 add_deps = function(data, issue_uid, _issue_url) {
   console.log('adding ' + data.added_dependency);
+
+  var $select = $('#depends').selectize();
+  var selectize = $select[0].selectize;
+
   if (data.issue_uid == issue_uid){
     if (data.type == "children"){
       var field = $('#blockers');
diff --git a/pagure/templates/issue.html b/pagure/templates/issue.html
index 2113d3c..1d2498f 100644
--- a/pagure/templates/issue.html
+++ b/pagure/templates/issue.html
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@
 
           <fieldset class="form-group issue-metadata-display">
             <label><strong>Assignee</strong></label>
-            <div>
+            <div id="assignee_plain">
               {% if issue.assignee %}
                   <a href="{{ url_for('view_issues', username=username, repo=repo.name, assignee=issue.assignee.username) }}">{{ issue.assignee.username }}</a>
               {% else %}