diff --git a/lib/yui/dragdrop/dragdrop.js b/lib/yui/dragdrop/dragdrop.js
index e8d0895c431..773373c2fc6 100644
--- a/lib/yui/dragdrop/dragdrop.js
+++ b/lib/yui/dragdrop/dragdrop.js
@@ -59,7 +59,8 @@ YUI.add('moodle-core-dragdrop', function(Y) {
                 .setAttribute('title', title)
                 .setAttribute('tabIndex', 0)
                 .setAttribute('data-draggroups', this.groups)
-                .setAttribute('aria-grabbed', 'false');
+                .setAttribute('aria-grabbed', 'false')
+                .setAttribute('role', 'button');
             dragelement.appendChild(dragicon);
             dragelement.addClass(MOVEICON.cssclass);