diff --git a/mod/forum/lib.php b/mod/forum/lib.php
index 709c03120ce..f1797428670 100644
--- a/mod/forum/lib.php
+++ b/mod/forum/lib.php
@@ -111,8 +111,9 @@ function forum_add_instance($forum) {
         $discussion->name     = $forum->name;
         $discussion->intro    = $forum->intro;
         $discussion->assessed = $forum->assessed;
+        $discussion->format   = $forum->format;
 
-        if (! forum_add_discussion($discussion)) {
+        if (! forum_add_discussion($discussion, $discussion->intro)) {
             error('Could not add the discussion for this forum');
         }
     }
diff --git a/mod/forum/mod.html b/mod/forum/mod.html
index db8667b56cf..7381cc741ee 100644
--- a/mod/forum/mod.html
+++ b/mod/forum/mod.html
@@ -295,6 +295,7 @@
 <input type="hidden" name="modulename" value="<?php  p($form->modulename) ?>" />
 <input type="hidden" name="instance"   value="<?php  p($form->instance) ?>" />
 <input type="hidden" name="mode"       value="<?php  p($form->mode) ?>" />
+<input type="hidden" name="format"     value="<?php  echo $defaultformat; ?>" />
 <input type="submit" value="<?php  print_string("savechanges") ?>" />
 <input type="submit" name="cancel" value="<?php  print_string("cancel") ?>" />
 </center>