diff --git a/cvat/apps/engine/static/engine/js/annotationParser.js b/cvat/apps/engine/static/engine/js/annotationParser.js
index afa35b4a..e12d3cd1 100644
--- a/cvat/apps/engine/static/engine/js/annotationParser.js
+++ b/cvat/apps/engine/static/engine/js/annotationParser.js
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ class AnnotationParser {
             throw Error('An unknown attribute found in the annotation file: ' + name);
         }
         let attrInfo = this._labelsInfo.attrInfo(attrId);
-        let value = this._labelsInfo.strToValues(attrInfo.type, attrTag.innerHTML)[0];
+        let value = this._labelsInfo.strToValues(attrInfo.type, attrTag.textContent)[0];
 
         if (['select', 'radio'].includes(attrInfo.type) && !attrInfo.values.includes(value)) {
             throw Error('Incorrect attribute value found for "' + name + '" attribute: ' + value);
diff --git a/cvat/apps/engine/static/engine/js/qunitTests.js b/cvat/apps/engine/static/engine/js/qunitTests.js
index 3aeb14ad..d75c6c68 100644
--- a/cvat/apps/engine/static/engine/js/qunitTests.js
+++ b/cvat/apps/engine/static/engine/js/qunitTests.js
@@ -279,7 +279,7 @@ qUnitTests.push(function() {
                 <attribute name="false_positive">false</attribute>
                 <attribute name="age">25</attribute>
                 <attribute name="gender">female</attribute>
-                <attribute name="clother">non-initialized</attribute>
+                <attribute name="clother">non-initialized&amp;&lt;&gt;</attribute>
                 <attribute name="action">standing</attribute>
             </polygon>
             <polygon label="person" points="1064.14,997.18;1368.70,1185.26;1746.24,1071.57;1377.12,894.73" occluded="0" z_order="11">
@@ -640,7 +640,7 @@ window.jobData = {
             "value": "female"
         }, {
             "id": "34",
-            "value": "non-initialized"
+            "value": "non-initialized&<>"
         }, {
             "id": "35",
             "value": "standing"