diff --git a/wp-includes/default-filters.php b/wp-includes/default-filters.php
index 5fba632ef..9202aa27a 100644
--- a/wp-includes/default-filters.php
+++ b/wp-includes/default-filters.php
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ foreach ( $filters as $filter ) {
 }
 
 // Format strings for display.
-$filters = array('comment_author', 'term_name', 'term_description', 'link_name', 'link_description',
+$filters = array('comment_author', 'term_name', 'link_name', 'link_description',
 	'link_notes', 'bloginfo', 'wp_title');
 foreach ( $filters as $filter ) {
 	add_filter($filter, 'wptexturize');
@@ -56,6 +56,14 @@ foreach ( $filters as $filter ) {
 	add_filter($filter, 'wp_specialchars');
 }
 
+// Format text area for display.
+$filters = array('term_description');
+foreach ( $filters as $filter ) {
+	add_filter($filter, 'wptexturize');
+	add_filter($filter, 'convert_chars');
+	add_filter($filter, 'wpautop');
+}
+
 // Format for RSS
 $filters = array('term_name_rss');
 foreach ( $filters as $filter ) {