diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index 81dfff0..6da243d 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -1,14 +1,15 @@
 {
     "name": "@caspingus/lt",
-    "version": "2.7.0",
+    "version": "2.7.1",
     "lockfileVersion": 3,
     "requires": true,
     "packages": {
         "": {
             "name": "@caspingus/lt",
-            "version": "2.7.0",
+            "version": "2.7.1",
             "license": "MIT",
             "dependencies": {
+                "entities": "^4.5.0",
                 "howler": "^2.2.4",
                 "mousetrap": "^1.6.5",
                 "platform-detect": "^3.0.1",
@@ -2164,6 +2165,17 @@
                 "node": ">=10.13.0"
             }
         },
+        "node_modules/entities": {
+            "version": "4.5.0",
+            "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/entities/-/entities-4.5.0.tgz",
+            "integrity": "sha512-V0hjH4dGPh9Ao5p0MoRY6BVqtwCjhz6vI5LT8AJ55H+4g9/4vbHx1I54fS0XuclLhDHArPQCiMjDxjaL8fPxhw==",
+            "engines": {
+                "node": ">=0.12"
+            },
+            "funding": {
+                "url": "https://github.com/fb55/entities?sponsor=1"
+            }
+        },
         "node_modules/envinfo": {
             "version": "7.11.1",
             "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/envinfo/-/envinfo-7.11.1.tgz",
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 5cdf42b..dd9f0ee 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
     "name": "@caspingus/lt",
-    "version": "2.7.0",
+    "version": "2.7.1",
     "description": "A utility library of helpers and tools for working with Learnosity APIs.",
     "main": "src/index.js",
     "author": "michael@learnosity.com",
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@
         "collectCoverage": true
     },
     "dependencies": {
+        "entities": "^4.5.0",
         "howler": "^2.2.4",
         "mousetrap": "^1.6.5",
         "platform-detect": "^3.0.1",
diff --git a/src/assessment/extensions/validation/essayLimitByCharacter.js b/src/assessment/extensions/validation/essayLimitByCharacter.js
index 722e844..b3adc71 100644
--- a/src/assessment/extensions/validation/essayLimitByCharacter.js
+++ b/src/assessment/extensions/validation/essayLimitByCharacter.js
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import * as activity from '../../core/activity';
 import * as player from '../../core/player';
 import * as items from '../../core/items';
 import * as questions from '../../core/questions';
+import * as entities from 'entities';
 
 /**
  * Extensions add specific functionality to Items API.
@@ -263,11 +264,20 @@ function setQuestionListeners() {
  * @ignore
  */
 function checkLimit(questionInstance, setUI = true) {
+    const type = questionInstance.getQuestion().type;
     const maxLength = questionInstance.getQuestion().max_length;
     const rawResponse = questionInstance.getResponse()?.value ? questionInstance.getResponse()?.value : '';
-    const response = state.includeSpaces ? stripHtml(rawResponse) : stripSpaces(stripHtml(rawResponse));
-    const strLength = response.length;
     let validLength = true;
+    let response;
+    let strLength;
+
+    if (type === 'plaintext') {
+        response = state.includeSpaces ? rawResponse : stripSpaces(rawResponse);
+        strLength = response.length;
+    } else {
+        response = state.includeSpaces ? stripHtml(rawResponse) : stripSpaces(stripHtml(rawResponse));
+        strLength = entities.decodeHTML(response).length;
+    }
 
     if (maxLength) {
         if (strLength > maxLength) {