diff --git a/rest_framework/utils/formatting.py b/rest_framework/utils/formatting.py
index 470af51b0..173848df7 100644
--- a/rest_framework/utils/formatting.py
+++ b/rest_framework/utils/formatting.py
@@ -59,4 +59,5 @@ def markup_description(description):
         description = apply_markdown(description)
     else:
         description = escape(description).replace('\n', '<br />')
+        description = '<p>' + description + '</p>'
     return mark_safe(description)