diff --git a/direct/src/http/recaptcha.py b/direct/src/http/recaptcha.py
index 4a31bdd0f1..012f33e4d6 100755
--- a/direct/src/http/recaptcha.py
+++ b/direct/src/http/recaptcha.py
@@ -31,8 +31,7 @@ def displayhtml (public_key,
     else:
         server = API_SERVER
 
-    # DCR: added comment to force ElementTree to emit </script> tag closer
-    return """<script type="text/javascript" src="%(ApiServer)s/challenge?k=%(PublicKey)s%(ErrorParam)s"><!-- --></script>
+    return """<script type="text/javascript" src="%(ApiServer)s/challenge?k=%(PublicKey)s%(ErrorParam)s"></script>
 
 <noscript>
   <iframe src="%(ApiServer)s/noscript?k=%(PublicKey)s%(ErrorParam)s" height="300" width="500" frameborder="0"></iframe><br />
diff --git a/direct/src/showbase/PythonUtil.py b/direct/src/showbase/PythonUtil.py
index a94f0b2220..0f80601ea7 100644
--- a/direct/src/showbase/PythonUtil.py
+++ b/direct/src/showbase/PythonUtil.py
@@ -4083,6 +4083,17 @@ class HTMLStringToElements(HTMLParser):
             self._elementStack.top().text = data
 
     def handle_endtag(self, tag):
+        top = self._elementStack.top()
+        if len(top.getchildren()) == 0:
+            # insert a comment to prevent ElementTree from using <... /> convention
+            # force it to create a tag closer a la </tag>
+            # prevents problems in certain browsers
+            if top.tag == 'script' and top.get('type') == 'text/javascript':
+                if top.text == None:
+                    top.text = '// force tag closer'
+            else:
+                self.handle_comment('force tag closer')
+                self._elementStack.pop()
         self._elementStack.pop()
 
     def handle_comment(self, data):