diff --git a/static/js/activity.js b/static/js/activity.js
index ae50b4a754..cb251dc750 100644
--- a/static/js/activity.js
+++ b/static/js/activity.js
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ function get_user_list_item(user_id) {
 
 function get_filter_li(user_ids_string) {
     if (name.indexOf(",") < 0) {
-        get_user_list_item(user_ids_string);
+        return  get_user_list_item(user_ids_string);
     }
     return $("li.group-pms-sidebar-entry[data-user-ids='" + user_ids_string + "']");
 }