diff --git a/modules/ve/ce/ve.ce.BranchNode.js b/modules/ve/ce/ve.ce.BranchNode.js
index b5e29da89b..c420618963 100644
--- a/modules/ve/ce/ve.ce.BranchNode.js
+++ b/modules/ve/ce/ve.ce.BranchNode.js
@@ -33,7 +33,11 @@ ve.ce.BranchNode = function( type, model, $element ) {
 
 /* Static Members */
 
-ve.ce.BranchNode.$slugTemplate = $( '<span class="ve-ce-slug">&#xFEFF;</span>' );
+if ( $.browser.msie ) {
+	ve.ce.BranchNode.$slugTemplate = $( '<span class="ve-ce-slug">&nbsp;</span>' );
+} else {
+	ve.ce.BranchNode.$slugTemplate = $( '<span class="ve-ce-slug">&#xFEFF;</span>' );
+}
 
 /* Static Methods */