diff --git a/admin/user/user_message_form.php b/admin/user/user_message_form.php
index 59d00d565be..dbd693dfa86 100644
--- a/admin/user/user_message_form.php
+++ b/admin/user/user_message_form.php
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ class user_message_form extends moodleform {
         $mform->addElement('header', 'general', get_string('message', 'message'));
 
 
-        $mform->addElement('textarea', 'messagebody', get_string('messagebody'), array('rows'=>15, 'cols'=>60));
+        $mform->addElement('htmleditor', 'messagebody', get_string('messagebody'), array('rows'=>15, 'cols'=>60));
         $mform->addRule('messagebody', '', 'required', null, 'client');
         $mform->setHelpButton('messagebody', array('writing', 'reading', 'questions', 'richtext'), false, 'editorhelpbutton');
         $mform->addElement('format', 'format', get_string('format'));