diff --git a/cms/static/js/views/pages/container.js b/cms/static/js/views/pages/container.js
index a8a9485bbb2..69b28e920bd 100644
--- a/cms/static/js/views/pages/container.js
+++ b/cms/static/js/views/pages/container.js
@@ -458,7 +458,8 @@ function($, _, Backbone, gettext, BasePage,
                     // Create a placeholder that will become the new block(s)
                     const $insertSpot = xblockElement.find('.insert-new-lib-blocks-here');
                     doneAddingBlock = (addResult) => {
-                        const placeholderElement = $(this.createPlaceholderElement()).insertBefore($insertSpot);
+                        const $placeholderEl = $(this.createPlaceholderElement());
+                        const placeholderElement = $placeholderEl.insertBefore($insertSpot);
                         placeholderElement.data('locator', addResult.locator);
                         return this.refreshXBlock(placeholderElement, true);
                     };