diff --git a/pagure/static/issue_ev.js b/pagure/static/issue_ev.js
index 09cd13a..014d8f0 100644
--- a/pagure/static/issue_ev.js
+++ b/pagure/static/issue_ev.js
@@ -186,8 +186,8 @@ update_issue = function(data) {
   for (i=0; i<data.fields.length; i++){
     var _f = data.fields[i];
     if (_f == 'status') {
-      var field = $('#status');
-      field.val(data.issue.status);
+      var field = $('#status').find('span');
+      field.html(data.issue.status);
     } else if (_f == 'title'){
       var field = $('#issuetitle');
       field.html(data.issue.title);
diff --git a/pagure/templates/issue.html b/pagure/templates/issue.html
index 1d2498f..90df413 100644
--- a/pagure/templates/issue.html
+++ b/pagure/templates/issue.html
@@ -109,7 +109,9 @@
 
           <fieldset class="form-group issue-metadata-display">
             <label><strong>Status</strong></label>
-            <h2><span class="label label-success">{{ issue.status }}</span></h2>
+            <h2 id="status">
+              <span class="label label-success">{{ issue.status }}</span>
+            </h2>
           </fieldset>
 
           {% if authenticated and repo_admin %}