diff --git a/modules/markup/markdown/markdown.go b/modules/markup/markdown/markdown.go
index f0b1afa27e..4cca71d511 100644
--- a/modules/markup/markdown/markdown.go
+++ b/modules/markup/markdown/markdown.go
@@ -104,7 +104,8 @@ func SpecializedMarkdown() goldmark.Markdown {
 							}
 
 							// include language-x class as part of commonmark spec
-							_, err = w.WriteString(`<code class="chroma language-` + string(language) + `">`)
+							// the "display" class is used by "js/markup/math.js" to render the code element as a block
+							_, err = w.WriteString(`<code class="chroma language-` + string(language) + ` display">`)
 							if err != nil {
 								return
 							}