diff --git a/zerver/lib/actions.py b/zerver/lib/actions.py
index 6422813f93..5d530bd8f2 100644
--- a/zerver/lib/actions.py
+++ b/zerver/lib/actions.py
@@ -1751,7 +1751,7 @@ def create_stream_if_needed(realm: Realm,
     )
 
     if created:
-        stream.rendered_description = bugdown_convert(stream.description)
+        stream.rendered_description = bugdown_convert(stream.description, no_previews=True)
         stream.save(update_fields=["rendered_description"])
         Recipient.objects.create(type_id=stream.id, type=Recipient.STREAM)
         if stream.is_public():
@@ -3505,7 +3505,7 @@ def do_rename_stream(stream: Stream,
 
 def do_change_stream_description(stream: Stream, new_description: str) -> None:
     stream.description = new_description
-    stream.rendered_description = bugdown_convert(new_description)
+    stream.rendered_description = bugdown_convert(new_description, no_previews=True)
     stream.save(update_fields=['description', 'rendered_description'])
 
     event = dict(
diff --git a/zerver/lib/bulk_create.py b/zerver/lib/bulk_create.py
index a9bd7219db..c0cab4c836 100644
--- a/zerver/lib/bulk_create.py
+++ b/zerver/lib/bulk_create.py
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ def bulk_create_streams(realm: Realm,
                     realm=realm,
                     name=name,
                     description=options["description"],
-                    rendered_description=bugdown_convert(options["description"]),
+                    rendered_description=bugdown_convert(options["description"], no_previews=True),
                     invite_only=options.get("invite_only", False),
                     is_announcement_only=options.get("is_announcement_only", False),
                     history_public_to_subscribers=options["history_public_to_subscribers"],
diff --git a/zerver/lib/import_realm.py b/zerver/lib/import_realm.py
index 9fcb779552..f8d3c731b6 100644
--- a/zerver/lib/import_realm.py
+++ b/zerver/lib/import_realm.py
@@ -746,7 +746,8 @@ def do_import_realm(import_dir: Path, subdomain: str, processes: int=1) -> Realm
     for stream in data['zerver_stream']:
         if 'rendered_description' in stream:
             continue
-        stream["rendered_description"] = bugdown_convert(stream["description"])
+        stream["rendered_description"] = bugdown_convert(stream["description"],
+                                                         no_previews=True)
     bulk_import_model(data, Stream)
 
     realm.notifications_stream_id = notifications_stream_id
diff --git a/zerver/migrations/0206_stream_rendered_description.py b/zerver/migrations/0206_stream_rendered_description.py
index b41d75fa56..a499685320 100644
--- a/zerver/migrations/0206_stream_rendered_description.py
+++ b/zerver/migrations/0206_stream_rendered_description.py
@@ -12,7 +12,8 @@ def render_all_stream_descriptions(apps: StateApps, schema_editor: DatabaseSchem
     Stream = apps.get_model('zerver', 'Stream')
     all_streams = Stream.objects.exclude(description='')
     for stream in all_streams:
-        stream.rendered_description = bugdown_convert(stream.description)
+        stream.rendered_description = bugdown_convert(stream.description,
+                                                      no_previews=True)
         stream.save(update_fields=["rendered_description"])
 
 
diff --git a/zerver/tests/test_subs.py b/zerver/tests/test_subs.py
index 3118c655f5..de958adf7b 100644
--- a/zerver/tests/test_subs.py
+++ b/zerver/tests/test_subs.py
@@ -708,6 +708,16 @@ class StreamAdminTest(ZulipTestCase):
         stream = get_stream('stream_name1', realm)
         self.assertEqual(stream.description, 'a multi line description')
 
+        # Verify that we don't render inline URL previews in this code path.
+        with self.settings(INLINE_URL_EMBED_PREVIEW=True):
+            result = self.client_patch('/json/streams/%d' % (stream_id,),
+                                       {'description': ujson.dumps('See https://zulipchat.com/team')})
+        self.assert_json_success(result)
+        stream = get_stream('stream_name1', realm)
+        self.assertEqual(stream.rendered_description,
+                         '<p>See <a href="https://zulipchat.com/team" target="_blank" '
+                         'title="https://zulipchat.com/team">https://zulipchat.com/team</a></p>')
+
     def test_change_stream_description_requires_realm_admin(self) -> None:
         user_profile = self.example_user('hamlet')
         email = user_profile.email