diff --git a/static/designer.js b/static/designer.js
index bdf9d26..1034b71 100644
--- a/static/designer.js
+++ b/static/designer.js
@@ -218,12 +218,19 @@ function addBlockToGrid(block, isNew) {
     y: block.y,
     w: block.w,
     h: block.h,
-    content: widgetHTML,
+    content: '',  // empty — we'll set innerHTML manually below
   });
   
-  // Add type class for color coding
-  const el = document.querySelector(`[gs-id="${block.blockId}"]`);
-  if (el) el.classList.add(`block-${block.type}`);
+  // Gridstack uses textContent by default which escapes HTML.
+  // Set innerHTML directly on the widget's content element.
+  const el = widget.el || widget;
+  if (el) {
+    const contentDiv = el.querySelector('.grid-stack-item-content');
+    if (contentDiv) {
+      contentDiv.innerHTML = widgetHTML;
+    }
+    el.classList.add(`block-${block.type}`);
+  }
 }
 
 function getBlockPreviewText(block) {