diff --git a/tests/test_description.py b/tests/test_description.py
index 4804168ab..b3e8b0f8b 100644
--- a/tests/test_description.py
+++ b/tests/test_description.py
@@ -47,12 +47,11 @@ string&quot;</span><br /><span class="p">}]</span><br /></pre></div>
 <p><br /></p>"""
 
 MARKED_DOWN_NOT_HILITE = """
-<p>``` json
+<p><code>json
 [{
     "alpha": 1,
     "beta: "this is a string"
-}]
-```</p>"""
+}]</code></p>"""
 
 # We support markdown < 2.1 and markdown >= 2.1
 MARKED_DOWN_lt_21 = """<h2>an example docstring</h2>
@@ -150,15 +149,16 @@ class TestViewNamesAndDescriptions(TestCase):
         Ensure markdown to HTML works as expected.
         """
         if apply_markdown:
+            md_applied = apply_markdown(DESCRIPTION)
             gte_21_match = (
-                apply_markdown(DESCRIPTION) == (
+                md_applied == (
                     MARKED_DOWN_gte_21 % MARKED_DOWN_HILITE) or
-                apply_markdown(DESCRIPTION) == (
+                md_applied == (
                     MARKED_DOWN_gte_21 % MARKED_DOWN_NOT_HILITE))
             lt_21_match = (
-                apply_markdown(DESCRIPTION) == (
+                md_applied == (
                     MARKED_DOWN_lt_21 % MARKED_DOWN_HILITE) or
-                apply_markdown(DESCRIPTION) == (
+                md_applied == (
                     MARKED_DOWN_lt_21 % MARKED_DOWN_NOT_HILITE))
             assert gte_21_match or lt_21_match